Research partners

Max Planck Institute

The international team of the Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung conducts advanced basic materials research related to the fields of mobility, energy, infrastructure, medicine and digitalisation. We focus on nanostructured metallic materials as well as semiconductors and analyse down to their atomic and electronic scales. This enables us to develop new, tailor-made structural and functional materials embracing their synthesis and processing, characterization and properties, as well as their response in engineering components exposed to real operating environments. The dynamic structure of the institute and the very intensive cooperation between the departments and researcher teams worldwide are ideally suited to provide answers to the currently emerging global issues of CO2-reduced and sustainable production and manufacturing, the complete conversion of energy supply and automotive drive technology, the synergies between machine learning and materials research and production, and the need for new high-performance materials for safety, weight-reduced transport and functional innovations based on excellent basic research.

MPI is hosting the following position:

MPIE/BASF-DC1

MPIE offers to its Doctoral Students a wide range of benefits, including:

– Mentoring program: The MPIE is highly committed to promoting scientists at all career stages. Dr. Katja Hübel, research coordinator at MPIE, supports scientists in finding custom-fit German, European or international funding schemes and writing competitive proposals. Moreover, she helps in all questions regarding boosting of one’s own scientific career.

– Courses and training opportunities: The MPIE is part of the Max Planck Society which offers via the “Learning Management System” a variety of courses and trainings. In addition the research coordinator offers yearly mini workshops on “competitive proposal writing”.

– Language courses: The MPIE covers the costs for German language course for doctoral candidates to facilitate integration in Germany. Language course can be taken at the University Düsseldorf or at private language schools.

– Relocation support: The MPIE’s International Office supports the institute’s international researchers with their relocation to and life in Germany. It helps with Visa matters, housing, opening a bank account, registering in Germany, applying for a Tax Id and applying for a residence permit. Childcare places are reserved for the institute’s researchers. Regular online seminars regarding the German social security system, German pension system, residence titles and German income taxes are offered during the year.

– Cultural and social activities: The MPIE PhD representatives organise several activities to help the integration of Doctoral Candidates. Additionally, the institute organises a yearly Christmas and International BBQ summer party for all staff. A Welcome Coffee is organised by the International Office for all international researchers that have started during the year, if the Covid situation allows for it. Every department has additional social gatherings such as a monthly tea time.

– Engagement with industry: MPIE has a long tradition of cooperating with industry. In this project the industry partner will be BASF Coatings GmbH. The candidate will be co-supervised by a leading researcher from the industrial partner. A secondment in industry is foreseen, which will give the candidate the opportunity to expand is research in an industrial environment.