Career

This position supports SOSA’s Discovery Unit – the team responsible focused on developing and testing a novel model of biodiversity work by providing taxonomic services to scientists inside and outside Senckenberg to more effectively record the largely unknown biodiversity of our oceans.

The Technical Assistant position covers a broad and varied range of activities, including sample and data management, sample preparation, state-of-the-art microscopy, morphological imaging, and image processing, and will deliver high-quality data for integrative species descriptions of marine invertebrates for international clients. We are seeking highly motivated candidates with specialised experience in one or more of these tasks:

Tasks:

• Participation in workflows that contribute to taxonomic species descriptions
• Sample and associated data management
• Assistance in the preparation of (technical) protocols and information materials
• Assistance in organising and maintaining technical laboratory operations
• Support in the supervision of interns and guests
• Reporting to the laboratory manager

Qualifications:

• Completed vocational training as a technical assistant (m/f/d) for natural history museums and research institutes or an appropriate/comparable qualification and proven knowledge and experience in this field
• Careful handling of important samples (e.g. collection material, taxonomic types)
• Strong teamwork skills and sense of responsibility
• Good English communication skills
• Ability to plan and prioritize tasks to meet specific requirements
• Ability to adhere to protocols
• Proficiency in basic word processing and spreadsheet programs (e.g. MS Word and Excel)
• Curiosity, accuracy, conscientiousness and attention to details, processes and data
• Fascination and enthusiasm for marine organisms
• Familiarity with marine invertebrates and morphological terminology
• basic understanding of scientific procedures, communication and workflows
• Willingness to undertake further training

Interested in Applying? 

Please read all the job details and expectations in the position description or on the Senckenberg website. Then, send us your complete and informative application documents (cover letter, detailed CV, training and employment references) in electronic form (as a single PDF file) quoting the reference #01-25033 by June 15, 2025 to recruiting@senckenberg.de or apply directly on the Senckenberg website using the online application form.

The Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt is one of the world’s leading institutions in the field of biodiversity research. We maintain valuable scientific collections – from historical to modern specimens – particularly of corals, sponges, and other marine invertebrates. These unique collections are at the centre of numerous research projects and are regularly expanded and supplemented through exchange with partner institutions worldwide.

This position would play a key role in maintaining and documenting these important collections. The Technical Assistant position also supports international guest researchers on-site and actively participate in organising sample imports and exports – both for your own department and in close collaboration with other departments. This position offers you the unique opportunity to become part of a dedicated team and work with an exceptional collection that plays a key role in shaping scientific coral research.

Tasks:

• Inventory of the collection of the Department “Marine Invertebrates I” (sponges, cnidarians, molluscs and ctenophores)
• Targeted sorting and preparation of samples
• Technical support for digital image acquisition and documentation, including microscopy
• Communication with internal and external project partners, support in the supervision of guest researchers, volunteers, interns, students and trainees at the Senckenberg School
• Collaboration with marine zoology staff, other Senckenberg departments, and international research institutions; provision of information for the shipping and import of biological and paleontological samples
• Supporting marine zoology staff and other departments in shipping and importing biological and paleontological samples
• Participation in continuing education and training, e.g., workshops/courses on international sample transport, including certain hazardous goods (e.g., ethanol, aldehyde solutions, dry ice)

Profile:

• Completed vocational training as a technical assistant or comparable qualification
• Very good written and spoken German and English skills are required. The working language of the “Marine Invertebrates I” department is English.
• Basic knowledge of biological systematics and strong interest and enthusiasm for marine invertebrates
• Enjoy working with people from different disciplines
• Strong team spirit
• Sense of responsibility and reliability
• Polite but determined demeanour and resilience
• accuracy
• Structured, organized and solution-oriented way of working
• Willingness to undertake regular training

Interested in Applying? 

Please read all the job details and expectations in the position description. Then, send us your complete and meaningful application documents (motivation letter, detailed CV, training and employment references) in electronic form ( as a single PDF file ) quoting the reference #01-25035 by June 15, 2025 to recruiting@senckenberg.de or apply directly on the Senckenberg website using the online application form.

The Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum in Frankfurt, Germany, is an internationally renowned and well-connected hub of modern biodiversity science. The primary research infrastructure for the institute is its collection of historical specimens of animals, plants, and minerals, representing global geobiodiversity. As part of the project to digitally transform the Senckenberg collections, objects are being digitally catalogued. This indexing includes both the recording of metadata and image-based digitisation. A pilot project for a newly developed mass digitization system is being deployed in the collection of molluscs. The Technical Assistant position will be responsible for the operation of this system including object handling, image capture, transcribing data, and organizing a smooth workflow.

Tasks:

• Operation of the digitisation workstation
• Optimisation and standardization of work processes
• Image capture and quality control
• Capture, management and validation of metadata
• Structured filing of media
• Documentation and acquisition of relevant information
• Independent troubleshooting of the digitisation workstation and workflow

Profile:

• Completed vocational training as technical assistant, media specialist, photo assistant, or a comparable qualification
• Experience with sensitive collection material or other delicate and valuable objects
• Very good knowledge of image processing and corresponding programs
• Experience with databases
• Very good command of written and spoken English and German
• Team spirit
• Structured, solution-oriented style of working
• Willingness to participate in regular and advanced training

We welcome applicants who either bring experience or wish to grow in the following fields:

• Interest in natural history collections
• Experience in reading and interpreting handwritten documents especially Old German scripts
• Knowledge and experience with biological classification or museum catalogue databases
• Experience in dealing with image repositories or digital asset management systems (eg easyDB)
• Working knowledge of digital image processing and the relevant image processing programs, in particular batch processing (eg Adobe CS6, ImageJ)
• Good knowledge of digital colour management

Interested in Applying? 

Please read all the job details and expectations in the position description. Then, send us your complete and comprehensive application documents (motivational letter, CV, academic certificates and credentials electronically (as a single PDF file) quoting reference #01-25034 by June 15, 2025 to recruiting@senckenberg.de or apply directly on the Senckenberg website using the online application form.