The
Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM,
www.bnitm.de/en) is a member of the Leibniz-
Research Association. With 400 employees it is Germany’s largest institute for research, treatment and training
in the field of tropical diseases and new emerging infections.
BNITM in Hamburg has a vacancy for the following position at the
next possible date:
Head of Research Group
Implementation Science & Intervention Research in
Infectious Diseases (m/f/d)
– Performance-related pay according to TV-AVH –
The working group shall conduct studies that address implementation bottlenecks, identifies optimal approach
for a particular setting, and promotes the uptake of research findings in order to result in improved health
care and its delivery. Intervention research - defined as the studies to learn what treatments, diagnostics, or
strategies work best in local healthcare systems to improve human health – shall be the core expertise of the
working group. In this regard the working group should engage in the empirical testing and evaluation of innovative
health care interventions and health system research. Furthermore, its work should focus on assessing
the impact of interventions in resource poor regions; particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. It is envisioned that the
working group engages in research on infectious disease topics that are closely linked to the core focus of the
institute (e.g., malaria, arbovirus & hemorrhagic fevers or neglected tropical diseases).
The BNITM aims to increase the number of female research group leaders, and therefore strongly encourages
qualified women to apply.
Field of activity:
You will establish a new research area in the Section Implementation Research and work independently in research
and teaching. Together with your team, you will collaborate with other groups in the Institute to conduct
multi-disciplinary research projects on the core topics of BNITM. You will make an important contribution to
the strategic development of the new programme area at BNITM. This includes the following:
- Establishment and management of a working group with staff and budget responsibility;
- Innovative, empirically oriented heath implementation research in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC)
particularly in sub-Saharan Africa;
- Close multidisciplinary collaboration with departments and working groups of BNITM
- Acquisition of third-party funds for the development of the working group;
- Support and expansion of BNITM’s international, national and regional collaborations and networks;
- Supervision of students and doctoral candidates;
- Participation in postgraduate teaching (e. g. diploma course in tropical medicine).
Your profile:
We expect an ambitious and creative scientist who enjoys interdisciplinary collaboration. Furthermore, you
have the following qualifications:
- University degree and relevant doctorate (e.g., in economics, medical sciences, natural sciences, psychology,
social sciences, Global/Public Health or a related academic discipline;
- Experience in research on infectious diseases and health topics in the Global South;
- Proven expertise in the area of applied and empirical implementation science and intervention research and
publications in relevant national and international scientific journals.
Advantages are:
- Substantial international research experience (stays abroad, research collaborations);
- Acquisition of external funding;
- International experience in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching;
- Experience in the guidance of scientific staff;
- Business fluent communication in English and intercultural communication skills,
- Fitness for travel in the tropics and acceptance of assignments abroad in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
The position is initially limited to five years and remunerated according to TV-AVH (collective agreement of the
Hamburg Labour Law Association).
Job sharing with a tandem partner is possible; in that case it is preferable to apply as a tandem including a
concept for the joint working time model.
Our benefits:
An interesting and challenging job in a modern research institution with attractive research infrastructures and
a cooperative and communicative institute culture. This includes:
- A central location that is easily accessible by public transport;
- 30 days of vacation per year;
- Opportunities for further education and training;
- Flexible and family-friendly working hours;
- Subsidy for childcare;
- Subsidy for local public transport (HVV-Profi-Ticket as „Deutschlandticket“ (Basic));
- Company pension plan;
- Special conditions at selected sports and fitness clubs in Hamburg.
We support our employees in achieving a work-life balance and promote the professional
equality of women and men. We strive to assist women in their scientific career, increase the
number of women in research and reduce under-representation in all areas and positions in
general. We explicitly welcome applications from people with disabilities.
As a member of the Diversity Charter, the largest diversity management network in Germany,
we are also committed to making diversity an integral part of our institute culture. It is our
goal to create a working environment that is free of prejudice.
We are a member of the Dual-Career Hamburg + the North network in order to offer career opportunities to
working partners of excellent researchers who wish to join the Institute.
We look forward to receiving your application with the usual informative documents (curriculum vitae,
academic certificates and diplomas, description of your research interests, list of publications, list of externally
funded projects, list of courses, as well as three particularly relevant publications), which you can submit preferably
in electronic form
via our online application form by
31 March 2024.
Alternatively, please send your documents by post under the keyword:
„RG Head” to: Bernhard Nocht Institute
for Tropical Medicine, HR Department, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany.
If you have any questions about the advertised position, the application process or the selection procedure,
please contact Ms. Jeannette Meurer (
meurer@bnitm.de, +49 40 285380-315).