Research Associate

The successful candidate will be employed under a regular employment contract.

The position is to be filled by 2/15/2026 and offered for a fixed term until

Continued employment for a total of at least three years as part of the doctoral programme is planned.

The fixed-term employment is possible as it constitutes one of the fixed-term options of the Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz (German Act on Fixed-term Scientific Contracts).

This is a full-time position.

The successful candidate has the opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree in this position.

The salary is based on the German public service salary scale (TV-L).

The position corresponds to a pay grade of EG 13 TV-L.

The Cluster of Excellence CARE, funded under the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments, pursues the goal of fundamentally transforming the construction industry – towards a climate-neutral, resource-efficient, and digitalized value chain. CARE combines cutting-edge research in building materials, structural principles, manufacturing technologies, digital methods, and sustainability assessment into a holistic innovation approach. CARE is jointly led by RWTH Aachen and TU Dresden and has been approved for a seven-year funding period following a successful review.

The advertised position is organizationally based at the Institute for Structural Concrete (IMB) of RWTH Aachen University, the speaker institute of the cluster in Aachen. The IMB is a dynamically growing institute with around 60 employees. As a Data Steward (f/m/d), you will play a key role in shaping the establishment of professional research data management within the Cluster of Excellence CARE, thereby making a central contribution to the safeguarding, reuse, and visibility of excellent research at one of Europe's leading hubs for the future of construction.

• Successfully completed university degree (Master or equivalent), preferably in computer science, civil engineering, or another engineering discipline, or a comparable qualification, with an interest in data management in a complex research project.
• Strong communication skills in English.
• A doctorate is an advantage.
• Experience in research projects as well as in handling research data.
• Knowledge of concepts and methods of research data management is required for the role, but can also be acquired as part of the position.
• Experience in project management, social competence, teamwork skills, high motivation, and commitment round off your profile.

• Design, support, supervision, and monitoring of research data management (RDM) for researchers in the Cluster of Excellence CARE.
• Development of a cluster-specific RDM concept and derivation of concrete guidelines for researchers.
• Direct reporting to the cluster management as well as to the RDM coordinator of RWTH.
• Close collaboration with the RWTH RDM team.
• Collection and analysis of the requirements of researchers in the cluster.
• Contribution to the development of central RDM services and ensuring their visibility and use within the cluster.
• Development of ideas and concepts for further advancing data management and collaborative work in the cluster.
• Support of researchers in developing or applying innovative methods for data preparation and analysis.
• Preparation of decision recommendations for the cluster management on the selection and adaptation of technical solutions for RDM in the cluster.

RWTH is a certified family-friendly University. We support our employees in maintaining a good work-life balance with a wide range of health, advising, and prevention services, for example university sports. Employees who are covered by collective bargaining agreements and civil servants have access to an extensive range of further training courses and the opportunity to purchase a job ticket.

RWTH is an equal opportunities employer. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates, particularly from groups that are underrepresented at the University. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability or age. RWTH is strongly committed to encouraging women in their careers. Female applicants are given preference if they are equally suitable, competent, and professionally qualified, unless a fellow candidate is favored for a specific reason.

As RWTH is committed to equality of opportunity, we ask you not to include a photo in your application.

You can find information on the personal data we collect from applicants in accordance with Articles 13 and 14 of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) at .

EG 13 TV-L