Doctoral Researcher (m/f/d) on Process Simulation for Metal Cycles

The University of Bayreuth is a research-oriented university with internationally competitive and interdisciplinary research and teaching profiles.

The following part-time position (TV-L E13, 75 % of full-time equivalent) is available at the Chair of Ecological Resource Technology at the Faculty for Engineering Science, starting as soon as possible and no later than 1 January 2027:

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Process Simulation for Metal Cycles

The Chair for Ecological Resource Technology focuses on the modelling, simulation, and evaluation of global material cycles. Our research focuses on the use and processing of 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. Whether a metal can be kept in the cycle is determined in metallurgical and recycling processes, whose yields depend on the elemental composition of the feed materials and scraps. This position models those process routes using process simulation, building on a composition hierarchy of elements, materials, components, and products that is being developed in parallel within the project team. It quantifies how process and recycling yields depend on composition and makes that knowledge usable for the optimisation of process routes in the circular economy. The results feed into the Material Pathway Analysis, which the project team develops jointly and with which the material flows of technology metals are modelled and visualised across their entire life cycle. Suitable applications lie in energy technology, electronics, and lightweight construction.

Your responsibilities:

• Identification of the core parameters that determine process and recycling yields of technology metals.
• Setting up and evaluating process simulations of metallurgical and recycling process chains, considering the elemental composition of feed materials, intermediate products, and scraps.
• Derivation of composition-dependent equations for transfer coefficients as well as process and recycling yields.
• Optimisation of process routes for a circular economy of technology metals.
• Collaboration with the other researchers 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.

Your profile:

• Master’s degree with a very good grade in metallurgy, process engineering, chemical engineering, materials science and engineering, chemistry, or related fields
• English language skills at least language level C1
• Motivation to contribute to more sustainable global metal cycles through engineering research
• Ideally a specialisation related to metallurgy, recycling, process technology, circular economy, or a comparable area
• Ideally experience with process simulation, thermodynamic modelling, or corresponding software (e.g. HSC Chemistry, FactSage, Aspen Plus)
• Ideally knowledge of mass and energy balances of metallurgical and recycling process chains
• Ideally 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 and international collaboration and scientific discourse

Our offer:

• We support you in integrating the project's research results into a suitable PhD project in engineering through your independent research 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 Graduate School and the Center for Higher Education Teaching.
• Integration into an established project team with a postdoctoral researcher and a doctoral researcher, and into an international network of collaboration partners.
• 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, 75 % of full-time equivalent).
• Project funds finance the position, which is, therefore, temporary.
  
  

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, full Master’s thesis, curriculum vitae, transcripts, and certificates) via the University of Bayreuth application portal using the keyword “SEMPATHY WP2”. The application deadline is 15 September 2026. 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).