Job Vacancies

The Chair of Electrochemical Process Engineering at the University of Bayreuth has a temporary vacancy for the following full-time position to be filled as soon as possible:

Doctoral Candidate (m/f/x) - Functional core-shell fibre electrodes

The application deadline is 31 October 2025.

The goal of this doctoral thesis is to design and fabricate functionalised core-shell and hollow electrospun fibres for advanced redox flow battery electrodes. The recruited researcher will set up and operate a modified electrospinner, develop dual-spinning processes, and integrate catalysts into fibres to enhance stability and catalytic activity (e.g. against bromine attack in HBr-RFB). The influence of fibre architecture on electrode morphology, surface area and electrochemical performance will be systematically studied. The optimised materials will be tested in VRFB and HBr-RFB laboratory cells in collaboration with project partners, enabling new interface designs that reduce charge-transfer resistance and improve cell efficiency.

The Doctoral Network SPACER is financed by the European Union under the framework of the program HORIZON Europe, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. SPACER aims to develop new architectures for porous electrodes to improve the power density and energy efficiency of redox flow batteries (RFB), enabling affordable and durable long-duration energy storage. The approach is to use hierarchical structures, i.e. complex material layers that can be optimized to specific battery chemistries and flow phenomena from the microscale up.

If you would like to join us in tackling these engineering challenges using material science methods, we look forward to receiving your application.

As part of your future job, you will deal with the following topics

• Construction and setup of a modified electrospinner
  
• Production of test electrodes with functionalized core-shell fibres
  
• Development of catalyst-coated fibres for HBr-RFB and VRFB
  
• Performing morphological and electrochemical characterizations
  

What you should bring along

• A very good engineering or scientific university degree (diploma/master's degree) in the subject areas of materials science, chemistry, or chemical process engineering
  
• Knowledge in materials chemistry (synthesis) as well as materials characterization by means of microscopic, electrochemical, and spectroscopic analysis methods
  
• Knowhow of electrospinning and/fuel cell operation is advantageous but not required
  
• Enjoyment of scientific and goal-oriented work
  
• Proactive commitment, ability to work in a team, independent working style and curiosity
  
• Professional appearance, very good language skills in German and English (written and spoken)
  

The applicant must not have resided or carried out her/his main activity (work, studies etc.) in Germany for more than 12 months in the past 3 years.

The complete vacancy notice and the link to the application portal can be found here. 

The following full-time position is available at the Chair of Ecological Resource Technology at the Faculty for Engineering Science, starting 1 January 2026:

Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/x) on Material Flow Analysis of global metal cycles

The application deadline is 31 October 2025.

The advertised position is embedded in the ERC Starting Grant project "SEMPATHY", in which a novel modelling approach of global and sustainable metal cycles is being researched. Closing material cycles is the central challenge to limit the environmental impact of using metals in the technosphere. The technical lifespan of metals between mining and dissipative losses is just 10 years for half of the metals in the periodic table. In SEMPATHY, the Material Pathway Analysis method will be newly developed to better model metals in materials, components, products, and waste streams over the entire life cycle. In addition, new visualization possibilities for material flows are being researched. Suitable cases for material path analyses are in energy technology, electronics, and lightweight construction.

Your responsibilities

• Development of a modelling framework for material path analysis, considering the hierarchy of metals, materials, components, products, and scrap.
• Development of a new solution methodology for calculating material flows in material path analyses, which considers the dependence of process efficiencies on material flow composition.
• Research into novel visualisation possibilities for mixed material flows and their material paths.
• Co-supervise further work packages in the ERC project SEMPATHY.
• Independent research is needed to reach the project goals.
• Active participation in the research project, coordination and exchange with research partners.
• Publication of scientific articles and presentation of results at conferences in English.
• Writing of project reports.

Your profile

• Completed doctorate in the field of Industrial Ecology, Circular Economy, Industrial Engineering, Process Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field
• English language skills at least language level C1
• ideally specialization related to critical raw materials, circular economy, recycling, resource efficiency, or comparable sustainability
• ideally experience with metals, mining, metallurgy, or metal recycling
• Programming experience with Python or a comparable programming language
• the ability to work independently, a rigorous scientific approach, systematic and analytic thinking, commitment, creativity, and ability to work in a team
• a passion for interdisciplinary collaboration and scientific discourse

The complete vacancy notice and the link to the online application portal can be found here.

The University of Bayreuth is a research-oriented university with internationally competitive, interdisciplinary focus areas in research and teaching. The Chair of Intelligent Energy Management at the University of Bayreuth is currently seeking to appoint a

Research Associate (Wissenschaftliche/r Mitarbeiter/in) (m/w/x) – Application of Machine Learning for Energy Systems in Power Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHIL) Environment

to support the research and teaching activities of the chair at earliest possible convenience. The position is initially limited to 2 years, with the possibility of extension, and will be remunerated according to salary grade E13 (100%). The application deadline is 30 November 2025.

Your responsibilities

• Supporting teaching in the field of energy management in German and English.
• Development of an Energy System Power-Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHIL) laboratory.
• Development and demonstration of intelligent control approaches based on Machine Learning.
• Collaborate with faculty members and industry partners to develop and implement innovative digital solutions in energy management.
• Promotion of research results through participation in national and international conferences and publication in renowned scientific journals.

Your profile

• Master’s or PhD degree in a relevant field (Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or Computer Science), with a focus on power grid operation and real-time simulations.
• Hands-on experience with experiments in an electrical laboratory.
• Strong foundation in mathematics.
• Solid expertise in software engineering and programming languages.
• Research-oriented mindset with a proactive, “get things done” approach.
• Excellent communication skills in both German and English.
• Interest in project management and collaboration with industrial partners.

The complete vacancy notice and the link to the application portal can be found here.

The Chair of Inorganic Chemistry III, specifically the Junior Research Group of Dr. Helen Grüninger is seeking to fill the following positions as soon as possible but no later than February 2026

Two PhD positions (m/f/x) in Inorganic Chemistry - Photobattery Research

as part of the Emmy Noether Project StoreLight. The positions are limited to 3.5 years and are remunerated according to pay scale 13 TV-L (50-67%). The application deadline is 1 December 2025.

About the Project
The Emmy Noether project StoreLight develops nanostructured heterojunction electrodes for photobatteries – innovative devices that combine solar energy conversion and electrochemical storage in a single system. Our research focuses on hybrid perovskite–metal oxide composites to understand and control electronic and ionic transport processes under working conditions.
We combine advanced synthesis strategies with state-of-the-art characterization, including (in-situ & operando) solid-state NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and optical spectroscopy, to establish structure–property relationships. Ultimately, our goal is to design stable and efficient photoelectrodes for next-generation energy technologies and contribute to a sustainable energy future.

Your Tasks

• Synthesis of nanostructured metal oxides and hybrid perovskite–metal oxide heterojunctions
• Development of advanced processing strategies for composite electrodes
• Comprehensive characterization using solid-state NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and optical spectroscopy
• Application of in-situ and operando methods to study charge and ion transport during photocharging
• Correlation of structural and (photo)electrochemical properties
• Contribution to publications and presentations at international conferences
• Active participation in collaborative research meetings and mentoring of student assistants.
• Work in an interdisciplinary team across chemistry, physics and engineering

Your Profile

• Master’s degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, or related field
• Strong background in solid-state chemistry and/or materials synthesis
• Experience in one or more of the following is an advantage: Solid-state NMR spectroscopy, Battery materials and electrochemistry, Nanostructuring and thin-film processing
• Strong interest in energy materials and sustainable technologies
• Organized, proactive, and open-minded personality
• Motivated for interdisciplinary research, with strong teamwork and independent working skills
• Excellent communication skills in English

The complete vacancy notice and the link to the application portal can be found here. 

The Computational Materials Science Group (Kuenneth Group) at the University of Bayreuth is looking to fill the following position as soon as possible:

Graduate Researcher (m/f/d) in Materials Informatics

This position comes with a salary of 80% of the TV-L E13 level.

The Kuenneth Group at the University of Bayreuth is dedicated to democratizing machine learning in materials science. Such materials informatics efforts are underway more vigorously than ever before to streamline materials design, discovery, development, and deployment efficiently and effectively. To contribute to this exciting field, the Kuenneth group primarily concentrates on two research directions: (i) innovative machine learning techniques in materials science, and (ii) utilizing these techniques to study a diverse range of materials. The special focus of the Kuenneth group is sustainable and polymeric materials.

What you will do

• Developing and integrating machine learning models in the field of materials science and engineering
  
• Strategies for materials space explorations and inverse design
• Large language models for materials science
• Data extraction, curation, and organization
• Independent research
  

What you bring to the table

• Above average master's degree in engineering, natural sciences, computer science or related fields
  
• Strong programming skills in Python
• Curiosity towards scientific topics related to materials and data science
• Motivation and proactivity, along with independence, creativity, and communication skills in English and German
  

The complete vacancy notice and the link to the application portal can be found here. 

The University of Bayreuth is a research-oriented university with internationally competitive, interdisciplinary focus areas in research and teaching. The Chair of Electrode Design for Electrochemical Energy Storage is recuiting

2 computationcal scientists (m/f/x) with a research focus on quantum mechanical modeling of energy materials (with emphasis on battereies and interface phenomena)

for direct nomination to Alexander von Humboldt Fellowships through the prestigious Henriette Herz Program. Join their team to advance first-principles design of next-generation energy storage. The positions are available for immediate and September 2025 starts.

Qualifications

• PhD in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry or a related field
• Strong publication record in computational materials
• Expertise in DFT and programming skills
• Exellent English communication skills

What we offer

• Direct nomination for the Humboldt Fellowship
• State-of-the-art computational facilities
• Dynamic international research environment

To apply

• Submit your cover letter and CV to Prof. Dr. Francesco Ciucci at francesco.ciucci@uni-bayreuth.de and eee@uni-bayreuth.de.
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.