Job vacancy No. 049-2022

The Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden is a non-university research institute and a member of the Leibniz Association. It has gained world-wide reputation for its applicationoriented basic research on new polymer materials for future technologies, e.g. in the fields of energy, mobility, health, sustainability, and communication, and it supports the transfer of research results into application. The research work is carried out on the basis of state-of-the-art technical equipment in interdisciplinary cooperation between the five institutes of the IPF and embedded in numerous national and international cooperations. The IPF promotes young scientists and is certified as a family-friendly employer according to the Audit berufundfamilie®. The institute currently employs around 500 persons. Further information at www.ipfdd.de.

In this context, the activities of the research group ThieleLab focus on the buildup of functionality, stimuli-sensitivity and adaptivity in polymer materials starting on the nanoscale by synthesizing multifunctional monomers and macromers. Followed by processing this material basis via microfluidics, microscopic polymer structures come to life. To extend the control over interaction and communication in polymer structures towards the meso- and macroscale, the ERC project “3DPartForm” focuses on a novel additive material design strategy that includes processing and assembling individual polymer building blocks with an intrinsic set of functions and properties into true 4D polymer multimaterials.

Here, the research group ThieleLab offers a

PhD position (m/f/d) in an ERC project

Development of interactive polymer materials by controlled
assembly of microscopic building blocks

The goal is to develop functional microscopic building blocks and construct as well as apply processing platforms for these. It will be of particular interest that these building blocks can be later assembled into mechanically stable hierarchical structures that are not simply static, but able to guide, process and manipulate information based on light, electric charges or diffusion and thus set up communication schemes across scale.

To tackle these challenges, the successful candidate is trained in polymer chemistry, macromolecular chemistry or organic chemistry. Process engineering or hands-on experience in machine construction is a plus.

The IPF Dresden strives for gender equality and diversity in all fields. Applications by people with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are equally qualified. Moreover, as the IPF would like to raise the proportion of women in fields where they are underrepresented, women in particular are invited to apply.

The personal data collected by the IPF relating to your application, as well as the evaluation thereof shall be processed exclusively for purposes of the application process on the basis of contractual measures under Art. 6 (1b) GDPR. These data shall not be transferred to third parties. Recipients shall comprise the employees responsible, the Works Council as well as, where applicable, the representative body for disabled employees and the equal opportunities officers of the IPF. Your application details provided to us shall be deleted by us 6 months after the end of the application process, i.e. either after the job advertised has been filled, or after we have decided not to fill the vacancy after all. For questions under data protection law and for exercising your rights, please contact: datenschutz@ipfdd.de (data protection officer). You have the right to complain to the supervisory authority. Expenses for the interview participation will not be refundes.

The desire to path new ways in how polymer materials are made, to work across disciplines and discuss results with collaborators from other fields is essential. If you are motivated by these challenges, please submit your summary of research interests, CV, a detailed description of hands-on training in experimental and characterization tools and methods, contact information of two references as well as short statement, why you chose to apply for the position at hand to IPF Human Resources Department. Don’t forget to indicate the number of the Job vacancy.

For further information please contact Dr. Thiele (eMail: thiele@ipfdd.de).