Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology IPMB

Postdoc or experienced TA in sustainability technology implementation 80 - 100 %

Start of employment is as soon as possible, temporary

The Department of Plant and Microbial Biology (IPMB) of the University of Zurich (UZH) conducts fundamental and applied research and teaching on a wide range of organisms using genetic, molecular, biochemical, cellular, developmental, evolutionary, and ecological approaches to understand how plants and microbes function and interact with each other as well as with their environment. Apart from science and teaching, IPMB strives towards increasing the sustainability of its operations by adopting novel technologies to reduce plastic waste.

What we offer:

IPMB offers a thriving and intellectually stimulating work environment, thanks to its cosmopolitic and vivid staff, consisting of almost 200 researchers from about 60 nations. We live a culture of open scientific exchange, approachability, and social interaction that provides an ideal framework for scientific and personal development. Located in the midst of the beautiful Botanical Garden of the University of Zurich, IPMB offers a wonderful place to work.

UZH makes itself available to its researchers, staff and students as a real-world laboratory to develop and test innovative measures for sustainable operation in transdisciplinary teams. The project thus takes place in the context with other projects applying the real-world laboratory approach. With this project you can contribute to enhancing sustainability at UZH. You also have the possibility to share experiences with other UZH members who (want to) work with the real-world laboratory approach to contribute to a sustainable development. In addition, you have the possibility to contribute to and participate in a growing network on green laboratories at UZH and beyond.

Your employment will be under public law ('öffentlich-rechtliche Anstellung').

Your responsibilities

The central goal of this one-year limited full-time position is to implement a novel technology that allows the washing and reusing of pipette tips that today are discarded after a single use. Single-use plastic disposables cause dozens to hundreds of kilograms of waste per wet-lab scientist and year, resulting in tremendous costs and posing a heavy burden on our environment.

We aim to evaluate a device permitting automated washing of pipette tips for cycles of reuse. This involves legal clearance, assessment of the useability for molecular biology experimentation, development of workflow recommendations, and sustainability assessments. Close collaboration is required with scientists and TAs of IPMB, officials from the AWEL of the canton of Zurich, the company supplying the device, analytics service providers, experts on energy assessments of UZH, and other Swiss Universities aiming for the same. The results of this study shall be documented for UZH-internal and external use as publication in a scientific or lab management journal.

Further information can be found under "UZH as a real-world laboratory". We believe that we cannot afford throwing away tons of potentially reusable laboratory plastics in 20 years from now, so projects like tip washing rethink lab work and thus represent a showcase of how a greener laboratory may function in the future.

Your profile

  • PhD in life science, documented experience in wet-lab molecular biology, especially challenging PCR & troubleshooting
  • Experience in quality control, from testing to validation, equipment management and validation
  • Good communication and negotiation skills with various peer groups, preferably also in German
  • Independent, highly structured and proactive work style with solid skills in planning tasks, meeting deadlines and work documentation
  • Interest in “green” technology platforms aimed at improving the sustainability of lab work
  • Experience environmental safety issues and legal clearance is an asset

Information on your application

Please submit your application as one PDF file. Applications are evaluated until the position is filled.

What we offer

Work-Life Balance
  • Flexible working models (such as part-time positions, mobile working, job-sharing)
  • Childcare at the kihz foundation of UZH and ETH
More
Learning and Development
  • Wide range of continuing education courses of UZH and the Canton of Zurich
  • Language Center run jointly with ETH Zurich
More
Food
  • Food and drinks at reduced prices in the UZH cafeterias
  • Lunch-Check-card with UZH contribution
More
Healthcare
  • Special conditions on the Academic Sports Association ASVZ
  • Free seasonal flu vaccinations
  • Rest and relaxation at the quiet room in the university tower
More
Discounts
  • Private traffic: Carsharing, rent a vehicle, parking space
  • Digitalization: Hardware, software, mobile phone subscriptions
  • Special conditions on hotel reservations
More
Conditions of Employment
  • Policies of the UZH
  • Most UZH staff are employed according to public law
More
International Services
  • Support for people from outside Switzerland
More
Campuses
  • Campuses Zurich City, Zurich Irchel, Oerlikon and Schlieren
  • Sites Zurich West, Old Botanical Garden, Botanical Garden and Lengg
More

What we offer

Work-Life Balance
  • Flexible working models (such as part-time positions, mobile working, job-sharing)
  • Childcare at the kihz foundation of UZH and ETH


More
Learning and Development
  • Wide range of continuing education courses of UZH and the Canton of Zurich
  • Language Center run jointly with ETH Zurich

More
Food
  • Food and drinks at reduced prices in the UZH cafeterias
  • Lunch-Check-card with UZH contribution

More
Healthcare
  • Special conditions on the Academic Sports Association ASVZ
  • Free seasonal flu vaccinations
  • Rest and relaxation at the quiet room in the university tower

More
Discounts
  • Private traffic: Carsharing, rent a vehicle, parking space
  • Digitalization: Hardware, software, mobile phone subscriptions
  • Special conditions on hotel reservations

More
Conditions of Employment
  • Policies of the UZH
  • Most UZH staff are employed according to public law


More
International Services
  • Support for people from outside Switzerland

More
Campuses
  • Campuses Zurich City, Zurich Irchel, Oerlikon and Schlieren
  • Sites Zurich West, Old Botanical Garden, Botanical Garden and Lengg

More

Further information

Questions about the job

Dr. Hanspeter Schöb 079 356 42 81
Contact Form

Contact question to: Dr. Hanspeter Schöb

Thank you for your message. We will get back to you shortly.

Questions about the application procedure

Jasmin Unternährer HR-Manager 043 634 82 06
Contact Form

Contact question to: Jasmin Unternährer

Thank you for your message. We will get back to you shortly.
Working at UZH
The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers a range of attractive positions in various subject areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and currently 12 professional apprenticeship streams the University offers an inspiring working environment on cutting-edge research and top-class education. Put your talent and skills to work with us. Find out more about UZH as an employer!
More → https://www.uzh.ch/cmsssl/en/explore/work.html

Please apply via our job portal www.jobs.uzh.ch.

Working at UZH

The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers a range of attractive positions in various subject areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and currently 12 professional apprenticeship streams the University offers an inspiring working environment on cutting-edge research and top-class education. Put your talent and skills to work with us. Find out more about UZH as an employer! More
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