Real-time COD Monitoring for Sustainable Water Management

Universität Stuttgart; Stuttgart; Vor Ort; EUR 40.000 - 60.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading German university is offering a PhD position focused on developing real-time monitoring technologies for sustainable water management. Candidates will engage in high-quality research under the supervision of experienced professors. The ideal candidate will have an MSc in a relevant field and expertise in electrochemical analysis. This position offers a competitive scholarship of €1,300 per month in Stuttgart.

Leistungen

Agile and versatile research environment

Well-equipped workstations and laboratories

Interdisciplinary team for professional exchange

Qualifikationen

• Excellent academic performance in previous studies required.
• Experience in analytical chemistry and contaminant hydrogeology is preferred.
• Proficiency in English is essential.

Aufgaben

• Develop a real-time COD sensor based on electroanalytical detection principles.
• Evaluate methods under real environmental conditions.
• Investigate various detection principles for analyzing water constituents.

Kenntnisse

Electrochemical analysis

Analytical chemistry

Environmental engineering

Ausbildung

MSc in chemistry or related field

Dipl.-Ing. in Civil Engineering or related sciences

Jobbeschreibung

Overview

Position-ID: 1744

Faculty / Facility: Civil- and Environmental Engineering

Institute / Facility: Civil- and Environmental Engineering : ISWA - Institute of Sanitary Engineering Water Quality and Solid Waste Management

Research Association: Environment Water (ENWAT)

Teaching Obligation:

Application deadline: 10 / 01 / 2025

Anticipated Start Date: 10 / 01 / 2026

About Us

The international Doctoral Program Environment Water (ENWAT) of the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering Sciences University of Stuttgart Germany in collaboration with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) opens a call for max. 2 PhD positions for research in Environment Water. Each project involves high-quality research and state-of-the-art techniques and is supervised by excellent researchers. We are looking for highly motivated and talented students with a passion for science. Candidates must demonstrate an excellent performance in their previous academic education.

Position Details

Title: Real-time COD Monitoring for Sustainable Water Management

Advisors: Prof. Dr. Patrick Brutigam, Dr. Manuel Deggelmann

Research group / department: Department of Technical Environmental Chemistry and Sensor Technology (TUC) at the Institute for Sanitary Engineering Water Quality and Solid Waste Management (ISWA)

Keywords: Water Quality, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Sensor, Electrochemistry

Introduction / Background

Reliable monitoring and control of water systems is essential to protect water resources, ensure hygienic standards, and enable sustainable infrastructure operation. As challenges evolve—including emerging contaminants like PFAS, antibiotics, and micropollutants—along with climate-induced fluctuations and energy efficiency demands, water technologies must become more adaptive and forward-looking. Sensor technology plays a key role in this transformation, enabling real-time monitoring, automation, and intelligent decision-making.

Despite these needs, many water treatment processes still rely heavily on centralized time-consuming laboratory analyses and manual adjustments. This is especially problematic for indicators such as Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). Current COD determination methods are often discontinuous or spectroscopic and impractical for real-time application, limiting their utility in dynamic data-driven process control.

A central objective is the development and optimization of robust, low-maintenance, and cost-effective sensor systems capable of continuously monitoring COD and other key parameters in near real-time, including exploring and advancing electrochemical sensor technologies.

The work will lay the foundation for the digital transformation of water infrastructure, enhancing resilience, efficiency, and sustainability. By integrating real-time COD sensing into modern water management strategies, the initiative addresses critical scientific challenges and contributes to broader societal goals: ensuring clean water, modernizing infrastructure, and supporting data-driven environmental stewardship in the face of global change.

References

• Lambertz S., Franke M., Stelter M., Braeutigam P. Determination of Chemical Oxygen Demand with electrochemical methods: A review. Chemical Engineering Journal Advances.
• Lambertz S., Franke M., Stelter M., Braeutigam P. Sensing of chemical oxygen demand (COD) by amperometric detection — dependence of current signal on concentration and type of organic species. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment.
• Dietrich M., Franke M., Stelter M., Braeutigam P. Degradation of endocrine disruptor bisphenol A by ultrasound-assisted electrochemical oxidation in water. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry.

Your Tasks

Research goals

• Development of a real-time COD sensor based on enhanced electroanalytical detection principles
• Evaluate the sensitivity, selectivity, long-term stability, and matrix effects of the respective methods
• Application under real environmental conditions (e.g., influent and effluent of wastewater treatment plants, surface waters)

Methods to be used

• Evaluation of various electroanalytical detection principles (e.g., amperometric, potentiometric, voltammetric, chronoamperometric and impedimetric) and systematic investigation of their suitability for the analysis of water constituents
• Detection and quantification limits, cross-sensitivity, discrimination capability, matrix effects, and corresponding compensation strategies, as well as aspects such as the linear working range and technical transferability

Your Profile

Prerequisites

• MSc in chemistry, environmental chemistry, analytical chemistry, environmental engineering / sciences, geo-hydrology or similar
• Knowledge about electrochemical analysis and water sensors
• Experience in analytical chemistry and contaminant hydrogeology
• Willingness to develop scientifically and motivation to learn new concepts

Further Prerequisites :

• Resume / CV showing the applicant's background, professional skills, a list of publications and oral and poster presentations, as well as additional achievements (scholarships, awards, etc.)
• Dipl.-Ing. or equivalent degree in Civil Engineering, Water Resources Management, Environmental Engineering or related sciences
• Copies of certificates and transcripts, including all undergraduate level certificates and university degrees (documents not in English or German must be accompanied by a certified English translation)
• At nomination to the DAAD (Dec 2025), generally no more than 6 years should have passed since the last degree was gained
• Only international (non-German) applicants can be accepted; at nomination to the DAAD (Dec 2025) the candidate must not have been resident in Germany for more than the last 15 months
• Proficiency in English (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS) unless programs were held in English
• 2 reference letters from university professors from the applicant's home university issued during the last 2 years
• Motivation letter describing the applicant's work experience and research goals (1 page)
• Summary of all relevant information about the applicant (1 page) – to be uploaded in the slot designated for the third reference

Our Benefits

Research Environment

• Agile and versatile research environment
• Well-equipped workstations and laboratories
• Nice, helpful and interdisciplinary team for professional exchange and pleasant working conditions

Employment and compensation information

Maximal Funding Period or Duration of Employment: 48 months

Type of Funding : Scholarship

Compensation : 1300 per month

Percentage of weekly working hours: 100%

Location : Stuttgart Campus Vaihingen

Contact Details

Contact person : Dr. Gabriele Hartmann

Mail :

Phone : 49 5

Website : target

Key Skills

Cruise, Dcom, HVAC Design, Arabic, ASIC

Employment Type : Full Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1