PhD Student (f/m/d) Multisensor and Multiscale Measurement Techniques for Hydrodynamic Characterization of Flotation Cells – 2026/34 Part-time

PhD Student (f/m/d) Multisensor and Multiscale Measurement Techniques for Hydrodynamic Characterization of Flotation Cells

With cutting-edge research in the fields of ENERGY, HEALTH and MATTER, around 1,500 employees from more than 70 nations at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) are committed to mastering the great challenges facing society today.

The Institute of Fluid Dynamics is conducting basic and applied research in the fields of thermo-fluid dynamics and magnetohydrodynamics in order to improve the sustainability, the energy efficiency and the safety of industrial processes.

The Department of Fluid Dynamics Resource Technology Processes is looking for a PhD Student (f/m/d) Multisensor and Multiscale Measurement Techniques for Hydrodynamic Characterization of Flotation Cells.

Your tasks

• Measure and analyze flow-field and turbulence quantities, including turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), using PIV/LIF as well as fiber-optic and piezoelectric vibration sensors
• Investigate gas dispersion in different zones of the flotation cell by determining bubble size distributions (e.g., using optical probes) and/or by applying ultrafast X-ray tomography (e.g., ROFEX)
• Develop and further improve multi-sensor and imaging-based measurement methods to capture key process variables in different zones of the flotation cell
• Integrate and interpret data from different sensors and measurement techniques to provide a consistent hydrodynamic validation dataset for flotation-cell CFD studies carried out by collaborating researchers

Your profile

• Completed university studies (Master/Diploma) in the field of Process Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a comparable discipline
• Experience or strong interest in fluid dynamics, turbulence, multiphase flows, and bubbly flows
• Familiarity with multiphase measurement systems (e.g., PIV, piezoelectric vibration sensors)
• Independent, structured, and reliable way of working in the laboratory
• Strong problem-solving skills in experimental setup, instrumentation, and measurement campaigns
• Willingness to collaborate with industrial and academic partners and to participate in experimental campaigns; a secondment of around 3 months in Chile is planned
• Basic to good programming skills for data analysis and image processing (e.g., MATLAB, Python)
• Good written and spoken English

Our offer

• A vibrant research community in an open, diverse and international work environment
• Scientific excellence and extensive professional networking opportunities
• A structured PhD program with a comprehensive range of continuing education and networking opportunities – more information about the PhD program at the HZDR can be found here
• Salary and social benefits in accordance with the collective agreement for the public sector (TVöD-Bund) including 30 days of paid holiday leave, company pension scheme (VBL)
• We support a good work-life balance with the possibility of part-time employment, mobile working and flexible working hours
• Numerous company health management offerings
• Employee discounts with well-known providers via the platform Corporate Benefits
• An employer subsidy for the “Deutschland-Ticket Jobticket”

We look forward to receiving your application documents (including cover letter, CV, diplomas/transcripts, etc.), which you can submit via our online-application-system.