6 PhD positions (4 years) for the PhD Graduate School WERA on the topic "Phosphorus Recovery fr[...]

Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU); Kaiserslautern; Vor Ort; EUR 50.000 - 60.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Eine technische Universität in Rheinland-Pfalz sucht ab dem 01.07.2026 sechs Doktoranden für das PhD Graduate School WERA, die sich mit der Rückgewinnung von Phosphor aus Abwasser befassen. Die Position erfordert einen Masterabschluss in Ingenieurwesen, Chemie oder Physik. Die Doktoranden werden an innovativen Projekten arbeiten und haben Zugang zu einer international ausgerichteten Forschungsgemeinschaft. Flexible Arbeitszeiten und umfassende Gesundheitsförderung sind Teil der Angebote.

Leistungen

Gesundheitsförderung

Vermittlungsangebote

Flexibles Arbeiten

Jobticket

Rentenvorsorge

Sport- und Fitnessprogramme

Kultur- und Freizeitangebote

Regionale Erholung im Pfälzerwald

Qualifikationen

• Masterabschluss oder gleichwertig in Ingenieurwesen, Chemie oder Physik erforderlich.

Aufgaben

• Forschung zur Rückgewinnung von Phosphor aus Abwasser.
• Teilnahme an interdisziplinären Workshops und Vorlesungen.

Ausbildung

Masterabschluss oder gleichwertig in Ingenieurwesen, Chemie oder Physik

Jobbeschreibung

6 PhD positions (4 years) for the PhD Graduate School WERA on the topic “Phosphorus Recovery from Wastewater”

Key details

• Term limitation: 4 years
• Beginning: 01.07.2026
• Location: Kaiserslautern
• Scope: Full time
• Remuneration: E 13 TV‑L
• Administration and Services: Mechanical and Process Engineering

With about 17,000 students, more than 300 professorships and around 160 degree programs, the University of Kaiserslautern‑Landau (RPTU) is the technical university of the state of Rhineland‑Palatinate. As a place of top international research, it offers excellent working conditions and career opportunities. Those who study, research or work at RPTU experience a cosmopolitan environment and shape the future.

Are you interested in the sustainable use of natural resources and would like to learn the basics for efficient recycling methods as part of a PhD study? Then the PhD Graduate School WERA “Wertstoff Abwasser” (Valuable Wastewater) is a good place for you. The RPTU University Kaiserslautern‑Landau is looking for 6 motivated PhD students as of 01.07.2026 (or earlier).

In WERA, 13 cooperative davamary on the recovery of the important raw material phosphorus (P) from wastewater are being worked on together using novel natural scientific and engineering approaches through to technical implementation. In WERA, various processes, such as the synthesis of tailor‑made adsorbers and innovative separation units for phosphorus recovery will be developed, combined in process chains and validated on a wastewater recycling pilot plant. Suitable methods for process analysis and characterization will be extended and the chemical‑physical relationships will be studied using molecular and thermodynamic simulations. The research findings of WERA can be transferred to many other fields of the circular economy.

PhD study in WERA takes 4 years in a close cooperation between PhD students and interdisciplinary professors team. WERA’s study concept includes summer schools, keynote lectures given by internationally renowned scientists, topic‑specific courses and interdisciplinary workshops as well as offers for visit of international research institutes. Due to a comprehensive scientific education of WERA you will obtain a highly qualified expertise in the promising fields of resource recovery and environmental technology.

The following PhD topics are available, explained in more detail by clicking on the topics (on rptu.de/wera):

PhD topics

• In Chemistry:
  • A3: Development of a flow process for P removal from wastewater using polymeric adsorbers – Supervisor: Prof. Stefan Kubik
• In Process Engineering:
  • B1: Thermodynamic modeling of the recovery of phosphorus from wastewater – Supervisor: Prof. Fabian Jirasek
  • B4: Investigation of precipitation and crystallization processes in phosphorus recovery using experimental and numerical methods – Supervisor: Prof. Sergiy Antonyuk
  • C2: Experimental investigation and modeling of an adsorption/desorption process for the separation of P from wastewater – Supervisor: Prof. Erik von Harbou
\ электро
• In Wastewater Engineering:
  • D1: Adsorption and ion‑exchange for combined phosphorus elimination and recovery – Supervisor: Prof. Heidrun Steinmetz
  • D3: Iron removal and recovery from sewage sludge using zeolites and integrated resource recovery – Supervisor: Jun.-Prof. Carlo Morandi

Requirements profile

• Prerequisite for the PhD position is a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in engineering, chemistry or physics.

Benefits

• Health promotion
• குடும்ப Service Center
• Vocational Training
• Flexible working hour
• Jobticket
• Retirement provision
• Sport & Fitness programs
• Culture & Leisure offers
• Local recreation in the Palatinate Forest

RPTU stands for diversity among all employees. We welcome applications from all interested parties, regardless of their ethnic and social origin, age, religion, gender, disability and sexual orientation or identity. Preference will be given to severely disabled persons and persons equivalent to them if they have the appropriate qualifications and suitability.

The RPTU aims to increase the proportion of women in areas where women are underrepresented. Applications from researchers from abroad are expressly encouraged. The position can also be filled on a part‑time basis.

Your application

We look forward to receiving your detailed application:

• Letter of motivation that prioritizes one of the PhD topics of WERA.
• Curriculum Vitae
• Copy of your degree certificate (Bachelor, Master or equivalent) with full academic transcripts directly to the supervisors of PhD topics (contact see rptu.de/wera/team). You can contact the spokesperson Prof. Sergiy Antonyuk (sergiy.antonyuk[at]mv.rptu.de) for general questions about PhD Graduate School.

by 31.01.2026 at the latest.

Please submit your application using the “Online Bewerbung” button below or via our application portal (https://jobs.rptu.de).

Your contact at Department 3/cart Human Resources is [e-mail].

For technical questions, please contact Ms. Prof. Sergiy Antonyuk (Tel.: [phone], e‑mail: [e-mail]).