PhD physicist or materials scientist (f/m/d) - DFG project

The research focus of the Institute of Materials Research lies in the development of new material solutions and their process technologies for applications in aerospace, digitalisation as well as the energy and transport sectors. In cooperation with other DLR institutes and national and international partners, the Institute of Materials Research works on basic and applied research.

Enter the fascinating world of the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) and help shape the future through research and innovation! We offer an exciting and inspiring working environment driven by the expertise and curiosity of our 11,000 employees from 100 nations and our unique infrastructure. Together, we develop sustainable technologies and thus contribute to finding solutions to global challenges. Would you like to join us in addressing this major future challenge? Then this is your place!

Req ID:  753

Place of work:  Köln

Starting date:  01.04.2025

Career level:  Experienced professionals

Type of employment:  Full-time, Part time

Duration of contract:  three years

Remuneration: Remuneration is in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector - Federal Government (TVöD-Bund)

What to expect

The position is part of the binational DFG project "Combinatorial development of efficient thermoelectric half-Heusler materials using machine learning, DFT and high-throughput experiments", which is being carried out in cooperation between the DLR Institute of Materials Research, the University of Montpellier and the Ruhr University Bochum. The goal of the department “Thermoelectric materials and systems” is to pioneer robust thermoelectric modules and generators capable of harnessing (waste) heat and converting it into electrical power. These innovations cater to diverse applications, serving as , self-sustainable electric power sources, thermal sensors and Peltier heat pumps in automotive technology, energy infrastructures, and aerospace endeavors. The scope of work ranges from the optimization of material synthesis routes and measurement technique development over interface engineering to the fabrication of thermoelectric module prototypes and system optimization.The aim of the project is to develop highly effective thermoelectric materials based on environmentally friendly and readily available starting materials. In particular, the aim is to synthesise new compositions, establish composition-microstructure-property relationships and further develop high-throughput measurement and evaluation methods.

Your tasks

• Synthesis of thermoelectric semiconductor materials from the class of half-Heusler compounds using melting or powder metallurgical processes.
• Characterisation of thermoelectric samples with regard to microstructure (SEM, EDX, XRD), composition and integral electrical and thermal transport properties.
• Local determination of the transport properties of graded or inhomogeneous samples, further development of existing measurement systems and analysis tools.
• Further development of effective media models for the consideration of secondary phases in transport modelling.
• Development of transport models taking into account the electronic band structure based on the measurement results.
• Analysing the results and publishing them in conference papers and scientific articles.
• Supervision of internships, Bachelor's and Master's theses, support for doctoral theses.

Your profile

• Master's or diploma degree in a natural science or engineering field/subject, e.g. materials science, physics, chemistry or comparable
• very good doctorade: Dr. rer. nat., Dr.-Ing. or comparable
• three or more scientific publications (peer-reviewed)
• extensive laboratory experience in the high-temperature bulk synthesis of inorganic thermoelectric compound semiconductors, ideally of half-Heuseler compounds and experience in the functional and microstructural characterization of thermoelectric materials (SEM; XRD, EDX, AFM...)
• sound knowledge of solid-state physics, semiconducturs physics, solid-state chemistry, experience in automated data processing and experience in the use of AI-based tools
• basic experience in meeasurement technology and knowledge of a programming language (Phyton, MATLAB)
• very good knowledge of written and spoken German and English and the ability to work in an international team of scientists, technicians, students and international co-operation partners

We offer

DLR stands for diversity, appreciation and equality for all people. We promote independent work and the individual development of our employees both personally and professionally. To this end, we offer numerous training and development opportunities. Equal opportunities are of particular importance to us, which is why we want to increase the proportion of women in science and management in particular. Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are qualified.

We look forward to getting to know you!

If you have any questions about this position (Vacancy-ID 753) please contact:

Johannes de Boor 
Tel.: +49 2203 601 4037 

DLR - Helmholtz / Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt

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