Paleontologist (Postdoc) (m/f/d)Salary transparent

Overview of the role: The selected candidate will be a member of a research group with responsibility for carrying out data collection and interpretation of the Fossil-Lagerstätten collections at the State Museum of Natural History Museum Karlsruhe (SMNK). The researcher will work under the direction of Dr. Julien Kimmig as part of a wider team including Dr. Sara Kimmig (University of Tübingen, TERRA Cluster of Excellence). The post holder will co-supervise collections staff and students that will assist them with the tasks. Two students will also be employed at the University Tübingen to assist with geochemical analyses and georeferencing.

Summary: The overarching goal of this project is to collect and digitize all the specimen, label meta, sedimentological, and geochemical data for the Fossil-Lagerstätten specimens in the SMNK paleontology collections. This pilot study will provide a complete geological, paleontological, and biological dataset for these specimens and provide the most complete dataset on Fossil-Lagerstätten known at this time. The collected data will include the species level identification, occurrences, stratigraphic horizons, and chrono- and biostratigraphic ages of constituent species.

The project also plans to generate a wide variety of environmental data that will become important metadata for the understanding of depositional environments, climate change, as well as taphonomic studies. The collaborative THRIVED OR DIED? BETTER UNDERSTANDING FOSSIL-LAGERSTÄTTEN THROUGH DIGITIZATION project combines the expertise and infrastructure of the SMNK, the University Tübingen, and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

It will revolutionize how Fossil-Lagerstätten museum collections are digitized, creating a multi-proxy approach of field, museum collection, sedimentological, and geochemical data.

The results of this project will be made publicly available through different databases. The post holder will be in charge of preparing the data for publication in these databases.

Experience: The ideal candidate will have training and experience in vertebrate or invertebrate paleontology, taxonomy and systematics, 2D and 3D imaging, a proven publication record, and experience in using updated imaging technology, such as SEM, SEM-EDS, Micro-CT and CT. They will also have experience in presenting research results to both scientific audiences and the general public. They must have demonstrated comfort in working with a collaborative and multi-disciplinary approach to projects and also have experience working in a museum context (e.g., visiting natural history collections, leveraging them for research purposes, and/or working in a natural history museum). They will have demonstrated leadership and teamwork skills and demonstrate strong personal and professional integrity.

Your tasks:

Digitizing the Fossil-Lagerstätten collections at the SMNK

2D imaging of all specimens

3D imaging of selected specimens

Preparing specimens for thin section manufacturing

Preparing specimens for geochemical analyses

Adapt existing and develop new scientific techniques and experimental protocols

Collaborate in the preparation of scientific reports and journal articles and occasionally present papers and posters

Use specialist scientific equipment in a laboratory environment

Act as a source of information and advice to other members of the team on scientific protocols and experimental techniques

Represent the research group at external meetings/seminars, either with other members of the group or alone

Implement imaging workflows

Coordinate geochemical and sedimentological analyses

Essential:

Hold a PhD in paleontology, or related disciplines

Experience with SEM and SEM-EDS data generation, processing, and interpretation

Experience in museum collections

Experience with fossils from Konservat-Lagerstätten

Ability to contribute ideas for new research projects and research income generation

Excellent written and verbal English communication skills

Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present research proposals and results, and represent the research group at meetings

Excellent project and time management skills

Ability to acquire accurate, reproducible data

Strong interpersonal skills and mentoring skills

The ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team

Unser Angebot

We offer:

A competitive salary established by collective agreements, payment will be in EG 13 TV-L

Contract duration of two years

Contributing to an engaging mission as well as an exciting project and challenge

Contribution to a DFG-funded project

An inclusive, friendly and safe work environment

The opportunity to work at a nationally renowned research museum with recognized collections and an attractive exhibitions

A workplace in the center of Karlsruhe, with excellent public transport connections

Collaboration with the University Tübingen and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Flexible work time and family-friendly working hours (39.5 h/week); possibility of mobile working (1 day/week)

Participation in company health management, job ticket and job bike subsidized by the state of Baden-Württemberg

Ihre Bewerbung

Please send your informative electronic application with CV, list of publications, certificates and references to bewerbung@smnk.de by 27.09.2026, quoting reference number 16_2026.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Dr. Julien Kimmig via E-Mail: julien.kimmig@smnk.de.

Please note that the application documents will be forwarded to the persons involved in the recruitment process. Unfortunately, costs associated with interviews cannot be covered or reimbursed.

Further information on the State Museum of Natural History Karlsruhe can also be found on the Internet at www.smnk.de

zur Stellenausschreibung

Achtung!

Bitte senden Sie Ihre Bewerbungen

direkt an die Einrichtung

, die

die

Stelle ausschreibt, und

nicht

an den Deutschen Museumsbund.

Vielen Dank!

Bewerbungsende: 27.09.2026

Veröffentlicht am 9. September 2026

Mitglied werden!

Sie möchten Ihre Stellenausschreibungen bei uns veröffentlichen?

Mit dem Stellenportal bietet der Deutsche Museumsbund eine zentrale Anlaufstelle für museumsspezifische

Stellen und Ausbildungsangebote. Als institutionelles Mitglied oder Firmenmitglied können Sie uns

Ihre aktuellen Stellenausschreibungen ganz einfach über unser

Online-Formular

einreichen.

Ausgenommen sind Angebote für studentische Hilfskräfte, Praktika und freie Mitarbeit.