livMatS Junior Research Group Program in the area of Bioinspired Materials Concepts

The Cluster of Excellence livMatS is issuing an international call for the livMatS Junior Research Group Program in the area of Bioinspired Materials Concepts

livMatS Junior Research Group Program in the area of Bioinspired Materials Concepts

Fulltime position, Start-date: At the earliest possible date. The Cluster of Excellence Living, Adaptive and Energy-autonomous Materials Systems (livMatS) strives to promote early scientific independence of early career researchers within an interdisciplinary setting. The livMatS Junior Research Group Program is an essential building block of the Cluster’s early career advancement objectives. The Cluster’s Junior Research Group Program aims to provide excellent early career researchers with the means and room to establish their own group in a highly interdisciplinary environment at the University of Freiburg, Germany. The intended focus of this Junior Research Group is in research and development within the following fields:

• Bioinspired materials and surfaces
• Bioinspired soft machines and soft robots
• Bioinspired systems research
• Bioinspired sensing and actuation
• Bioinspired energy harvesting, storage and conversion

The research focus of the candidate can be situated at any hierarchical level from the molecule over mesoscopic to macroscopic bioinspired materials or materials systems. Research addressing different hierarchical levels is of added value. The Cluster of Excellence Living, Adaptive and Energy-autonomous Materials Systems (livMatS) at the University of Freiburg develops completely novel, bioinspired materials systems that adapt autonomously to various environments and harvest clean energy from their surroundings. The research program of livMatS is characterized by highly interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers from engineering, chemistry, physics, biology, psychology, philosophy, and sustainability research. Research in four interlinked research areas targets Concepts for Energy Autonomy and Integration, Concepts for Adaptive and Active Materials Systems, Concepts for the Longevity of Systems Functions, and Societal Challenges – Sustainability Assessment and Investigation of Psychological, Philosophical, and Ethical Implications of Living Materials Systems. Research in these areas is integrated through the development of technology demonstrators. The chosen candidate will become a Principal Investigator of livMatS. They are expected to establish a vigorous and independent research program and build up an internationally visible research group that makes central contributions to cluster research. The candidate is expected to publish in high-ranking journals, attract funding for their own group, and integrate and strengthen the interdisciplinary and collaborative environment of the Cluster. Duration, Funding and Starting Date Funding within the program is up to 950.000 € for the duration of five years. The funding can be used for the candidate’s position and the establishment of a Junior Research Group. The candidate will be employed at the University of Freiburg. The position is a full-time position (100%) for a period of five years. The salary will be determined in accordance with E14 TV-L. The funding includes a position for a doctoral researcher (48 months, 65%, E13 TV-L), a position for a lab technician (50%, up to E9 TV-L ), consumables, and an initial investment package of 80,000 €. We offer access to institutional infrastructure, including modern laboratory space and state-of-the-art facilities at the Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT). In addition, we provide opportunities to collaborate with the application-oriented Fraunhofer Institutes ISE and IWM and the Ökoinstitut e.V., which are partner institutions of the Cluster. There are also opportunities for career advancement training and mentoring opportunities at the University. Funding can only be used for activities at the University of Freiburg. We envisage candidates to start their group in May 2023 at the latest. Target Group and Funding Criteria The call targets researchers within two to six years of their postdoctoral experience in the areas of biology/biomimetics, materials research, physics, engineering, soft matter chemistry or physics. Applicants must have a completed PhD and a track record of outstanding academic work in their field, with first and/or corresponding author publications. Additional criteria include prizes and awards, a proven record of obtaining extramural funding, and international mobility. Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills are essential. We expect fluency in English. The proposed concept for a Junior Research Group will be judged according to its academic and methodological quality, prospects of success, originality, and relevance to the livMatS research program. Application Applications need to be submitted by February 28th, 2023.The use of the livMatS Junior Research Group Leader Program template is mandatory and a formal prerequisite for the submission of your application. All parts of your application need to be in English. The template that also contains an overview of the documents to be submitted, can be found at the link below: Template JRG Bioinspired Materials Concepts The position is limited to 5 years. The salary will be determined in accordance with E14 TV-L. We are particularly pleased to receive applications from women for the position advertised here. Please send your application in English including supporting documents mentioned above citing the reference number 00002724, by 28.02.2023 at the latest. Please send your application to the following address in written or electronic form: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Exzellenzcluster livMatS
Georges-Köhler-Allee 105
D-79110 Freiburg
Kennwort: livMatS
Application is to be emailed as ONE MERGED PDF file to positions@livmats.uni-freiburg.de. Apply now For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck on the phone number +49 761 203-2875 or E-Mail thomas.speck@biologie.uni-freiburg.de. Full-time positions may generally be split up into two or more part-time positions, provided that there are no formal or legal barriers. Candidates are selected in accordance with the provisions of the AGG (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz – German General Equal Treatment Act).
Applicants with disabilities (Schwerbehinderte Menschen) will be given preferential consideration in case of equal qualification.
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