Student Assistant (f/m/x) / Master or Bachelor Thesis on The Effect and Fate of Trace Organic Contaminants in Municipal Wastewater on Methanogenic Archaea

The UFZ

The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) with its 1,100 employees has gained an excellent reputation as an international competence centre for environmental sciences. We are part of the largest scientific organisation in Germany, the Helmholtz association. Our mission: Our research seeks to find a balance between social development and the long-term protection of our natural resources.

The job

The EU-funded RE-ENTRY project focuses on developing energy-efficient wastewater treatment processes that maximize resource recovery. A central component is the reduction of organic load and the production of valuable biogas through mainstream methanogenesis. Yet, the impact of trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) commonly found in municipal wastewater on methanogenic microorganisms remains poorly understood.
This thesis project will investigate both the effect and the potential transformation of selected TrOCs by methanogens. Experiments will be carried out in batch experiments cultivating pure cultures and in mixed microbial communities obtained from a wastewater treatment plant. By combining physiological measurements with proteomics-based analyses, this project aims to reveal how methanogens respond to TrOC exposure and whether they can transform or degrade these compounds.

Your tasks

You will work closely with a postdoctoral researcher while maintaining the freedom to develop your own ideas and experimental approaches. Tasks include:

• Cultivating methanogenic archaea in pure and mixed cultures with and without exposure to selected trace organic contaminants
• Assessing microbial activity via methane production and growth via fluorescence microscopy
• Investigating the fate and potential biodegradation of the contaminants via LC-MS/MS
• Analyzing the response of methanogens to TrOCs using proteomics
• Data analysis, interpretation, and presentation of results

The position is expected to start in March 2026.

We offer

• Excellent supervision that supports your personal and professional development
• Exciting insights into the work of a leading research institute
• The chance to work in interdisciplinary, international teams and benefit from a wide range of perspectives
• The opportunity to contribute and actively shape your own ideas and impulses
  right from the start
• Modern technical equipment and IT service to optimally support your work

Your profile

• Studies in Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or related disciplines
• Experience in working independently in a laboratory
• Motivation to work self-responsible, well organized, and to develop own ideas
• Good English language skills
• Good communication and team-work skills