All Current Job Postings

Multiple PhD and Post-Doc positions

At a research group at the University of Jena (Germany) led by Kevin Maik Jablonka.

We are looking for highly motivated Ph.D. students and postdocs for projects at the intersection of machine learning and material science. In particular, we aim to increase our understanding of the performance of frontier models and agents on impactful tasks in a project supported by OpenPhilanthropy.

We strongly encourage candidates of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. Each new hire is an opportunity for us to bring in a different perspective, and we are always eager to diversify our team further.

Background:

Frontier models offer an unprecedented possibility to solve tasks in the chemical sciences that no other modeling approach would be able to solve.

Recently, we have systematically measured the performance of such models and have shown that they perform “superhuman”External link and also built the first eval framework for multimodal vision-language models in chemistry and materials science.External link
We currently spend much of our effort on building similar frameworks for consequential real-world tasks, including agentic frameworks and lab automation.

At the same time, we are building the modeling frameworks to “solve” those benchmarks.
We do this with both industrial and academic collaborators across the globe.

For more background on Kevin’s thinking see his websiteExternal link and publications.External link

Your Profile:

• A Master's degree or a four- or five-year Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or related fields. For the PostDoc positions, a Ph.D. is required for employment).
• Motivation for working on challenging projects, passion for scientific research, and thrive for excellence.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills.
• Growth mindset and inclusive team culture.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Ideally, programming and machine learning experience (e.g., in Python, Julia).

We Offer:

• Become part of an international and interdisciplinary research group within a scientific network that offers research and infrastructure at the highest level. We collaborate with world-leading experimental groups in Jena as well as the Helmholtz Center in Berlin that have access to unique high-throughput experimentation as well as characterization setups.
• Participate in international and national conferences, summer schools, and workshops (we have allocated a significant amount of resources for travel).
• Excellent in-house computational infrastructure (you will have multiple A100 and H100 cards waiting for you)
• Become part of a research group that cares about your personal development: We will create tailored personal development plans, that we review every year.
• A family-friendly working environment with a variety of offers for families: University Family Office (JUniFamilie) and flexible childcare (JUniKinder).
• University health promotion and a wide range of university sports activities.
• Attractive fringe benefits, e.g., capital formation benefits (VL), Job Ticket (benefits for public transport), and an occupational pension (VBL)
• 30 days of recreational leave in the calendar year plus one day off for Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 that should be taken without any guilt.

Application Process:

1. Fill this formExternal link. If you would first like to learn more, reach out to Kevin (mail@kjablonka.com). 
2. Selected candidates will be invited first to a non-technical discussion and then in a second round of a technical interview (including a ~25 minutes presentation and a Python/Machine Learning assignment).

Candidates with disabilities will be given preference in the case of equal qualifications and suitability.

We will provide support for visa applications and any other potential relocation issues.
We will also support fellowship applications if you would prefer joining the lab on your own funding. Contact Kevin for more details on suitable fellowships.

Diversity and Equity:

At the Friedrich Schiller University (FSU) people from a wide range of (cultural and academic) backgrounds study and work together. At FSU, and in particular in our group, we see diversity as a strength and key for our success. We rely on different ways of thinking to create the most impactful research.
Our group will be a place in which everyone—-irrespective of the background feels safe and will be successful.

Doing a Ph.D. at the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena:

The Friedrich Schiller University is a traditional university with a strong research profile rooted in Jena, at the heart of Germany. Since its foundation, it has been one of Germany's most famous places to study, where outstanding academics like Goethe and Schiller left their marks. As a university covering all disciplines, it offers a wide range of subjects. Its research is focused on the areas Light—Life—Liberty. It is closely networked with non-research institutions, research companies (links going back to Carl Zeiss, Otto Schott, and Ernst Abbe) and renowned cultural institutions. With around 18,000 students and more than 8,600 employees, the university plays a major role in shaping Jena’s character as a cosmopolitan and future-oriented city (of around ~100 000 inhabitants).

Germany is a beautiful and safe country with great work-life balance and life satisfaction.

You will receive a very competitive salary with which you will live comfortably and save money for leisure activities.

Students need approximately 700 EUR monthly for rent, food, health insurance, books.

Your Workplace:

Our lab (CZSExternal link Research group"Polymers for energy applications” ) is located in the newly constructed Center of Energy and Environmental Chemistry Jena II at the Landgrafencampus (close to one of the best viewpoints of the city), where four new buildings with ca. 7500 m² lab space have been built over the last 10 years. Frequently, start-companies involving Ph.D. students and Postdocs are created, and a new incubator for chemistry related start-ups is currently built next to the campus.

