PhD positions (f/m/d) within the Research Training Group 2561

Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) – The Research University in the Helmholtz Association creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is our goal to make significant contributions to mastering the global challenges of mankind in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 10,000 employees of KIT cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in research, academic education, and innovation.

The Institute for Applied Materials – Materials Science and Engineering (IAM-WK) offers as of April 2026, limited to 3 years

PhD positions (f/m/d) within the Research Training Group 2561 "MatCom-ComMat: Materials Compounds from Composite Materials for Applications in Extreme Conditions”
Full time

The Research Training Group (RTG 2561) “MatCom-ComMat”, funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) since April 2020, is a collaborative research project of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Technical University Darmstadt (TUDa) and Dechema Research Institute (DFI) in Frankfurt (from January 2026 in Bad Homburg). We offer up to twelve doctoral positions in the fields of materials synthesis, characterization and modelling.

The focus of the RTG is on the development, characterization and modelling of novel, multi-phase composite systems capable of withstanding temperatures substantially beyond 1300 °C and harsh environmental conditions (e.g., oxidative, corrosive, erosive atmospheres) as far as mechanical behavior, environmental resistance and durability are concerned. This is achieved by combining metallic/intermetallic alloys based on refractory metals and polymer-derived ceramic nanocomposites.

The doctoral researchers are supervised and trained by highly qualified scientists and benefit from their complementary expertise through extended stays at the partner institutions. Stays abroad at internationally renowned academic institutions are also supported.

Personal qualification

Successful candidates should have completed their master studies in the fields of materials science, mechanical or chemical engineering, or physics/chemistry. Candidates from closely related fields are also welcome.

Become a member of staff of the only German University of Excellence that conducts large-scale research on the national level. Work under excellent working conditions in an international environment and be active in research and academic education for our future. Benefit from specific training when starting your job and from a wide range of further qualification offers. Use our flexible working time models (flexitime, work from home), our sports and leisure offers, as well as our child and holiday care services. We also pay a share of EUR 25/month in the Job Ticket Baden-Württemberg. Enjoy a large variety of dishes, snacks, and beverages at our canteens.

We prefer to balance the number of employees (f/m/d). Therefore we kindly ask female applicants to apply for this job.

Recognized severely disabled persons will be preferred if they are equally qualified.

Please apply online until January 15, 2026 using the vacancy number 1303/2025 to Ms Carrasco Sanchez, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Human Resources, Kaiserstr. 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany. For further information, please contact Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Heilmaier, e-mail: martin.heilmaier@kit.edu.

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You can find further information on the internet: www.kit.edu