Job advertisement

Vacancy ID: 088/2026
Closing date: 2026-05-31

The Friedrich Schiller University Jena is a dynamic and innovation-driven university centrally located in Germany. With a broad range of disciplines, it shapes the future through excellent research and teaching. Its scientific excellence is reflected in the profile areas Light – Life – Liberty, which provide pioneering insights and sustainable solutions for the society of tomorrow. Through close collaborations with leading research institutions, innovative companies, and renowned cultural organizations, it advances interdisciplinary developments. With around 17,000 students and approximately 10,000 employees, it defines Jena as a vibrant, internationally connected city of science and innovation.

The research training group 3040 “COIN – Copolymer Informatics: How digital technologies shape copolymer chemistry – From design to application” within the Institute for Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry seeks to fill the position of a

Scientific data steward / Research data manager

at the earliest possible date.

We offer a full-time position (40 hours per week), offered as a fixed-term position until 30.09.2030.

In COIN, computer science as well as robotic methods are to be developed and further optimized so that they can be applied in polymer research and particularly for copolymers. Their application will enable a targeted combination of synthesis, processing and properties of copolymers. To achieve this goal, expertise from the fields of synthesis, analytics, polymer chemistry, theoretical chemistry, engineering, computer science and robotics are combined. The qualification program of COIN focuses on targeted training for doctoral candidates at the interface of the scientific disciplines of chemistry, engineering and computer science. A special focus will be on the high degree of interdisciplinarity at a top level in an international context. In this context, you will contribute to the success of the research training group by being the major responsible person for research data management, enabling data quality, training doctoral students in the handling of research data, and taking responsibility for the electronic laboratory notebooks of the research training group as well as of the central storage of research data.

Your responsibilities:

You will be responsible for the data management and will manage the research training group's data quality assurance system and develop it further in consultation with the project participants with the aim of ensuring good availability and reuse of research data (FAIR data)
You will program interfaces for transferring data to electronic laboratory notebooks (e.g., via REST APIs and Python plugins) and assist in the (further) development of templates and pipelines for transferring data to them
You will check the structured storage of research data and train / advise employees on how to handle (research) data, document research work and publish data in repositories
You will create information materials on research data management and present the developed concept internally and externally as necessary
You will act as the central communication interface and mediate between the individual disciplines with regard to data-supported collaboration

Your profile:

Successfully completed university degree, ideally in one of the subjects involved in COIN (chemistry, computer science, engineering) or a related field of study with a focus on data science
Very good knowledge of research data management, including metadata and the FAIR principles, is required
Knowledge of backend development, knowledge of at least one programming language commonly used in data science (e.g., Python) and workflow automation are essential
We expect very good communication skills in written and spoken German and English
You have an independent, structured, forward-thinking and reliable approach to work
Good organisational skills and the ability to work in a team are also among your strengths
You enjoy designing new structures and processes and continuously developing existing ones

We offer:

Independent work at one of Thuringia's largest employers with scope for creativity
A family-friendly working environment with a variety of offers for families: University Family Office ‘JUniFamilie’ and flexible childcare (‘JUniKinder)
A comprehensive further and continuing education programme and individual qualification and development measures
Flexible working hours (flexitime and, if applicable, teleworking)
Remuneration based on the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector of the Federal States (TV-L) at salary scale 13, including a special annual payment in accordance with the collective agreement
30 days of vacation per calendar year plus two days off on December 24 and 31

The advertised position is (initially) offered as a fixed-term position until 30.09.2030.

This is a full-time position (40 hours per week).

In principle, the job is also suitable for part-time employment. The extent to which a part-time request can be granted, in particular with regard to the location and scope of the part-time work, will be assessed on the basis of the needs of the service.

Candidates with severe disabilities will be given preference in the case of equal qualifications and suitability.

Are you eager to work for us? Then apply by 31.05.2026 using our online form.

For further information for applicants and the information on the collection of personal data, please refer to