Tenure-track professorship (W1)

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT); Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent research infrastructure

International networking

Transparent career development

Family-friendly offers

Onboarding program

Job summary

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) seeks a tenure-track professor (W1) in Biomedical Photonics affiliated with the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. The role focuses on neural interfaces and interdisciplinary research bridging medical engineering and neuroscience.

The candidate will teach 4 hours per week, rising to 6 after a positive evaluation, and will contribute to program development in English and German.

Qualifications

• Outstanding doctoral degree and international visibility in research.
• Teaching experience in German and/or English for BSc/MSc programs.

Responsibilities

• Teach Biomedical Photonics or related field in German and/or English.
• Develop and supervise courses in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology and Biomedical Engineering.
• Engage in research with clinical users and neuroscientists; pursue third-party funding.
• Contribute to academic self-governance and technology transfer.

Skills

Teaching experience

Team player

Third-party funding

Interdisciplinary research

Education

PhD in relevant field

Job description

Job Description

• The tenure-track professorship (W1) “Biomedical Photonics” will be affiliated with the KIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. Your research focuses on the field of the intersection between medical engineering and neurosciences. Of particular interest are projects in the field of photonic and electronic, direct and indirect neural interfaces. Your work should focus on the development and fabrication of novel neural interfaces offering high biocompatibility and signal quality. Close collaboration with clinical users as well as neuroscientists should be a central element of your research activities.
• The position involves a teaching load of 4 hours per week; following a positive evaluation, this increases to 6 hours per week.
• Your teaching responsibilities represent Biomedical Photonics or your field of specialization in German- and / or English-language introductory and research-oriented advanced courses in the Bachelor’s and Master’s program in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, the Master’s program in Biomedical Engineering as well as in Optics & Photonics at the KIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. To support you as you begin your teaching career, a wide range of language courses is available at KIT as needed.
• You are expected to actively participate in academic self-governance at the KIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology and in Division III, to secure public and industrial third-party funding, and to be actively involved in technology transfer.
• You are expected to contribute to at least one of the KIT Centers: Health Technologies, Materials in Technical and Life Sciences, or Humans and Technology as well as to the Graduate School Karlsruhe School of Optics & Photonics.

Your Profile

• To be considered for this tenure-track professorship, you must have an outstanding doctoral degree and demonstrate early academic promise through research contributions with international visibility, complemented by teaching experience . Furthermore, you should be a team player and willing to take on responsibility. You are willing to seek competitive third-party funding. Having successfully acquired an externally evaluated junior research group is an advantage. We explicitly welcome experiences in industry or with startups.
• You have a clearly defined research profile in the field of technological neuro-interfaces and demonstrate a strong interest in advancing this interdisciplinary field at KIT.
• Ideally, you already have some teaching and supervision experience and a high level of motivation for further pedagogical development.
• KIT offers a diverse, customizable professional development program for executives and lecturers. We are also happy to assist you in Division III as you will get started at KIT.

We Offer

• Excellent Research Conditions & State-of-the-art Infrastructure : Benefit from a unique environment that combines university and large-scale research, and gain access to state-of-the-art equipment and interdisciplinary projects. This environment enables you to conduct both basic and applied research at the highest level.
• International Networking : You will work in a global network that encompasses international collaborations and English-language scientific communication. KIT promotes exchange with leading research institutions and industry partners worldwide.
• Transparent Career Paths & Personal Development : Clear development prospects, individual coaching, and a well-developed leadership development program support you in steering your academic career in a targeted manner.
• Family-friendly Offers : The KIT Dual Career Service supports you and your partner in integrating into the workforce, while flexible working time models and company childcare facilities make it easier to balance work and family life.
• Onboarding & Integration : A customized onboarding program will accompany you from your first day at work, enabling you to quickly get started in research, teaching, and the KIT networks and get off to the best possible start.

Salary

Salary is determined by the statutory provisions of the state of Baden-Württemberg and corresponds to the basic salary of pay grade W1 (civil service pay scale). In addition, allowances may be awarded. Where applicable, a family allowance is paid in accordance with civil service regulations.

Contract Duration

The position is for six years, either as a fixed-term civil service appointment (Beamtenverhältnis auf Zeit) or as an employment contract; an interim evaluation will take place before the end of the third year. The evaluation process and the general evaluation criteria follow the . The following subject-specific criteria will be of particular importance for the interim and final evaluations: Independence and originality of research, international scientific visibility, publication record in renowned journals, acquisition of third-party funding, transfer of research results into application, excellent teaching evaluations, successful supervision of graduation theses (B.Sc./M.Sc.) and PhD candidates, and active participation in the work of academic bodies. In case of a positive final evaluation, you will be appointed tenured university professor (W3).

Employment is subject to Art. 14, par. (2) of the KIT Act in conjunction with Art. 51 LHG Baden-Württemberg (Act of Baden-Württemberg on Universities and Colleges) as well as the

Contact Person

For subject-matter inquiries, please contact Prof. Dr. Laurent Schmalen. Email: .

At KIT we value the diversity of our employees; different perspectives and backgrounds enrich our work. We therefore welcome applications from all candidates. Women are especially encouraged to apply. Applications from recognized severely disabled individuals are given preferential consideration when qualifications are equal.

Application up to: 2026-11-16