Reference no.: HI 2026/14
Achieving climate-neutrality within the next 20 years necessitates an innovation boost for the development of highly efficient, scalable, low-cost, and sustainably produced energy technologies. Polymer materials play a central role in this process. Energy storage and conversion materials, particularly sustainable batteries, play a central role in this context.
We are looking for a PhD student (m/f/d) to join our institute in Jena. You have the opportunity to support a young institute with your ideas and expertise, and you will collaborate with researchers from around the world to contribute to the development of a climate-friendly future. The position is based in the field of Sustainable Polymer Chemistry under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Hatice Mutlu, with the following thematic focus:
Development of sustainable organic and polymeric functional materials for electrochemical energy storage, with particular emphasis on controlled molecular and macromolecular design and structure-property-function relationships. The project combines modern polymer and organic chemistry with advanced materials characterization and electrochemical evaluation, while considering resource efficiency, circularity, and material reuse.
Your Tasks
- Develop and synthesize novel organic and polymeric functional materials for electrochemical energy storage
- Develop, apply, and optimize innovative polymerization and synthetic methods to control material structure and function
- Perform comprehensive structural, spectroscopic, chromatographic, and thermal characterization
- Investigate electrochemical properties and evaluate materials in relevant energy-storage systems
- Establish structure-property-function relationships and concepts for sustainable and circular materials
Your Profile
- A successful master’s degree in chemistry, polymer chemistry, materials science or a comparable field of study
- Strong demonstrated experience in organic chemistry and/or polymer chemistry
- Knowledge of and strong interest in novel polymerization and synthetic methodologies
- Experience with analytical methods for polymer and materials characterization
- Knowledge of or strong interest in electrochemistry and electrochemical energy storage; practical battery-cell experience is an advantage
- Very good written and spoken English skills
You demonstrate a high level of commitment, initiative, problem-solving skills, and a willingness to familiarize yourself with diverse areas of responsibility. You are characterized by your teamwork skills, reliability, independence, and communication abilities (including proficiency in English).
You enjoy working in an interdisciplinary, international team within a diverse and dynamic work environment.
Your Benefits at HZB
- International/diversity-sensitive working environment at a Helmholtz Institute
- Opportunity to contribute to the development of novel materials and technological solutions for a climate-neutral future together with top international researchers
- Career-enhancing networking opportunities and individual support and assistance programmes
- Participation in the integrated graduate program of the CataLight Collaborative Research Center
- Good work-life balance through counselling services on family and career and flexible working time models: Flexible working hours, the possibility to work remotely
- 30 days paid leave
- Health management, company pension scheme (VBL), subsidy for the Deutschlandticket/Jobticket
- Long-term prospects, opportunities for further development/training programmes
- Payment in accordance with the collective agreement for the public sector (TVöD-Bund)
Fixed term contract for 36 months. The salary is based on the Collective Agreement for the German Public Service (TVöD-Bund).
How to apply
We look forward to receiving your application via our application management system by 31.10.2026. For reasons of data protection regulations, we are unfortunately unable to consider applications that reach us by other means (such as email or mail) in the application process.
We very much want our workplace to be diverse, and welcome applications from people with different backgrounds. It is our mission to promote equal opportunities and to improve women’s representation in the workforce. We are therefore very interested in receiving applications from women. Where the qualifications are met, we will give preference to people with disabilities.