Scientific Coordinator (m/f/d) of a Research Training Group

We seek a communicative and reliable person to join our dynamic team as a scientific coordinator (m/f/d) of the Integrated Research Training Group (IRTG) VirusREvolution. The position is situated at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, a dynamic and innovation-driven university with a broad range of disciplines, and in the young and lively town Jena – the City of Science.

You will play a significant role in managing and coordinating the IRTG of the ambitious Collaborative Research Centre VirusREvolution, which aims to build a collaborative, inclusive, and internationally visible training culture, preparing graduates for careers in academia, industry, and beyond.

Your responsibilities:

• Organising the recruitment and onboarding of doctoral (and postdoctoral) researchers within the IRTG and CRC
• Acting as the main contact person for all early-career researchers, fostering interdisciplinary exchange and building a cohesive community across a geographically dispersed cohort
• Conceptualising, organising, and implementing of IRTG-specific workshops, courses, retreats, summer schools, and symposia
• Monitoring doctoral researchers’ academic progress and supporting the development of individual training plans in the frame of the programme curriculum, including serving as a member of all Thesis Advisory Committees (TACs)
• Coordinating communication and collaboration with partner graduate schools, the Graduate Academy of Friedrich Schiller University Jena, as well as the scientific and outreach coordinators of CRC VirusREvolution
• Ensuring transparent administrative processes, including documentation, reporting, and quality assurance of the doctoral programme curriculum and associated activities

Your profile:

• Master’s degree in a natural science (preferably bioinformatics, virology, or photonics); a Ph.D. degree would be beneficial
• Familiarity with structured graduate or doctoral training programmes
• Experience in science management, academic programme coordination, or event management in a university or research environment is of advantage
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and German
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Experience in an international and/or interdisciplinary working environment is beneficial
• Ability to work independently in an organised and structured manner as well as collaboratively in a team

We offer:

• Working environment in which you will work with increasing independence, fully contribute and further develop your individual strengths, and grow through new challenges
• Embedding in a cross-disciplinary, international, young research group and a large, ambitious research consortium with the joint goal to develop novel tools for virus discovery, characterisation, regulation, interaction, and visualisation
• Individual qualification and development measures
• A family-friendly working environment with a variety of offers for families
• University health promotion and a wide range of university sports activities
• Remuneration based on the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector of the Federal States (TV-L) at salary scale E13 – depending on the candidate’s personal qualifications –, including a special annual payment in accordance with the collective agreement

The position is expected to commence in September or October 2026. It is a part-time position (50%, 20 hours per week), offered as a fixed-term position until 30 June 2030. A combination with other advertised part-time positions could be considered where feasible.

Candidates with severe disabilities will be given preference in the case of equal qualifications and suitability.

Are you eager to work for us? Then submit your detailed written application, by email as one PDF file, stating “IRTG Coordinator” in the subject line, to:

Prof. Dr. Manja Marz
RNA Bioinformatics & High-Throughput Analysis
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Inselplatz 5
07743 Jena, Germany

E-Mail: rna@uni-jena.de