The Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures in Braunschweig, Germany is hiring a Software Developer for the MediaDive Database (m/f/d), starting 1 January 2027. The full-time post (39.8 hours per week) is paid at TV-L 13, limited initially to 2 years, and is part of the NFDI4Microbiota project. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the deadline is 20 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we read the full vacancy, and every task, requirement and benefit is listed below.
The Position in Brief
💼 Position: Software Developer for the MediaDive Database (m/f/d)
🏛️ Employer: Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH
📍 Location: Braunschweig, Germany
🗓️ Start date: 1 January 2027
💶 Salary level: TV-L 13
⏱️ Working time: Full time, 39.8 hours per week
📝 Contract: Initially limited to 2 years
🔬 Project: NFDI4Microbiota
🔢 Application number: 11/26
What MediaDive Is
🧫 MediaDive is the world's largest database for cultivation media
🧪 It provides standardised recipes and growth conditions for thousands of microorganisms
🌍 It serves as a vital resource for microbiologists worldwide
The NFDI4Microbiota Consortium
The further development of MediaDive is embedded in the NFDI4Microbiota consortium, part of the German National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI). The consortium's mission is to support the microbiological research community by providing access to data, analysis tools and standards according to the FAIR principles.
Your Role on the MediaDive Team
As a developer for MediaDive, you are responsible for maintaining, expanding and modernising the web application, APIs and underlying database infrastructure. Together with the DSMZ team of biologists and software engineers and partners in the NFDI4Microbiota consortium, you develop new features and align services with the needs of the microbiological research community.
Your Responsibilities
🛠️ Further development of the MediaDive web application, backend and RESTful API
📐 Expanding data standardisation, ontology integration and FAIRness of cultivation data within the NFDI4Microbiota project
🔗 Coordinating MediaDive's development with other resources of the DSMZ Digital Diversity platform and external NFDI services
🧮 Developing user-friendly tools for recipe calculation, media prediction and data visualisation
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Your Profile
🎓 Master's degree (or equivalent) in computer science, bioinformatics or a related field
⌨️ Strong programming skills in backend and frontend web development
🗄️ Experience with document and relational databases
🐳 Experience with version control (Git), Linux environments and containerisation (Docker)
🧬 Interest in microbiological data, data standardisation (FAIR principles) and ontologies is beneficial
🎯 Accuracy, quality-orientation and a structured way of working
🤝 Intrinsic motivation and team spirit
🔤 Fluent in English; knowledge of German is beneficial
✈️ Willingness to undertake occasional business travel, e.g. to NFDI4Microbiota consortium meetings
What DSMZ Offers
🔄 An interdisciplinary working environment with frequent exchange of experience
🏗️ Participation in building a national research data infrastructure (NFDI)
😊 Motivated colleagues and a pleasant working atmosphere in a scientific area
📊 Further development and support of scientific data services at the DSMZ
💡 Plenty of room for creativity and challenging topics
📚 Opportunities for further education and training
🏡 An employer certified under audit berufundfamilie®, with flexible ways to combine work and family life
On-Site Work and Mobile Office
🏢 The position is located in Braunschweig and requires a substantial amount of on-site work
🏠 Mobile office work is possible for up to 3 days per week
🚫 The position is not suitable for full remote work
DSMZ Digital Diversity: The Wider Data Platform
The DSMZ builds an integrated suite of scientific databases of fundamental relevance for the life sciences, developed in a highly coordinated manner:
🧾 BRENDA
🌱 SILVA
🏷️ LPSN
🦠 BacDive
🧭 TYGS
A dedicated team of 22 scientists and software engineers creates a research data infrastructure that will significantly improve access to curated and standardised biological data. The resulting platform, DSMZ Digital Diversity, will provide an integrated resource linking and analysing different types of scientific data from all domains of the life sciences.
About the DSMZ as an Employer
🏛️ The DSMZ is funded by the State of Lower Saxony and the German Federal government and is a member of the Leibniz Association
📈 It strives to increase the proportion of female scientists and encourages female candidates to apply
Diversity, Disability and Foreign Degrees
🤗 The DSMZ is committed to reflecting the diversity of society and warmly welcomes all applications, regardless of gender, cultural or social background, religion, beliefs or sexual identity
♿ Disabled applicants with identical technical and personal qualifications will be preferentially selected
📜 For degrees obtained abroad, proof of equivalence with a German degree must be enclosed; for further information, see the website of the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB)
⚖️ The DSMZ is an equal opportunity employer, supports balanced work-life career development and holds the audit berufundfamilie® certificate
How to Apply
📎 Send your complete application documents as a single PDF file (max. 10 MB), including:
📄 CV
✉️ Motivation letter
🎓 Copies of certificates
🐙 Links to software projects/GitHub, if applicable
🔢 Quote application number 11/26
🗣️ Applications are welcome in English or German
⏩ Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so early applicants are encouraged
👤 For further information, contact Lorenz Reimer
Find more tech and research roles in the jobs listings on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Software Developer for MediaDive at DSMZ do?
The developer maintains, expands and modernises the MediaDive web application, backend, RESTful API and database infrastructure. The work also covers data standardisation, ontology integration and tools for recipe calculation, media prediction and data visualisation.
What is the salary and contract for this DSMZ job in Braunschweig?
The position is paid at TV-L 13, full time at 39.8 hours per week, and is initially limited to 2 years. It starts on 1 January 2027.
Can I work remotely?
Not fully. The role requires a substantial amount of on-site work in Braunschweig, with mobile office work possible for up to 3 days per week.
Which technical skills are required?
A Master's degree in computer science, bioinformatics or a related field, strong backend and frontend web development skills, experience with document and relational databases, and experience with Git, Linux and Docker.
Do I need to speak German?
No. Fluent English is required and knowledge of German is beneficial. Applications are accepted in English or German.
What if my degree is from outside Germany?
You must enclose proof that your degree is equivalent to a German degree. The DSMZ refers applicants to the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) for further information.
Should I wait until the deadline to apply?
No. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and early applicants are encouraged, with a final deadline of 20 November 2026.
Deadline
⏳ 20 November 2026
Application Email
📧 Apply (application no. 11/26, single PDF, max. 10 MB): bewerbung@dsmz.de
👤 Further information (Lorenz Reimer): lorenz.reimer@dsmz.de
🧫 MediaDive: https://mediadive.dsmz.de/
🔬 NFDI4Microbiota: https://nfdi4microbiota.de/
🌐 DSMZ Digital Diversity: https://hub.dsmz.de/
💶 TV-L salary table: https://oeffentlicher-dienst.info/c/t/rechner/tv-l/west?id=tv-l-2023&matrix=1
