Early Career Research (ECR) Group Leader (m/f/d) | RESOLV Full-time

Early Career Research (ECR) Group Leader (m/f/d) | RESOLV

Scientist Mülheim an der Ruhr Structural and Cell Biology Chemistry Job Offer from September 07, 2026

RESOLV (Ruhr Explores Solvation) is a world-leading interdisciplinary research institution in Solvation Science awarded as a Cluster of Excellence by the German Excellence Strategy and funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Within RESOLV, more than 200 scientists at six institutions in the Ruhr Area, covering experimental chemistry, theory, chemical physics, and chemical engineering, investigate how solvents are involved in the control, mediation and regulation of chemical reactions and processes. RESOLV's mission stretches from fundamental research to the translation into applications and products.

To complement the existing expertise in the Cluster of Excellence RESOLV (EXC 2033), we announce a position for an Early Career Research (ECR) Group Leader (m/f/d), (according to TVöD-Bund 14 salary; with start-up package; funding until 31.12.2032) to build up an independent ECR group “Solvent-controlled electrosynthesis – Understanding and design”. This group will be initiated as a link between the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) and the Max-Planck-Institut für Chemische Energiekonversion (MPI CEC) in Mülheim in the framework of the Cluster of Excellence RESOLV, and will be set up at MPI CEC.

The Position

The new joint RUB-MPI ECR Group “Solvent-controlled electrosynthesis” will establish new concepts in electrosynthesis and energy conversion with a focus on the role of the solvent to strengthen the interdisciplinary collaboration between RESOLV and MPI CEC. The specific goal is to improve the molecular understanding of solvation processes and to use these results for the development of new (electro)organic reactions and processes. Opportunities for cooperation exist with leading groups in electro- and organic synthesis, spectroscopy, simulation, and process control in RESOLV.

Your Profile

The applicants (m/f/d) are expected to have:

• a full university degree with a doctorate in chemistry, chemical engineering or a related discipline,
• experience in synthetic organic synthesis and/or spectroscopy,
• an outstanding record of publications,
• fascination for the interdisciplinary research field Solvation Science, and
• ability and willingness to collaborate with existing groups in the Cluster of Excellence RESOLV.
• International experience as a postdoc is beneficial.

Our Offer

The aforementioned position will be embedded in the high-profile research environment of the Cluster of Excellence RESOLV and will be integrated into the International Faculty Solvation Science. The group will strongly benefit from the latest research infrastructure provided by MPI CEC, the Research Center ZEMOS (Center for Molecular Spectroscopy and Simulation of Solvent Controlled Processes), and the Cluster of Excellence RESOLV. The start-up package includes consumables and travel resources, office and lab space, funding for personnel, and the opportunity to submit applications for investments and supplementary funding.

The position is available at the earliest possible date. Funding is restricted until 31.12.2032. Applications should include a detailed curriculum vitae (with information about awards, presentations, grants), a list of all publications, a list and PDFs of the five most important publications, a two-page outline of the general research interests, and a two-page research plan (until 31.12.2032) in Solvation Science.

The Max Planck Society is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in its workforce and therefore encourages applications from such qualified individuals.

Applications should be sent by October 15th 2026, as a single PDF file to Prof. Siegfried R. Waldvogel siegfried.waldvogel@cec.mpg.de .

Encrypted data transfer is possible via Cryptshare.mpg.de