Research Associate / Postdoc (m/f/x)

TUD Dresden University of Technology, as a University of Excellence, is one of the leading and most dynamic research institutions in the country. Founded in 1828, it is a globally oriented, regionally anchored top university, focusing on the grand challenges of the 21st century. It develops innovative solutions for the world's most pressing issues. The Cluster of Excellence "Responsible Electronics in the Climate Change Era (REC²)" addresses the key challenge posed by the ubiquitous use of electronics, which leads to an enormous resource and energy consumption and the generation of electronic waste. REC² establishes the scientific foundation for the electronics of the future, including new material platforms, component concepts, and integrated systems that enable the realization of responsible electronics in an ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable manner.

In a range of research and academic programs, REC² unites the natural and engineering sciences with the humanities, social sciences, and medicine. This wide range of disciplines is a special feature not only of the Cluster, but also of TUD, facilitating interdisciplinarity and transfer of science to society. As a modern employer, TUD offers attractive working conditions to all employees in teaching, research, technology, and administration. The goal is to promote and develop their individual abilities while empowering everyone to reach their full potential. For TUD, diversity is an essential feature and a quality criterion of an excellent university. Accordingly, we welcome all applicants who are committed to contributing their achievements and productivity to the success of the entire institution.

The Cluster of Excellence REC² and the Faculty of Business and Economics offers, subject to the availability of resources, at the Chair for Sustainability Management and Assessment (Prof. Dr. Samanthi Dijkstra-Silva) , a full-time position as

Research Associate / Postdoc (m/f/x)(subject to personal qualification, employees are remunerated according to salary group E 13 TV-L)

starting July 1, 2026 . The position is limited to 3 years, with a possible one-year extension. The period of employment is governed by the Fixed Term Research Contracts Act - Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz (WissZeitVG). The position aims at obtaining a further academic qualification (e. g. habilitation thesis).

Tasks:

scientific research and development activities develop and build cluster-internal database to collect and facilitate data exchange regarding information for technology and sustainability performance of materials and devices capability to independently manage sub-projects and professionally engage with diverse team of scientists education, training and facilitated learning around sustainability assessments and performance guiding and facilitating training for PhD and Masters students project management exchange and collaboration with a diverse team of scientists from the REC² Cluster, in particular with those from the fields of sustainability, natural sciences, engineering and social sciences

Requirements:

university and PhD degree (subject is left open due to the interdisciplinary nature of the position) experience conducting life-cycle assessments experience with sustainability studies quantitative research methods

We offer: You will join a team of enthusiastic scientists who pursue creatively their individual research agenda inspired by the cluster’s innovative approach and support. Your post-doc research will be fostered by the REC² philosophy to promote enthusiastic researchers, which includes:

access to state-of-the-art research of leading academic institutes possibility to apply for GreenRiskFunds to pursue your own high-risk/high-gain research ideas possibility of exchange with partner institutions in the Global South supervision via a dual supervision concept, including international exchange, and a dedicated Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) mentorship via the REC² mentoring board flexible working time arrangements to support a good work–life balance 30 days of annual leave (based on a five-day working week) a wide range of professional development and training opportunities access to health promotion and sports programs offered by TUD a subsidized job ticket (including the "Deutschlandticket") participation in the supplementary pension scheme for public sector employees (VBL)

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 (in English only) with a motivation letter, CV, copy of degree certificate, transcript of grades (i.e. the official list of coursework including your grades), and proof of English language skills by May 21, 2026 (stamped arrival date of the university central mail service or the time stamp on the email server of TUD applies), preferably via the TUD SecureMail Portal by sending it as a single pdf file to [email protected] or to:

TU Dresden, Chair for Sustainability Management and Assessment, Prof. Dijkstra-Silva, Helmholtzstr. 10, 01069 Dresden, Germany.

Please submit copies only, as your application will not be returned to you. 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