Student Job - HiWi(m/f/d) in the field of polymer chemistry and organical chemistry

What We Offer:

• Contract for 3 months or longer
• Up to 40 hours per month
• Immediate start
• Flexible working hours
• Monthly pay according to the nationwide guidelines on working conditions for graduate and student assistants (“Richtlinien der Tarifgemeinschaft deutscher Länder”).

Why Join Us?

• Gain hands-on experience, collaborate with leading international scientists, and work in the modern labs of FSU Jena.
• Build your skills in organic synthesis and polymer science within one of Germany’s top research groups – the Schubert group.

Your Role:

You’ll have the opportunity to work on projects such as: 

• Synthesizing and characterizing phthalonitrile resins, the most heat-resistant thermosetting materials known, in partnership with Altana AG.
• Synthesizing and electrochemically characterizing polyelectrolytes as electrode materials in organic radical batteries.
• Developing 3D-printable inks for carbon electrodes.
• Engaging in applied projects in collaboration with Altana AG.

Who Can Apply ?

• Master’s students in any semester, except for those in their thesis-writing phase.
• Applicants should have skills in organic synthesis and organic substance characterization.
• You should be motivated toward self-development and interested in a career in chemistry.

Please submit your application via email only, as we cannot accept applications through other methods.

Apply now with your CV:

Email: boris.bulgakov@uni-jena.de

Join our innovative team today!

Helmholtz Institute for Polymers in Energy Applications Jena (HIPOLE Jena)

We are currently offering a student assistant (HiWi) position for motivated students of Chemistry, Physics, or Materials Science who would like to gain practical experience in modern laboratory research.

What We Offer:

• 43 working hours per month
• Flexible working hours
• Initially 3 months
• Hourly wage: €12.41/hour

Why Join Us?

Gain hands-on experience, learn from leading international scientists in the modern laboratories of HIPOLE Jena, and develop your skills in some of the most in-demand fields in the chemical industry.

Your Responsibilities:

Experimental lab work for synthesis:

• Supporting the execution of organic reactions and monitoring them via thin-layer chromatography and spectroscopy (NMR, absorption, and emission)
• Purifying materials using column chromatography, extraction, crystallization, solvent distillation, etc.

Who Can Apply?

Students with a valid enrollment certificate from a German university and a valid residence permit for study purposes in Germany.

• Master’s students in any semester (excluding thesis period)
• Bachelor’s students in the advanced stage of their studies (at least 4th semester, excluding thesis period)

Apply with your CV via:

andrea.cabrera_espinoza@helmholtz-berlin.de
and become part of our innovative team!

Within the framework of the interdisciplinary research training group 3040, “Copolymer Informatics: Blending digital technologies and copolymer chemistry – From design to application”, which is funded by the German Science Foundation (DFG), 8 Doctoral research positions (67% or 100%, TV-L E13) as research associates (m/f/d) are being offered at either the Friedrich Schiller University Jena or the University of Bayreuth starting on October 1, 2025.

In COIN, computer science as well as robotic methods are to be developed and further optimized so that they can be applied in polymer research and particularly for copolymers. Their application will enable a targeted combination of synthesis, processing and properties of copolymers. In order to achieve this goal, expertise from the fields of synthesis, analytics, polymer chemistry, theoretical chemistry, engineering, computer science and robotics are combined.
The qualification program of COIN focuses on targeted training for doctoral candidates at the interface of the scientific disciplines of chemistry, engineering and computer science. A special focus will be on the high degree of interdisciplinarity at a top level in an international context. One of the major goals is to reduce the boundaries between scientific disciplines by training new professionals who can interact with other areas beyond their discipline and understand their concerns and termini.

Within the interdisciplinary research training group, we offer PhD positions for the following topics:

1. Development of a robot (using a robotic arm) working together with a chemist in a laboratory (University of Bayreuth, project A1, position: 100%)
2. Practical implementation of a robot / robotic arm into the daily routine in a chemical laboratory (Friedrich Schiller University Jena, project A1, position: 67%)
3. High-throughput experimentation using automated robotic platform for copolymer synthesis (Friedrich Schiller University Jena, project A2, position: 67%)
4. Theoretical investigation of copolymerizations (Friedrich Schiller University Jena, project A2, position: 67%)
5. Synthesis and characterization of copolymer libraries (University of Bayreuth, project B1, position: 67%)
6. Development of machine-learning and data-driven design of experiment approach for copolymers (Friedrich Schiller University Jena, project B1, position: 67%)
7. Processing of copolymers by extrusion and foaming as well optimization and dataset generation (University of Bayreuth, project C1, position: 100%)
8. Design of a semantic model of a copolymer domain including ontologies and large language models (Friedrich Schiller University Jena, project C1, position: 100%)

Your responsibilities / tasks:

• Work on your doctoral thesis focusing on one the above-mentioned interdisciplinary topics
• On site and active participation in the research and qualification program of COIN

