A Research Scientist (m/f/d) (up to German pay grade E14 TV-L for 1,0 FTE)

Universität Duisburg-Essen

We are a young and innovative university in the middle of the Ruhr Metropolitan Region. Distinguished research and teaching permits us to seize opportunities and develop promising ideas. We promote potential, realize equal opportunities and use the innovative power of diversity management for research and teaching.

At the Campus Essen, Faculty for Engineering, Institute of Engineering Mathematics, the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) is looking for

A Research Scientist (m/f/d)
(up to German pay grade E14 TV-L for 1,0 FTE)

within the Starting Grant "Beyond Representative Volume Elements for Random Heterogeneous Materials“(BeyondRVE) funded by the European Research Council (ERC).

The ERC StG BeyondRVE focuses on novel simulation technology for computing the material behavior of materials with a random microstructure. The goal is to build up a groundbreaking multiscale methodology, taking into account the latest neural-network technology and screening the spurious boundary layers which arise for digital volume images of microstructures. Upon completion of the project, a significant boost for the nonlinear mechanics of heterogeneous materials and lightweight design is expected, providing multiscale methods with more expressive results in shorter time for larger classes of materials with higher complexity.

For non-periodic microstructures or when working with non-periodic boundary conditions for the displacement, boundary-layer effects pollute the computed effective properties of random heterogeneous materials. Only low accuracy can be reached, unless gigantic cells are considered. The aim of the first Post-Doc project is to establish a novel computation methodology to mitigate these problems by screening boundary-layer effects appropriately.

Usually, only the expected mechanical response of a random material is computed in multiscale methods of mechanics. Within the BeyondRVE projects, higher-order statistical quantities will be computed as part of the computational strategy and made available on a macroscopic scale. The aim of the second Post-Doc project is to establish a novel technology to quantify the microstructure-induced uncertainty using the framework of Deep Material Networks or an extension thereof.

Job description:

• Cutting-edge research in computational micromechanics, in particular solution methods based on the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), or multi-scale modeling of engineering materials like fiber composites, foams, polycristalline materials
• extend Deep Material Networks to uncertainty quantification
• simulation studies for a variety of random materials, including fiber structures, foams and polycrystalline materials
• analysis, interpretation and assessment of simulation results
• discussion of results within an international research team
• writing and submitting of scientific publications in quality peer-reviewed journals
• presentation of research results at national and international conferences
• either PhD or Post-Doc position

What you can expect from us:

• working at a family-friendly university with flexible working hours
• mentorship and support to develop your skills and foster your career within a stimulating and inclusive research environment
• the opportunity to work on internationally visible and interdisciplinary research projects in collaboration with other research groups
• an excellent technical infrastructure and modern workplace equipment, including modern HPC

What we expect from you:

• MSc or PhD in engineering or natural sciences, applied mathematics or related fields
• strong background in continuum mechanics, material modeling or numerical methods
• excellent coding skills in Python and C/C++
• an aptitude for theoretical and computationally oriented research
• good team-working and communication skills
• excellent English skills, both written and spoken

Commencing date 01.04.2026 (or as soon as possible)
Duration of contract until end of project (30.06.2027)
Working hours 100 percent of a full-time position (part-time employment is possible)
Application period 22.02.2026 Please submit your application with the usual documents, quoting 021-26 to Prof. Matti Schneider, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Fakultät für Ingenieurwissenschaften, V15 R04 H23, Universitätsstraße 2, 45141 Essen, Telefon 0201/183-6501, E-Mail matti.schneider@uni-due.de.

For more informationen about the faculty and the position, please visit:
https://www.uni-due.de/ingmath/en.php

Die Universität Duisburg-Essen verfolgt das Ziel, die Vielfalt ihrer Mitglieder zu fördern (siehe www.uni-due.de/diversity).

Sie strebt die Erhöhung des Anteils der Frauen am wissenschaftlichen Personal an und fordert deshalb einschlägig qualifizierte Frauen nachdrücklich auf, sich zu bewerben. Frauen werden nach Maßgabe des Landesgleichstellungsgesetzes NRW bei gleicher Qualifikation bevorzugt berücksichtigt.
Bewerbungen geeigneter schwerbehinderter und ihnen gleichgestellter Menschen i. S. des § 2 Abs. 3 SGB IX sind erwünscht.

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