3 PhD positions (m/f/d) | Sustainable Metallurgy (Experiment & Simulation) Full-time

3 PhD Positions Sustainable Metallurgy Experiment Simulation

The International Max Planck Research School for Sustainable Metallurgy (IMPRS SusMet) offers PhD positions for three years for the following projects:

Project 1: Optimizing Microwave Plasma-Based Reduction of Metal Oxides under the supervision of Prof. von Keudell, Chair for Experimental Physics – Reactive Plasmas at the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Ruhr University Bochum

Project 2: In Situ Studies of the Mechanochemical Synthesis of Intermetallic Compounds under the supervision of Prof. Weidenthaler, Powder Diffraction and Surface Spectroscopy group at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung in Mülheim/Ruhr

Project 3: Atomistic Investigation of Chemomechanical Processes in the Fe–O System under the supervision of Prof. Bitzek, Microstructure and Mechanics group at the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials in Düsseldorf

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 simulations, 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)

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 40.000€ gross per year At the Ruhr University Bochum: scholarship of 2.050€ net per month

Your Profile

Project 1: excellent master's degree in physics, experience in plasma research

Project 2: excellent master's degree in materials science, chemistry, or solid-state physics. Knowledge in solid-state chemistry, X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, or electron microscopy is advantageous.

Project 3: excellent master's degree in materials science, physics, or chemistry. Experience with atomistic simulations in a high-performance computing environment, solid knowledge of crystallography, and defects preferred

Very good English knowledge

Required Documents

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

Application deadline: 15.5.2026 Starting date: 01.07.2026 or individually later

Please apply via our application portal. We don't accept applications via post or e-mail.

We are committed to employing more handicapped individuals and especially encourage them to apply. The Max Planck Society strives for gender and diversity equality. We welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Contact: Elke Lorenz susmet@mpi-susmat.de