Research Assistant/Associate – Doctoral Candidate (/non-binary) bei RWTH Aachen

Focus: Modeling and Environmental Assessment in the Field of Renewable Energies

Institution

Lehrstuhl für Anthropogene Stoffkreisläufe und Institut für Aufbereitung, Kokerei und Brikettierung

Our Profile

We at ANTS are located within the Faculty of Georesources and Material Technology in the Department of Raw Materials and Waste Management. Our goal is to develop essential contributions to circular and sustainable resource management, ensuring a livable environment for future generations. With our experience in the technical treatment of waste streams and the implementation of state-of-the-art sensor-based methods, we can provide firsthand data for environmental impact assessment, allowing us to model processes and evaluate them in the context of holistic product systems and cycles. In addition to a well-equipped pilot plant for conducting processing-related investigations, ANTS has a modern sensor laboratory and access to various LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) software tools and databases. In teaching, we are responsible for the specialization in recycling in various study programs, using innovative teaching concepts and incorporating our MAssLab.

Your Profile

We are looking for a candidate who is interested in investigating topics related to renewable energies, with a focus on the recycling of wind turbine rotor blades and the storage of hydrogen, taking into account the entire life cycle and circular economy considerations. Key questions include the evaluation of achievable recyclate qualities for circular closure and the resulting ecological and economic potentials, which should also be related to other R-strategies. Furthermore, research should be conducted to examine to what extent existing methodological approaches like life cycle analysis and material flow analysis can be further developed and combined to measure sustainable circularity.

If you meet the following requirements, we look forward to receiving your application!

• Completed University degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in the field of environmental assessment and/or in areas such as process engineering, waste management, raw material technology, construction and environmental engineering, or similar disciplines.
• Strong knowledge of ecological balance (Ökobilanzen) is required, and experience in modeling with LCA software such as OpenLCA, Umberto, or GaBi is advantageous.
• Proficient skills in communication, teamwork, inter- and transdisciplinary work, and knowledge integration.
• Independent, structured, analytical approach.
• Excellent English language skills, both spoken and written.
• Enthusiasm for life cycle thinking, sustainable circular economy, and recycling processes.
• Flexibility and willingness to travel.
• Ability and strong interest in scientific work and publishing.

Your Duties and Responsibilities

As part of your duties, you will engage in the assessment of ecological and economic material cycles related to the above-mentioned topics. The development of modeling approaches will require the use of primary data and their modeling in LCA and LCC tools, considering various R-strategies and scenarios. You will be involved in interdisciplinary project teams and will represent the results at international scientific events. In addition, we welcome your support in shaping our teaching activities.

What We Offer

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 initially for three years.
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 with the possibility of a part-time contract upon request.
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.

About us

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