Your profile:

• Master's degree in chemistry, informatics, computer, engineering or materials science
• Fluency in English, both in oral and written communication
• Dynamic and open-minded personality who enjoys conducting cutting-edge research in an interdisciplinary and international team
• Ability to work independently and organized
• Commitment, high flexibility, team spirit

We offer:

• Excellent research environment within national and international networks at the two leading universities in polymer science
• Comprehensive research and qualification program across different disciplines
• Networking with exciting national and international scientists and the opportunity to carry out research stays in international laboratories
• Family friendly work environment
• Remuneration based on the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector of the Federal States (TV-L) at salary scale 13, including a special annual payment in accordance with the collective agreement
• 30 days of vacation per calendar year, days off on December 24 and 31

General information for interested persons (m/f/d):

The advertised positions are offered as fixed-term position for a duration of 42 months. The positions either full-time (100%) or part time positions (67%) as listed above. The deadline for the submission of the applications is 2025-06-30.
Candidates with severe disabilities will be given preference in the case of equal qualifications and suitability.
Both universities value the diversity of its employees and is explicitly committed to the goal of gender equality. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants with children are very welcome.

Along with your application please submit:

• Letter of interest (max. 2 DIN A4-pages) indicating your motivation for joining COIN. You should also indicate, which of the PhD topics you are applying for (max. two topics are possible)
• Curriculum vitae
• Degree certificate / transcript of records
• Up to two letters of recommendation

The documents will be deleted after the position has been filled in accordance with data protection requirements.

The application will only be possible via the universities. You can find the official advertisement here:

• Friedrich Schiller University Jena: https://www.uni-jena.de/en/122166/job-marketExternal link
• University of Bayreuth: https://www.uni-bayreuth.de/en/job-vacanciesExternal link

About the universities:

The Friedrich Schiller University Jena is a dynamic and innovation-driven university centrally located in Germany. With a broad range of disciplines, it shapes the future through excellent research and teaching. Its scientific excellence is reflected in the profile lines Light – Life – Liberty, which provide pioneering insights and sustainable solutions for the society of tomorrow. Through close collaborations with leading research institutions, innovative companies, and renowned cultural organizations, it advances interdisciplinary developments. With around 17,000 students and approximately 10,000 employees, it defines Jena as a vibrant, internationally connected city of science and innovation.
The University of Bayreuth is a research-oriented university with international and interdisciplinary profiles in research and teaching. The University of Bayreuth has about 12,000 students and more than 2,500 employees making it one of the largest employers in the region and to one of the leading research institutions in northern Bavaria.

The institute of organic and macromolecular chemistry at the faculty of chemisty and earth science seeks to fill the position of a Doctoral researcher (m/f/d) in polymer science commencing on 01 August 2025.

We offer part-time position (65%, 26 hours per week), (initially) offered as a fixed-term position for three years.

The Schubert group is a world-leading group in the field of polymer chemistry. The ‘LignUp’ project, funded by the Carl Zeiss Foundation, focuses on the functionalization and application of lignin as a building block for novel polymers.

Your responsibilities:

• Functionalization and depolymerization of lignin
• Synthesis of new monomers and components starting from lignin (organic chemistry)
• Synthesis of new polymers based on lignin
• Characterization of polymers regarding their properties
• This position offers the possibility for a doctorate

Your profile:

• University degree (Master's degree in chemistry, material science or comparable
• Knowledge in general computer programs, e.g., Windows and Office
• You are able to communicate in English, both in writing and speaking
• Ability to work an interdisciplinary and international team is expected
• We expect a high level of motivation, initiative and a willingness to familiarize yourself with a wide range of tasks
• Experience in macromolecular chemistry and/or in organic chemistry is desirable

Are you hesitating because you don't meet one or some of our requirements? Please do not hesitate to apply and give us a chance to get to know you.

We offer:

• Remuneration based on the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector of the Federal States (TV-L) up to salary scale E13 — depending on the candidate’s personal qualifications—, including a special annual payment in accordance with the collective agreement.
• Working on an exciting and interdisciplinary research topic as part of the LignUp project
• An interesting field of employment and varied scope of activities with creative freedom
• Attractive fringe benefits, e.g. capital formation benefits (VL) and an occupational pension (VBL)
• University health promotion and a wide range of university sports activities
• 30 days of vacation per calendar year plus two days off on December 24 and 31

The advertised position is (initially) offered as a fixed-term position for a maximum of three.

This is a part-time position with 65% of the working hours of a full-time employee (26 hours per week).

Candidates with severe disabilities will be given preference in the case of equal qualifications and suitability.

Are you eager to work for us? Then apply by 30 June 2025 using our online form.

LINK TO ONLINE APPLICATIONExternal link