Research Assistant (f/m/d) - 13 PhD positions in chemistry, biology, physics, engineering, medicine or any other relevant field

Weitere Informationen

The successful candidate will be employed under a regular employment contract.
The position is to be filled by 10/1/2026 and offered for a fixed term of one year initially.
We aim to offer employment for 3 more years beyond this period.
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 part-time contract position.
The standard weekly hours will be 25,89-39,83 hours.
Working hours vary depending on the project area.
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.

Unser Profil

EMERGE is committed to training doctoral researchers at the highest level, combining a rigorous research environment with comprehensive professional development. The positions will start October 1, 2026 and are offered for four years (starting with a one-year contract) with the pay category TV-L 13. All candidates are expected to obtain a doctoral degree within 4 years. Under the coordination of RWTH Aachen University and its speaker Prof. Dr. Andrij Pich, EMERGE brings together an interdisciplinary consortium of researchers from chemistry, biology, physics, engineering, and medicine. The Research Training Group investigates how materials can be designed to adapt to their environment in ways inspired by living systems. At the heart of this endeavour are biohybrid colloidal hydrogels. These soft, water-rich materials built from biological building blocks such as proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, and phospholipids offer a level of functional complexity far beyond that of conventional synthetic materials. By decoding how information encoded in biological molecules can be harnessed in a targeted manner, EMERGE aims to pioneer a new generation of adaptive hydrogels capable of recognising molecules, adhering selectively to surfaces, self-regenerating, degrading in a controlled fashion, or changing shape on demand. In the long term, these materials hold transformative potential for applications in medicine, biotechnology, catalysis, and plant protection. EMERGE offers doctoral researchers a rigorous and comprehensive training environment designed to develop scientific excellence at the highest level. A structured qualification programme, combined with hands-on experience in cutting-edge experimental and computational methods, equips doctoral researchers with deep expertise across the disciplines of materials science, biophysics, and bioengineering. International research stays, close collaboration with leading experts worldwide, and dedicated professional skills development prepare EMERGE's doctoral researchers for successful careers in both academia and industry. For further information see https://emerge.rwth-aachen.de/.

Ihr Profil

Given the transdisciplinary character of the Research Training Group EMERGE, candidates from diverse backgrounds should apply. Successful applicants should exhibit excellent theoretical and experimental skills, and Master's degree (or equivalent) in biology, physics, engineering, chemistry, biochemistry, medicine or any other relevant field. Excellent English language skills are a prerequisite. For more information on your profile see https://emerge.rwth-aachen.de/. Please submit your application until July 20, 2026 electronically to the project leader of your project of interest as seen at https://emerge.rwth-aachen.de/.

Ihre Aufgaben

You will become part of the Research Training Group "Adaptive Soft Matter by Programming Colloidal Gels with Biological Building Blocks (EMERGE)". In this role, you will work closely with researchers within the EMERGE Research Training Group as well as with external partners. Your responsibilities will include planning and conducting experiments, as well as analyzing, evaluating, and interpreting research results. You will present your findings at scientific conferences and publish your work in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals. You will actively participate in the activities of the Research Training Group, including seminars, training modules, outreach activities, and networking events. Further information on your project-specific responsibilities can be found at https://emerge.rwth-aachen.de/.

Teilzeit-Informationen

Working hours vary depending on the project area.

Über uns

RWTH is proud to be certified as a family-friendly university. As part of our Campus Health initiative, RWTH offers a wide range of health, counseling, and prevention services, including university sports. Employees under collective bargaining agreements and civil servants also benefit from a comprehensive continuing education program and the option to purchase a job ticket for convenient commuting.
RWTH is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified candidates and make employment decisions without regard to national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability or age. RWTH is especially committed to supporting the advancement of women in academia. When women are underrepresented in a university unit, preferential consideration will be given to female applicants among candidates of equal merit and professional standing, unless compelling reasons favor another individual.
In keeping with RWTH’s commitment to equality of opportunity, we ask that you do not include a photo with your application.
Please refer to https://www.rwth-aachen.de/applicant-privacy-policy for information about how we collect and process applicant data in accordance with Articles 13 and 14 of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Besoldung / Entgelt

EG 13 TV-L