Postdoc (f/m/d) Leader of Junior Research Group "WEEE-Recycling" / Completed university studies[...]

Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf - HZDR - Helmholtz Association; Deutschland; Vor Ort; EUR 40.000 - 60.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading research institute in Germany is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to establish and lead a Junior Research Group focused on WEEE-recycling. The position involves developing predictive recycling concepts and working closely with a transdisciplinary team. Ideal candidates should have a PhD in relevant fields and experience in technologies for recycling electronics. The role offers opportunities for publication and collaboration within a vibrant research environment, alongside competitive benefits including a good work-life balance.

Leistungen

30 days of paid holiday leave

Company pension scheme (VBL)

Support for work-life balance

Employee discounts

Employer subsidy for Germany Ticket Jobticket

Qualifikationen

• Completed university studies with a PhD in relevant fields.
• Experience with technologies used for recycling electronics waste.
• Publications relevant to the field.

Aufgaben

• Establish and lead a junior research group focusing on predictive recycling concepts.
• Recruit and manage group members including postdocs and students.
• Conduct excellent research and publish in leading journals.

Kenntnisse

Physical and chemical technologies for electronic waste recycling

Quantitative chemical and physical characterization

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Machine learning and simulation

Communication and team player skills

Ausbildung

PhD in Process Engineering, Metallurgy, or related fields

Jobbeschreibung

Organisation/Company Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf - HZDR - Helmholtz Association Research Field Other Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Established Researcher (R3) Country Germany Application Deadline 26 Dec 2025 - 23:00 (UTC) Type of Contract To be defined Job Status Other Offer Starting Date 1 Feb 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by the EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Area of research:

Scientific / postdoctoral posts

01.02.2026

Job description: Postdoc (f/m/d) Leader of Junior Research Group "WEEE-Recycling"

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.

At the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF), innovative technologies for the circular economy are developed to provide and use mineral and metal-bearing raw materials more efficiently and to recycle them in an environmentally friendly way.

The Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF) is looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/d) that will establish and lead a Junior Research Group in the field of WEEE-recycling, subject to project approval. This junior research group will be established within the context of the new DFG-funded Excellence Cluster “REC2 – Responsible Electronics in the Climate Change Era” that will be established at the TU Dresden. The selected candidate (f/m/d) will have the opportunity to build his own research group dedicated to develop novel predictive concepts for the recycling of WEEE. The development and test of these novel concepts will be done in close collaboration with a transdisciplinary team of researchers, including material scientists, device designers and system architects.

• Establish and lead a junior research group focusing on the development of predictive recycling concepts for future electronic devices and products
• Recruit and manage the group members, which may include postdocs, doctoral students, research assistants and other co-workers
• Supervise students (PhD, MSc and BSc)
• Effective collaboration with other research groups in the REC2 Excellence Cluster
• Test and validate the developed predictive concepts with material scientists and device designers
• Communicate insights gained to colleagues in the REC2 excellence cluster
• Conduct excellent research, including publication in leading international journals, active dissemination of research results to academic networks and the general public
• Attract further third-party funding to strengthen the research activities of the junior research group
• Become actively involved in the REC2 cluster activities and its self-governance
• Demonstrate academic ambition by applying for the “TUD Young Investigator Status”

Your profile

• Completed university studies with PhD in the field of Process Engineering, Metallurgy, Applied Physics, Materials Science, Materials Engineering, or related fields
• Tangible experience with physical and chemical technologies used for the recycling of electronics waste (or similar waste categories)
• Sound knowledge of and experience with approaches used for the quantitative chemical and physical characterization of complex raw materials
• In-depth understanding of critical raw material analytics, processing, valorization and market
• First‑hand experience in the application of machine learning, simulation and modelling concepts in resource technology
• Proven track record of interdisciplinary collaboration along the value chain of raw materials
• Tangible publication record relevant to the field
• Experience with project acquisition and coordination
• Good communication and team player skills
• Proven ability to provide professional guidance and motivation to team members
• Fluent in spoken and written English
• Knowledge of German is not a requirement, but will be an advantage

Our offer

• A vibrant research community in an open, diverse and international work environment
• Scientific excellence and extensive professional networking opportunities
• 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.

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.