Wissenschaftliche/n Mitarbeiter/in / Doktorand/in – Circular Economy und nachhaltige Innovationsprozesse

We are seeking a Research Associate as a Ph.D. Candidate or Postdoc to contribute to interdisciplinary and application-oriented research projects focused on the prospective sustainability assessment of emerging technologies. This role involves close collaboration with national and international research institutions and sharing knowledge with students in courses.

Responsibilities

• Develop and address scientific research questions related to the prospective sustainability assessment of new technologies, particularly regarding the material use of energy and CO₂ in food production.
• Further develop methods and tools for sustainability assessment using new digital tools (e.g., machine learning, large language models, and data mining).
• Integrate sustainability assessments to support decision-making in operational innovation projects, workshops, and case studies in collaboration with industry partners.
• Apply your knowledge in teaching.

Requirements

You hold an excellent master’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, Sustainability Management, or a related field. The following qualities and qualifications are ideal:

• Analytical thinking skills and a structured, solution-oriented approach to work.
• Motivation for independent research work in international and interdisciplinary teams.
• Creativity, initiative, and commitment.
• Technical and methodological knowledge in:
  • Prospective Life Cycle Assessment
  • Techno-economic Assessment
  • Social Life Cycle Assessment
  • Common software systems for sustainability assessment, particularly Brightway2 and Ecoinvent
  • Programming skills
  • AI approaches, methods, and tools related to machine learning, large language models, and data mining
• Interest in actively contributing to the long-term development of the department.
• Enjoyment of collaborating with industry partners and working on real-world transformation projects.
• Excellent written and spoken English skills.

Qualifications

• A full-time research position with the opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. or further academic qualifications.
• Contribution to current research questions on the sustainable transformation of industry and society.
• A dynamic, international, motivated, and interdisciplinary work environment.
• A high degree of academic autonomy and creative freedom.
• Opportunities for professional and personal development.
• Flexible work schedules; part-time employment is generally possible.
• Position based in Straubing with remote work possible for 20–40% of monthly working hours.
• Compensation in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement for the German States (TV-L), pay grade E13.

The position is available immediately and will initially be on a fixed-term basis; an extension is intended.