PhD Position – Sustainable polymers and membranes for fuel cells and water electrolysis

Your Job:

You will be part of the department "Electrocatalytic Interfacial Engineering", headed by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Simon Thiele, in the team "Membrane Processing and Synthesis", headed by Dr. Jochen Kerres. The department focuses on the production, analysis and simulation of functionally optimal structures from the nanometer scale to the micrometer scale in electrochemically active materials as well as the production of new materials for electrode ionomers and polymer electrolyte membranes. Your tasks in detail:

• Synthesis and characterization of new stable fluorine-free and low-fluorine OH--conducting anion exchange polymers and membranes, and fluorine-free and low-fluorine H+-conducting cation exchange polymers and membranes.
  
• Development of resource-saving and sustainable processes for the production of the above-mentioned polymers and membranes in cooperation with the team
  
• Development of recycling processes for the above mentioned polymers and membranes in cooperation with the team
  
• Supervision of students
  
• Participation in project meetings and coordination with internal and external partners
  
• Publication and presentation of research results in relevant journals or at international conferences

Your Profile:

• Successfully completed Master´s degree in chemistry or material sciences with very good grades
  
• Sound knowledge in synthetic and analytical polymer chemistry
  
• Willingness to show initiative and the ability to work independently
  
• Ability to work in a team
  
• Excellent oral and written German and English skills

Our Offer:

We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and are offering you the chance to actively help in shaping the change! We offer ideal conditions for you to complete your doctoral degree:

• Excellent scientific and technical infrastructure for carrying out high-quality research
  
• Working with analytical measurement methods that are unique in the world
  
• International, interdisciplinary working environment on an attractive campus (FAU Südgelände) including many opportunities for cooperation with partners from the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, the Forschungszentrum Jülich, the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and from abroad
  
• Cooperation with leading industry partners worldwide
  
• Extensive range of further training courses
  
• Flexible work (location) arrangements, e.g. remote work
  
• Flexible working hours as well as 30 days of annual leave and provision for days off between public holidays and weekends (e.g. between Christmas and New Year)
  
• Targeted services for international employees, e.g. through our International Advisory Service
  

The position is for a fixed term of 3 years. Pay in line with 75% of pay group 13 of the Collective Agreement for the Public Service (TVöD-Bund) and additionally 60 % of a monthly salary as special payment („Christmas bonus“).

Place of employment: Erlangen

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.