6 PhD positions (m/f/d) in Sustainable Metallurgy (Experiment & Simulation)

in full time for three years.

Experimental and computational projects are available in Germany at the partner institutes

• Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials, Düsseldorf
• Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Mülheim/Ruhr
• Ruhr University Bochum
• University Duisburg-Essen

What we do

Discover with us the world of sustainable materials in our three-year doctoral program, conducted entirely in English. Become part of an international community of scientists in Germany's vibrant Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region. This unique program offers an intensive interdisciplinary approach, with a special focus on sustainable metallurgy—a field that has shaped human civilization by providing crucial materials for mobility, infrastructure, energy, and medicine.

As we face the challenge of making metallurgy more sustainable, there is an urgent need for innovative solutions to reduce carbon emissions during synthesis, enhance the durability of materials and improve recycling processes. Be part of this change and explore cutting-edge methods in chemical, mechanical, and plasma processing of metal ores for a truly circular economy.

Correlating experimental, ab initio and multi-scale simulation as well as machine learning techniques is central to our mission:

• Development and application of advanced simulation techniques to explore and identify the fundamental structures and mechanisms occurring in these materials and their synthesis over all relevant length scales (e.g. cutting-edge ab initio methods, atomistic simulation methods, multi-scale modelling, machine learning)
• High resolution analysis, monitoring of chemistry, structure and transformations at the atomic scale of buried interfaces and defects by correlated experimental techniques in both space and time (e.g., correlated APT, TEM, FIM, EBIC, EBSD, XPS Kelvin probe microscopy, machine learning augmented analysis techniques)
• Experimental and computational analysis of transport and the reaction of surfaces and particles with reducing and oxidizing gas-phase species (e.g. laser-based imaging diagnostics, setup of model reactors, modeling of underlying reactions, multiscale simulation of reactive fluids, computational fluid dynamics)

We particularly encourage applications from candidates with a computational background.

What we offer

• Cutting-edge research in a dynamic work environment
• Well-structured curriculum and close supervision of the PhD projects including regular status meetings
• An international and open-minded community with outstanding opportunities for collaboration
• At the Max Planck Institutes: TVöD 13 65%, about 39.000€ gross per year
  At the University Duisburg-Essen: TV-L 13 65%, about 39.000€ gross per year
  At the Ruhr University Bochum: scholarship of 2.050€ net per month

Your profile

• Excellent master’s degree in materials science, physics, engineering or chemistry
• Very good English knowledge

Required Documents

• Motivation letter
• CV
• Bachelor's and master's degree certificates and transcript of records
• Certificate of very good English knowledge (IELTS, TOEFL, or similar)
• Recommendation letters or references

Application deadline: 31.10.2025
Starting date: 01.01.2026 or individually later