Research Assistant/Associate (f/m/d) - Circular economy in thermoprocess technology Recovery of valuable materials from metal-containing production residues using biogenic carbon carriers

Weitere Informationen

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 1 year.
It is intended to extend the contract by at least two years. There may be an option to extend the overall contract to four 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.
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

The Department for Industrial Furnaces and Heat Engineering (IOB) at RWTH Aachen University is one of the leading research institutes in industrial furnace technology and is particularly focussed on sustainable thermal process technology in material production. In this context, research topics of process and plant optimisation in the areas of production, processing and recycling of iron and steel, non-ferrous metals as well as glass and ceramics are dealt with in a total of five scientific working groups.

The current focus is on the de-fossilisation of melting, reheating and heat treatment processes. Focus topics are low-pollution and CO2-neutral combustion technologies as well as electrification and, based on this, the development of new process technology and plant engineering. Further topics are process modelling and simulation and also increasing energy and resource efficiency. In particular, the recovery of recyclable materials from metal-containing residues by means of agglomeration is already the subject of completed and ongoing projects. For this purpose, the IOB has its own agglomeration laboratory, in which tests can be planned and carried out on a laboratory to pilot plant scale. In addition to its specialisation, the IOB is characterised by application-oriented research in close cooperation with industry.

Our partners not only include renowned research institutes but also well-known companies, especially from the steel, aluminium, ceramic and glass sector as well as mechanical and plant engineering. Cooperation also takes place on an international level, currently especially through cooperative projects with institutes and companies from Europe.

As a research associate at our department, you will be part of an innovative research environment that develops and establishes the topic of de-fossilisation and promoting the circular economy of energy-intensive industries both nationally and internationally through application-oriented research projects and close contact with industry.

Ihr Profil

The prerequisites for joining the IOB are a technical university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in metallurgy, materials engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering or comparable fields of study with above-average grades as well as a fluent command of written and spoken German and English. If possible, you already have knowledge in the field of iron, steel and non-ferrous metallurgy, energy and material balances as well as test planning, execution and evaluation. Knowledge in the field of agglomeration of metal-containing production residues and initial experience in the supervision and realisation of laboratory work are also desirable.

You have a high level of independence and commitment. You would like to develop and realise your own ideas. You enjoy working in a team, but can also motivate yourself to carry out project work on your own and concentrate on writing scientific articles.

If you would like to work with our team to help shape the transformation of the steel industry, one of the most exciting topics of our time, please send your detailed application documents (cover letter, CV and certificates) preferably by e-mail to the contact person listed above.

Ihre Aufgaben

As a research associate at the IOB, you can realize your potential in the following fields of activity, with which we offer a varied spectrum of theoretical, practical and organizational work:

Research - As part of a nationally funded project ("BioKoRed"), you will work on the agglomeration of residual materials (circular economy) and the use of biogenic carbon carriers in order to develop recycling paths for material flows in pyrometallurgical areas. For this purpose, you will plan, carry out and evaluate experiments on various topics in the institute's own agglomeration laboratory. These topics include the reuse of fine slags, dusts and sludges by producing moldings, briquettes or stones ("agglomerates") using biogenic reducing agents to form a self-reducing agglomerate for use in various melting units. In addition, project-related adaptations and extensions to the agglomeration laboratory must be planned and implemented. This also includes the publication of your scientific results, e.g. through presentations at national and international conferences and publications in high-quality journals.

Industry cooperation - Co-operation with industry is another important field of activity. In industrial projects, you are involved in carrying out melting tests or process analyses for our partners. Here, both experimental methods in the steel plant or at the IOB and the investigation and evaluation of industrial process data can be used. The analyses are used to derive and implement optimisation potential or strategic issues such as technology changes. In this way, future-orientated concepts are developed together. You will also be able to expand and deepen your contacts in industry.

Advanced training - At national and international conferences, seminars and congresses, you have the opportunity to transfer the knowledge gained from research into industrial practice. At the events and training courses for specialists and managers, it is possible to exchange expertise, develop new ideas and make new contacts.

Teaching - The department offers lectures and practical courses for students at RWTH Aachen University. As part of the department you support the lectures and at the same time take responsibility for the practical courses. In addition, there is the possibility to supervise ambitious students in their theses. You can gain experience in leadership by enabling student assistants to apply and expand their knowledge in practice.

Über uns

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 http://www.rwth-aachen.de/dsgvo-information-bewerbung.

Besoldung / Entgelt

EG 13 TV-L