*** Keep in mind that the job opening will be in early October 2025, so the final job description might not yet be available under the link. Just check a few days later. The tentative application deadline is 21 October 2025. ***
The University of Bayreuth is a research-oriented university with an internationally competitive and interdisciplinary profile in research and teaching.
The following full-time position is available at the Chair of Ecological Resource Technology at the Faculty for Engineering Science, starting 1 January 2026:
Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d) on Material Flow Analysis of global metal cycles
The Chair for Ecological Resource Technology focuses on the modelling, simulation, and evaluation of global material cycles. Our research is about using and processing resources from mining to recycling. Our goal is to create sustainable technical systems for metals and mineral resources. We use industrial ecology methods, particularly raw material criticality assessment, material flow analysis, and life cycle assessment. Thereby, we evaluate environmental and techno-economic aspects. The research group values interdisciplinary collaboration and offers you a variety of opportunities to participate actively.
The advertised position is embedded in the ERC Starting Grant project "SEMPATHY", in which a novel modelling approach of global and sustainable metal cycles is being researched. Closing material cycles is the central challenge to limit the environmental impact of using metals in the technosphere. The technical lifespan of metals between mining and dissipative losses is just 10 years for half of the metals in the periodic table. In SEMPATHY, the Material Pathway Analysis method will be newly developed to better model metals in materials, components, products, and waste streams over the entire life cycle. In addition, new visualisation possibilities for material flows are being researched. Suitable cases for material path analyses are in energy technology, electronics, and lightweight construction.
Your responsibilities:
- Development of a modelling framework for material path analysis, considering the hierarchy of metals, materials, components, products, and scrap.
- Development of a new solution methodology for calculating material flows in material path analyses, which considers the dependence of process efficiencies on material flow composition.
- Research into novel visualisation possibilities for mixed material flows and their material paths.
- Co-supervise further work packages in the ERC project SEMPATHY.
- Independent research is needed to reach the project goals.
- Active participation in the research project, coordination and exchange with research partners.
- Publication of scientific articles and presentation of results at conferences in English.
- Writing of project reports.
- In perspective, also teaching participation through courses and thesis supervision.
Your profile:
- Completed doctorate in the field of Industrial Ecology, Circular Economy, Industrial Engineering, Process Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field
- English language skills at least language level C1
- Ideally, specialisation related to critical raw materials, circular economy, recycling, resource efficiency, or comparable sustainability
- Ideally, experience with metals, mining, metallurgy, or metal recycling
- Programming experience with Python or a comparable programming language
- the ability to work independently, a rigorous scientific approach, systematic and analytic thinking, commitment, creativity, and ability to work in a team
- a passion for interdisciplinary collaboration and scientific discourse
Our offer:
- We support you in integrating the project's research results into a suitable habilitation procedure through your independent engineering work.
- We promote your scientific and personal development through intensive cooperation at the Chair and in the research field of Industrial Ecology, international research exchange and through further qualification courses of the UBT WiN Academy and the Center for Higher Education Teaching.
- Generous travel budget and open access funding for developing one's scientific career.
- Concentrate on developing the research profile based on secured project funding in the ERC project.
- High quality of life in the city of Bayreuth and the green region of Upper Franconia.
- Support with visas and finding accommodation by the Welcome Center of the University of Bayreuth.
- The salary is in accordance with the German public service pay scale (TV-L E13).
- Project funds finance the position, which is, therefore, temporary. For first-time employment at the University of Bayreuth, the fixed-term contract is initially two years, with the possibility of extension over the duration of the project.
Your application
The University of Bayreuth values the diversity of its employees and is explicitly committed to the goal of gender equality. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants with children are very welcome. The University of Bayreuth is a member of the Best Practice Network "Familie in der Hochschule e.V.", and has successfully participated in the HRK audit "Internationalization of the University". Persons with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration if they are equally qualified.
Please apply online with all relevant documents (including a letter of motivation, a summary of the PhD thesis, curriculum vitae, and certificates) via the University of Bayreuth application portal using the keyword “SEMPATHY Postdoc”. The application deadline is 21.10.2025. The documents will be deleted after the position has been filled, in accordance with data protection requirements.
For further information, please contact Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christoph Helbig, Professor of Ecological Resource Technology (christoph.helbig@uni-bayreuth.de, +49(0)921/55-7540).