Job Vacancies

The University of Bayreuth is a research-oriented university with internationally competitive, interdisciplinary focus areas in research and teaching. The Chair of Operando-Analytics for Electrochemical Energy Storage is part of Bavarian Center for Battery Technology (BayBatt).

We are currently seeking to appoint a

PhD student (m/f/x)

to commence as soon as possible for the structural characterization of wall materials for nuclear fusion reactors. The position (E 13 TV-L, 50 %) is initially limited to one year to define the project. The project is supported by the initiative “Mission Kernfusion” of the Federal State of Bavaria. The successful candidate is actively collaborating with the Chair of Ceramic Composites and the Chair of Inorganic Chemistry III of the University Bayreuth coordinating the project.

Your application:

Please apply online with detailed application documents by 14.12.2025 using the application portal of the University of Bayreuth, stating the password “PhD Fusion”. Application documents will be deleted in accordance with data protection law following the conclusion of the appointment process. Only candidates who are invited for an interview will receive a response.

Your responsibilities:

• Interdisciplinary work on wall materials for nuclear fusion reactors within in a strong team
• Structural analysis and testing of wall materials for nuclear fusion reactors
• Synthesis of composite materials
• Participating in measurement trips to expose the composites to high energy radiation and explore the structural stability in situ.
• Utilization of modern test equipment, e.g. electron microscopes, X-ray diffraction, pair distribution functional analysis
• Generating unprecedented insights into the structural stability of wall materials for nuclear fusion
• Teaching support

Your profile:

• An excellent Master degree in inorganic chemistry or material science
• Expertise in solid state chemistry and the preparation of high-temperature composite
• Experience with the above-mentioned analytical techniques and related data analysis
• Knowledge in local structure characterization using modern aberration corrected transmission electron microscopes and/or scanning electron microscopes is beneficial
• Open-minded, team-oriented pragmatic, and solution-oriented character
• Highly motivated in planning, conducting, and evaluating experiments
• Excellent communication skills (talking and writing), also in English

If you have any questions, please contact: Prof. Dr. Thomas Lunkenbein, Chair of Operando-Analytics for Electrochemical Energy Storage (operando@uni-bayreuth.de)

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 Physical Chemistry V: Theory and Machine Learning located at the University of Bayreuth’s Bavarian Center for Battery Technology (BayBatt) is currently seeking to appoint a

Fixed-Term Research Associate (m/f/d, E13 TV-L, 67 %) in the field of Machine Learning for Kinetics at Electrochemical Interfaces 

to commence as soon as possible. The application deadline is 30 November 2025.

Tasks:

• Develop novel machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) methods to describe kinetics at electrochemical interfaces
  
• Collaborate on integrating the ML models into multiscale simulations of electrochemical flow reactors
• Develop novel methods for representation learning of chemical reaction networks

Qualifications:

• Completed university degree (Master's or Diploma) in Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science or related fields
  
• Background in numerical simulations at the atomistic scale and/or deep learning techniques
• Interest in pushing the boundaries of multiscale simulations
• Strong communication skills and a curious mind

The complete vacancy notive 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 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 University of Bayreuth is a research-oriented university with internationally competitive, interdisciplinary focus areas in research and teaching. The Chair of Physical Chemistry III at the University of Bayreuth is currently currently has an open

PhD position (m/f/x)

as part of the BayBatt Graduate School. The position will be filled starting from 01.04.2026 and is limited to three years. Salary is based on E13 TV-L 50%. The application deadline is 31 December 2025.

Within the scope of the project, we will prepare nanostructured spinel materials, and convert them into layered sodium metal oxides. The focus will be on their electrochemical performance as sodium ion battery cathode materials. In addition, there is the comprehensive characterization of the materials by means of elemental analysis, electron microscopy, XRD, IR, Raman, TGA and sorption methods. The results should be documented, evaluated and then published. The opportunity to do a doctorate is given alongside work on the project.

Your profile:
You have completed a scientific university degree (diploma or MSc) in chemistry or materials science. Experience with sol-gel chemistry, solid state synthesis, electrochemical analysis tools, and characterization of battery materials is advantageous. Applicants should be interested in an academic exchange with other working groups. The project also takes place in cooperation with other research groups, so very good knowledge of English and excellent communication skills are required.

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.