W2 Professor of "Sustainable use of regionally extractable and producible materials in the construction industry"

Hochschule Biberach

Biberach University of Applied Sciences (HBC) specializes in the thematic areas of construction, energy, biotechnology and business administration.

The four schools and 16 study programs count 2,500 students at two campuses. Biberach is a lively, large town in Upper Swabia. Situated in the triangle between Stuttgart, Munich and Lake Constance, Biberach is home to international companies and also offers an attractive range of leisure activities.

At the School of Civil Engineering and Project Management of Biberach University of Applied Sciences, the position of a

W2 Professor of “Sustainable use of regionally extractable and producible materials in the construction industry”

is to be filled as of 1 March 2026.

The school is the university’s largest, with two educational units (Civil Engineering and Project Management), 24 professorships and around 700 students. The advertised position focuses on the bachelor’s and master’s programs in the Civil Engineering unit.

The professor independently represents the teaching and research area, including by offering courses in German and English as well as by carrying out research, in particular in the following areas:

• Use of several regionally extractable materials as load-bearing elements in construction, such as clay, straw, poplar from energy forestry, hemp for reinforcement
• Quantification of the reliability of materials, building materials and components and evaluation of their effects on stability in the scope of design standards, e.g. DIN EN 1990
• Experimental and numerical investigations of materials, building materials and components
• Participation in the (further) development of standards and calculation rules for these materials, building materials and components
• Expansion of the research area “Sustainable use of regionally extractable and producible materials in the construction industry” by acquiring research and third-party funded projects and run them, also beyond the funding period of the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
• Participation in the technical development of existing test facilities
• Implementation and further development of practice-oriented teaching, also in basic civil engineering research, as well as supervision of final theses in the school’s bachelor’s and master’s programs

Particular emphasis is placed on translating current research and development findings into teaching and practical applications, and on maintaining and developing partnerships with companies and associated institutions.

We are looking for an individual with sound knowledge and relevant professional experience in the field of construction research and development. Additional experience abroad is an advantage; enjoyment of teaching courses in German and English, eloquence and social competence are desirable.

Knowledge and experience in the following areas are particularly desirable:

• Use of regionally extractable or renewable natural resources for structural design
• Examination of the structural safety of the components
• Reliability analysis of components and their evaluation
• Carrying out tests including concept development and evaluation
• Analytical modeling of the load-bearing behavior of components
• Development of constitutive equations for numerical material modeling
• Acquisition, technical and financial management of research or third-party funded projects
• Development of standards and calculation rules

Professorships at the university generally involve teaching basic subjects and courses in English, participating in research and development projects, acquiring third-party funding in the strategic development areas of HBC as well as actively participating in academic self-governance and fulfilling official duties in accordance with section 46 of the act on the higher education institutions in the Land of Baden-Württemberg (Landeshochschulgesetz, LHG).

This professorship is a research professorship funded by the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung for the first five years. The goal is to create conditions that allow for the application of sustainable materials in load-bearing structures. This endowed professorship is also provided with material and personnel resources for this period. The teaching load is reduced from 18 contact hours per week to 9 contact hours per week within the first five years. After the five-year funding period, the position will transition to a state-funded professorship with the standard obligations according to the LHG.

Requirements:

• A university degree in a subject relevant to the position, e.g. in civil engineering,
• Pedagogical aptitude, usually demonstrated by experience in teaching at universities or in vocational training,
• Special aptitude for academic writing and research, usually proven by the quality of a doctorate,
• Notable achievements in applying or developing scientific findings and methods during a minimum of five years of professional practice, at least three years of which were spent outside the higher education sector.

In the case of a first-time appointment to a professorship, the employment relationship is typically initially for three years with the status of a civil servant on probation in accordance with section 50 subsection 1 LHG. Provided the professor is deemed suitable and meets the requirements prescribed by civil service law, the university intends to subsequently offer them a civil servant position with life tenure. In justified exceptional cases, immediate employment as a civil servant with life tenure is possible.

Biberach University of Applied Sciences aims to increase the proportion of women in professorships and therefore expressly encourages qualified women to apply. The university is committed to inclusion and diversity. As a family-friendly higher education institution, we promote the compatibility of work and family life. If you have any questions regarding equal opportunities, please contact the equal opportunities representative at mavoungou@hochschule-bc.de.

Applicants with disabilities are given preferential consideration if they are suitably qualified.

We look forward to receiving your detailed application via our online job portal at www.hochschule-biberach.de/karriere by 5 October 2025. Your data will be processed as part of the application process in accordance with section 15 of the data protection act of the Land of Baden-Württemberg (Landesdatenschutzgesetz, LDSG). In addition to the usual documents, the application should include a summary of research and third-party funded projects that have been acquired, applied for, or worked on independently, stating the respective funding amount for each.

HBC Biberach University of Applied Sciences | Personnel Department | Ms. Meckes
Karlstraße 11, 88400 Biberach, Phone: 0 73 51/5 82-1 17
www.hochschule-biberach.de