Research Associate / PostDoc (m/f/x) CFD modelling in (hydro-)process engineering/water management

TUD Dresden University of Technology, as a University of Excellence, is one of the leading and most dynamic research institutions in the country. For TUD diversity is an essential feature and a quality criterion of an excellent university. Accordingly, we welcome all applicants who would like to commit themselves, their achievements and productivity to the success of the whole institution.

At the Faculty Faculty of Environmental Sciences , Department of Hydro Sciences , Institute of Urban and Industrial Water Management , the Chair of Process Engineering in Hydro Systems offers a project position as

Research Associate / PostDoc (m/f/x) CFD modelling in (hydro-)process engineering/water management (subject to personal qualification, employees are remunerated according to salary group E 13 TV-L)

starting November 1, 2026 . The position is limited until October 31, 2028. The period of employment is governed by § 2 (2) Fixed Term Research Contracts Act (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz - WissZeitVG).

Tasks: You will be working on the sub-project ‘CFD simulation of flow and mass transport’ within the project ‘Pure Water and Rare Materials: Resource-Efficient Removal and Recovery of Critical Raw Materials from (Waste)water Flows using Membrane Capacitive Deionisation (ReWaRare)’ run by the STEP Early-Career Research Group, comprising early-career researchers from four chairs within the Department of Hydrosciences. Studies at TU Dresden confirms the effectiveness of MCDI technology for the selective and energy-efficient recovery of critical raw materials, as well as for the removal of charged pollutants from various water streams. The technology is being scaled up from current laboratory and pilot plant scale to practical application, tested and evaluated using various wastewater streams as examples to facilitate its transfer to industrial use.

You will optimize materials and processes developed in the project for scale-up using CFD simulations of flow and mass transfer. Based on your simulations, the reactor design will be optimized in terms of performance and efficiency. In a subsequent step, material and process parameters will be integrated into the model simulations; the simulation results will then be validated at pilot plant scale and optimized where necessary. You will also be responsible for the design, construction and operation of the necessary process set-ups required to carry out this experimental work. In addition, your remit will include project management, documentation, report writing and, in particular, the publication and presentation of the research results.

Requirements:

• an above-average university degree in the field of fluid mechanics, (hydro-)process engineering, mechanical engineering, computational engineering, water management, chemistry or chemical engineering, or similar; an above-average PhD and/or experience in project work would be an advantage
• the most recent academic qualification must not have been obtained more than 6 years ago. This period is extended by 2 years for each child, provided that parental leave was taken for that child during this time
• very good knowledge of (commercial) CFD software
• fluency in English for the production of high-quality publications and participation in international conferences. Proficiency in German is desirable
• a high level of commitment, strong team and communication skills, and the ability to work independently
• willingness to undertake training in the areas of gender equality, teaching, social skills and project management
• knowledge of electrochemical membrane processes and, more generally, the process engineering of hydraulic systems is an advantage

We offer:

• the opportunity for challenging, interesting, and independent work within a flat hierarchy, in an open-minded, interdisciplinary team, with excellent connections to research and industry partners, as well as the independent organization of research activities with a high degree of personal responsibility
• flexible arrangements for work hours to support a good work-life balance
• 30 days of vacation per year (based on a 5-day workweek)
• extensive opportunities for professional development and continuing education
• health care and sports programs offered by TUD
• a discounted job ticket (also available as a Deutschlandticket)
• participation in the supplementary pension scheme for employees in the public sector via VBL (Federal and State Government Employees Retirement Fund)

TUD strives to employ more women in academia and research. We therefore expressly encourage women to apply. The university is a family-friendly university. We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities. If multiple candidates prove to be equally qualified, those with disabilities or with equivalent status pursuant to the German Social Code IX (SGB IX) will receive priority for employment.

Application: Please submit your detailed application with the usual documents by October 1, 2026 (time stamp on the email server of TUD applies), exclusively by email, preferably via the TUD SecureMail Portal by sending it as a single pdf file to [email protected] . Expenses incurred in attending interviews cannot be reimbursed.

Reference to data protection: Your data protection rights, the purpose for which your data will be processed, as well as further information about data protection is available to you on the website: .

Company

TU Dresden

Excellence – A matter close to our hearts

Excellence? Elitism? Opportunity or risk? The Excellence Programme, initially launched in 2005 by the German government has aroused passionate debate right from the start and still has the potential to polarise opinion.

TU Dresden (TUD) looks at it this way: excellence is all about performance and having the right attitude. For everyone here at TU Dresden – one of eleven Universities of Excellence in Germany since 2012 – it is also a matter very close to our hearts. Firstly because of the extra motivation and impetus generated, and secondly, because of the way we handle this role.

Our vision for the future can be summed up as follows: “Let us become one of the leading centres for research and teaching, with our own individual character and a special talent for networking, able to attract the best minds in Germany and from further afield.” After all, it is a well-known fact that excellence in research and teaching presupposes excellent conditions. Or, to put it figuratively, for excellent crop yields, you need the right soil and weather.

TU Dresden is a comprehensive university with 18 faculties and works in close collaboration with its top performers: three Clusters of Excellence, including the “Centre for Tactile Internet” (CeTI) , the Cluster “Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter” (ct.qmat) and the Cluster “Physics of Life” (PoL) . The guiding principle here is that strong individual elements become even stronger when they work together.

The vision for the future takes this principle beyond the confines of the university: with the research network DRESDEN-concept ( D resden R esearch and E ducation S ynergies for the D evelopment of E xcellence and N ovelty), TU Dresden has been creating an alliance of research and cultural facilities in the city, an “excellent playground for excellent people”. This bond is unique in Germany and has evolved over many years. It is not necessary to create anything new here, as it is simply a matter of building further storeys on top of an already solid structure. The measures envisaged as part of the DRESDEN-concept contribute to the overall development of TU Dresden and form an integral part of the university strategy.

Excellence is understood and practised in Dresden as an opportunity for the entire university, and in this spirit, TU Dresden takes those measures that lead to excellence – by the university, for the university – in cooperation with colleagues here and all over the world. But at the same time neither elitist nor exclusive. TUD’s excellence comes from the heart – from and for our about 32,400 students, 600 professors and about 8,400 members of staff. In this way, excellence becomes the basis, the objective, the approach and the driving force. And that’s why being a top performer can also be so rewarding and enjoyable.

Campus Image © Nils Eisfeld

Company info

Location

Dresden
01069 Dresden
Germany