Research Associate – Postdoc Circular Economy, Materials

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

The position is to be filled at the earliest possible date and offered for a fixed term of two years.

Further employment is sought.

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

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

SAF is a chair of RWTH Aachen University, part oft he mechanical faculty. We research and develop methods and tools that systematically combine sustainability assessment, artificial intelligence, and foresight research. The aim is to enable transparent, comparable, and automated assessment of industrial value creation systems by standardizing the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA; holistic/three-dimensional sustainability assessment), thereby promoting data-based sustainability strategies.

The focus is on the pillars of standardization and automation of sustainability assessment and foresight research, which we link in an interdisciplinary manner – among other things, in cooperation with partners from science, certification, and industry. Practical and future-oriented solutions are developed based on use cases from various industries.

Under our guiding principle " SAF - Science for Sustainable Industry Transformation ," we combine research on LCSA, AI-supported data processing, and scenario-based foresight research. The desired outcome are open, freely accessible tools and technical solutions for standardized sustainability assessment and scenario development that combine scientific excellence with practical applicability.

The Circular Economy & Materials research group at PEM is further developing the various components of lithium-ion batteries. All battery components are examined throughout their entire life cycle – from the raw material to recycling – and optimised with regard to KPIs such as cost, performance and sustainability. Future materials and technologies from the post-lithium-ion sector are also the subject of research. The group's second focus is on the processes that follow the first life cycle of a battery, which are summarised under the term 'Re-X'. These include the use of batteries in 'Re-Use', for example as stationary energy storage devices, automated dismantling, 'Repair', "Remanufacturing" and recycling. From the implementation of strategic consulting projects to the investigation of specific technical issues in the laboratory, the team is dedicated to almost all topics in the areas of battery components and 'Re-X' topics.

What We Offer

• Work in an interdisciplinary and future-oriented research environment
• Application of AI, data analytics, and sustainability assessment in practice-driven projects
• Flexible working arrangements – on-site and remote options

• Completed PhD in engineering or a related field (e.g., mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, environmental engineering)
• Experience or strong interest in sustainability assessment methodologies (e.g., Life Cycle Assessment, Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment, techno-economic evaluation)
• Experience or interest in AI and programming (preferably with Python and/or Brightway)
• Ideally, experience or interest in foresight and futures research methodologies (strategic or technological foresight)
• Ideally, prior practical experience in consulting, project acquisition, acquisition
• Motivation to explore and develop new research topics independently
• Structured and reliable working style, creative and pragmatic thinking, curiosity, and willingness to learn
• Fluent in German and English, both written and spoken

• Active contribution to projects with industrial partners, from acquisition and planning to implementation
• Research on sustainability assessment (LCSA), foresight research, and Re-X / End-of-Life (EoL) modelling (Re-Use, Repair, Remanufacturing, and Recycling, e.g., of batteries)
• Development of prototype tools for sustainability evaluation and forecasting within research and industry projects
• Supervision of student theses and participation in teaching activities
• Early opportunities for budget and leadership responsibility, with freedom to shape your own research focus

We Offer

• A dynamic and interdisciplinary research team
• High degree of creative freedom
• 30 days of annual leave (full-time) & bridge day arrangements
• Flexible working hours (flexitime)
• Hybrid work options (partial remote work)
• Team events and staff activities
• Annual bonus subject to eligibility
• Modern IT equipment

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