With cutting-edge research in the fields of ENERGY, HEALTH and MATTER, around 1,500 employees from more than 70 nations at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) are committed to mastering the great challenges facing society today.
The HZDR is looking for
HZDR High Potential Candidates (f/m/d)
The HZDR High Potential Program is a recruiting instrument to attract excellent external postdocs (f/m/d) with maximum of six years after receiving their doctoral degree. The program runs for three years and has the option of an extension by two years or tenure track in case of proven scientific excellence. Funding will be granted for up to two applicants per year.
Tasks
The scientific work has to fit to the overall strategy of the HZDR and the hosting institute
Requirements
Candidates (f/m/d) who have proven their excellence by high-impact publications, third-party funding acquisitions, international cooperation and technology transfer activities can apply. Furthermore, it is expected:
- Completed PhD in the field of Natural Sciences, Medicine or comparable natural sciences
- Outstanding postdoctoral researchers (f/m/d), who received their PhD degree not longer than six years before their application (periods of childcare can be considered by up to two years per child)
- Very good communication skills and willingness to work in an interdisciplinary environment
- Good written and spoken English skills
What we offer
- A vibrant research community in an open, diverse and international work environment
- Scientific excellence and extensive professional networking opportunities
- Salary and social benefits in accordance with the collective agreement for the public sector (TVöD-Bund) including 30 days of paid holiday leave, company pension scheme (VBL)
- We support a good work-life balance with the possibility of part-time employment, mobile working and flexible working hours
- Numerous company health management offerings
- Employee discounts with well-known providers via the platform Corporate Benefits
- An employer subsidy for the "Deutschland-Ticket Jobticket"
How to apply
We look forward to receive the following documents, which you can submit via our online-application-system:
- CV, including the exact date of the PhD certificate
- Motivation letter (1-2 pages)
- Scientific publication list with impact factors and citation record
- Support letter from your potential scientific host scientist
- One external review letter
Please apply via our online-application-system: https://www.hzdr.de/db/Cms?pNid=490&pLang=en&pOid=75861
Facts
| Number of employees | 1.500 |
|---|---|
| Category | Postdoc |
| Location | Germany, Saxony, Dresden |
| Area of responsibility | Natural sciences, Social sciences and health, Medicine |
| Start date (earliest) | 01.02.2026 |
| Full/Part-time | 39 |
| Remuneration | TVöD-Bund |
| Working language and expected level |
|
| Homepage | https://www.hzdr.de |
| Career website | https://www.hzdr.de/db/Cms?pNid=490&pLang=en&pOid=75861 |
Requirements
| Qualification | Completed PhD |
|---|---|
| Field of study | Health and medicine, Natural sciences and mathematics, Medicine |
Contact
| Reference number | 2025/144 |
|---|---|
| Contact person | Dr. Birgit Gross |
| Contact phone number | +49 351 260 3486 |
Apply
| Application deadline | 04.12.2025 |
|---|---|
| Reference number | 2025/144 |
| Application documents | -CV, including the exact date of the PhD certificate -Motivation letter (1-2 pages) -Scientific publication list with impact factors and citation record -Support letter from your potential scientific host scientist -One external review letter |
| Online | https://www.hzdr.de/db/Cms?pNid=490&pLang=en&pOid=75861 |