Student Research Assistant – Polymer & Membrane Materials for Next Generation Energy Technologies Part-time

Student Research Assistant – Polymer & Membrane Materials for Next Generation Energy Technologies

Would you like to play a part in Germany's energy transition? Then the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nuremberg for Renewable Energies (HI ERN) is the perfect place for you! HI ERN forms the centrepiece of a close partnership between Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ), the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) for Materials and Energy, and Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) at the Erlangen site. The development of innovative technologies such as fuel cells, electrolysis systems, and redox-flow batteries is one of today's most dynamic research fields. As society moves toward renewable energy and decarbonization, new polymer materials play a crucial role especially as ion-conducting polymers and membranes in electrochemical devices.

At HI ERN, the Membrane Polymer Synthesis team is dedicated to designing and developing cutting-edge polymer materials.

Your Job

The following tasks will be carried out according to the instructions and guidelines of your scientific colleagues:

• Support the synthesis, purification, and characterization of novel polymer compounds
• Fabricate and analyze membranes derived from newly developed materials
• Contribute to the scale-up of promising polymer systems

Your Profile

• Motivated student in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Materials Science, currently enrolled in an advanced Bachelor's or Master's program
• Advanced knowledge in organic chemistry and/or polymer chemistry
• Basic understanding of electrochemistry is beneficial but not required
• Very good command of written and spoken English with extensive vocabulary is required (at least B2 level according to the CEFR), ideally supported by a certificate confirming the language level. Knowledge of the German language is not mandatory but certainly appreciated

Our Benefits for You

• Great working environment: International, interdisciplinary working environment on an attractive campus (south campus of the FAU, Erlangen-Nürnberg) including many cooperation opportunities with our partners from science (Forschungszentrum Jülich, Helmholtz Society Berlin, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and abroad) as well as renowned industrial partners.
• Motivated team: Working in a highly specialised and motivated international team.
• Flexibility: Flexible working hours that accommodate demanding study periods. You should be able to work a minimum of 12 working hours per week.
• Vacation: You will receive 30 days of vacation (depending on the working time model) plus additional days off (e.g. between Christmas and New Year's)
• Fair remuneration: Depending on your existing qualifications and the tasks assigned to you, you will be classified in pay grade 3 of the TVöD-Bund (Collective Agreement for the Public Service). All information on the TVöD-Bund collective agreement can be found on the BMI website. The monthly salaries in euros can be found on page 69 ff. of the PDF download.
• Perspective: After a 6-month fixed-term contract, our goal is to extend your research assistant position. Let's use this time to find out how well we fit together.
• Support for international employees: Our International Advisory Service makes it easier for international employees to get started

In addition to exciting tasks and a collegial working environment, we offer you much more.

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.

The following links provide further information on diversity and equal opportunities: and on specific support options: