The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is the national institute which prepares expert reports and opinions on questions of food, feed and chemical safety and consumer health protection in Germany on the basis of internationally recognised scientific assessment criteria. It advises the Federal Government and other institutions and interest groups in these areas. The BfR conducts its own research on topics that are closely linked to its assessment tasks. It is an institution with legal capacity within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL).
The following position is available in the “Testing and Assessment Strategies Pesticides” unit of the BfR’s Pesticides Safety Department from October 2023 for a fixed term of three years:
Doctoral Student (F/M/X) in the Third-Party, EU-funded “PARC” project
Reference number: 3363 | Salary group 13 TVöD | Place of work: Berlin | Application period: 06.09.202
The position is part-time, with 65 % of the regular weekly working hours (currently 25.35 hours). The time limit is set on the basis of the Act on Fixed-Term Contracts in Academia (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz).
The position should be used for a doctorate. Participation in the accompanying doctoral programme is compulsory. This serves to impart both scientific and methodological knowledge and offers the opportunity to regularly present doctoral projects in internal events and benefit from scientific exchange.
Tasks:
As part of the EU toxicology programme “Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals” (PARC), the BfR is coordinating the ‘Hazard Assessment’ work package together with the French partner authority ANSES. The aim of this work package is to close essential data gaps for health risk assessment, to develop new approach methods (NAM) and to contribute to the implementation of an adverse outcome pathway (AOP) based next generation risk assessment (NGRA). PARC is one of the largest projects of its kind in the world with over 200 partners from across Europe and a budget of €400 million.
The individual tasks include:
Monitoring of selected non-genotoxic carcinogens and development of in vitro assays to screen substances for possible non-genotoxic carcinogenic properties alone and in mixtures
- Experimental work in vitro with human cell lines
- Work with reporter gene assays, quantitative real-time PCR, transcriptomics and functional cell culture assays
- Participation in the preparation of scientific publications and presentation of results at conferences and in expert panels
- Mentoring master’s students’ laboratory work
Your profile:
- University degree (master’s, diploma or equivalent university degree) in Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Food Chemistry, Toxicology, Pharmacy, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine or a similar subject
- Practical experience in handling cell cultures as well as experience with some of the techniques mentioned in the task description
- Fundamental knowledge of toxicology (e.g. through DGPT advanced training courses or relevant study or work experience).
- Enthusiasm for scientific work and writing scientific articles
- Good knowledge of spoken and written German and very good knowledge of spoken and written English
- Very good computer skills, a conscientious and independent way of working, flexibility, the ability to work in a team and the ability to work under pressure are required
Desired:
- Experience from participation in international research projects
What we can offer you:
- A varied range of tasks in a growing departmental research institution
- Trust-based working hours
- 30 days’ annual leave (5-day week) plus 24 and 31 December as non-working days
- Additional days-off options via time credits
- Attractive subsidy (50%) for the company ticket/Deutschlandticket Job
- Mobile working options
- Very good connection to the public transport network
- Comprehensive further training opportunities for professional and personal development
- VBL company pension and capital-forming benefits
- Employee welfare (AWO) family service
Application process:
Does this position appeal to you?
Then please apply by 06.09.2023 via our online system. Please address any questions in connection with the application process to [email protected]. – Please do not send any applications to this email address – If you cannot apply online, please send a postal application to Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung / Personalreferat / Max-Dohrn-Str. 8- 10 / 10589 Berlin Please address any questions about the area of responsibility to: Dr. Marx-Stoelting Tel.: + 49 (0)3018412-26600 Dr. Kiara Aiello-Holden Tel.: + 49 (0)3018412-26640 You will find more information on our homepage: www.bfr.bund.de/de/stellenanzeige