Scientific Officer Position at EMBL, Germany | Life Sciences Candidates, Apply Online
A rare opportunity has emerged at EMBL Heidelberg for the position of Scientific Officer within the Protein Expression and Purification Core Facility. The EMBL Scientific Officer position calls for individuals with a strong background in molecular biology or biochemistry, offering a chance to engage in high-quality protein production services. Interested candidates should apply by 24 September 2026.
- Job Position: Scientific Officer
- Location: Heidelberg, Germany
About The Institution
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is a leading research institution dedicated to molecular biology. With its headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany, EMBL operates across multiple sites in Europe, providing cutting-edge facilities and services to support scientific research. The organization is known for its commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment, promoting collaboration and innovation in the life sciences.
The EMBL Scientific Officer contributes to the delivery of high-quality protein production services within the Protein Expression and Purification Core Facility. The role coordinates and delivers protein production projects across different expression systems and chromatography platforms, working closely with internal and external users and other members of the facility. The position applies specialist technical knowledge to develop appropriate expression and purification workflows and supports teaching and training activities. The role manages multiple projects within agreed priorities and is accountable for the timely delivery of rigorous scientific outcomes.
EMBL Scientific Officer – Key Responsibilities
- Coordinate protein production projects with the facility’s users and team members, from initial project discussion through to delivery and reporting of results.
- Develop appropriate protein production strategies for user projects, including construct design, choice of expression system and purification workflow.
- Deliver high-quality purified proteins to internal and external users through the application of appropriate protein expression and purification methods.
- Develop and optimise high-throughput expression and purification workflows to improve the efficiency and capacity of the facility.
- Maintain chromatography instruments and provide technical support to enable the effective operation of the facility’s protein production workflows.
- Train and support users, visitors and new team members working in the facility, and contribute to practical courses, workshops and other teaching activities.
- Ensure that work in the facility complies with laboratory safety requirements.
Capabilities:
- Collaboration: Builds constructive working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
- Communication: Communicates information clearly and effectively to a range of audiences.
- Accountability: Takes ownership of responsibilities and delivers outcomes within agreed timeframes.
- Problem Solving: Identifies issues and applies sound judgement to determine appropriate solutions.
- Adaptability: Responds positively to changing priorities and organisational requirements.
Skills, Experience And Qualifications Required For EMBL Scientific Officer:
As an EMBL Scientific Officer, you have:
- Undergraduate or postgraduate qualification in molecular biology, biochemistry or related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
- Hands-on experience with recombinant protein expression in E. coli, insect cells and mammalian cells, at different scales and throughputs.
- Strong knowledge of protein chromatography techniques, including affinity, ion exchange and size exclusion chromatography and demonstrated experience in applying them.
- Strong technical skills in the advanced use, troubleshooting and maintenance of protein chromatography platforms (ÄKTA, NGC or comparable systems).
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to coordinate multiple projects and priorities in parallel.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, a service-oriented approach to users, and fluency in English.
You may also have:
- Good working knowledge of various cloning methods.
- Experience with cell-free expression systems.
- Experience with laboratory automation or liquid-handling systems for high-throughput expression and purification screening.
Contract length: 3 years, renewable to a maximum of 9 years.
Salary guidance: Grade 5 with a monthly salary starting from €4,147.92 net of tax, excluding health insurance and pension contributions, plus additional EMBL benefits.
Why Join EMBL?
EMBL is curiosity-driven, community-oriented and international. As an inclusive, equal opportunity employer, EMBL believes that diversity enables collaboration and innovation in approaches. The organization is committed to creating an inclusive and flexible culture where everyone can realize their full potential and make a positive contribution.
EMBL encourages applications from individuals who can complement the existing team, believing that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and personal experiences reflect the diversity of the populations that science serves. Applications from all genders, cultures, ethnic groups, and demographics are actively encouraged to help avoid perpetuating biases at this transformational point in the people strategy.
Deadline: 24 September 2026
The EMBL Scientific Officer position at EMBL Heidelberg presents a significant opportunity for qualified candidates to contribute to vital protein production services. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply before the deadline of 24 September 2026 to secure their chance to be part of this esteemed organization.
