PhD position or Research assistant (all genders welcome)

At the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen Stiftung Öffentlichen Rechts – Abteilung für Holztechnologie und Holzwerkstoffe, a position as a PhD position or Research assistant (all genders welcome) - Entgeltgruppe 13 TV-L - in part-time with 75% of the regular weekly working hours is to be filled at the earliest possible date. The position is 36 month. In the research group of Prof. Dr. Kai Zhang, Faculty for Forest Sciences, as well as Wöhler Research Institute of Sustainable Chemistry (WISCh), University of Göttingen, welcomes applications for one open position as PhD position or scientific researcher (f/m/d).

The duties expected for this position:

You will conduct individual and collaborative research projects on sustainable and functional composite materials primarily by using lignocellulosic materials, plan, perform and analyze experiments using renewable materials and corresponding methods, characterize the structures, study the functions and properties, investigate the mechanisms, quantitatively analyze experimental data and contribute to the development and implementation of suitable data-analysis workflows. You will continually update your skills and knowledge to achieve above mentioned aspects, Summarize the results, write up research work for publication, present information on research progress and outcomes to team members and collaboration partners, contribute positively to a collegiate research environment by supporting students and engaging in group activities such as meetings and seminars, contribute to the teaching of courses as defined in Section 31 of the Higher Education Act of Lower Saxony (NHG) and the administration of examinations.

We are looking for you with the following profile:

You hold a Master’s or PhD degree in related disciplinaries, such as Materials Science, Polymer Science, Soft Matter, or Physical Chemistry You have a strong interest in experimental research and the quantitative investigation of functional materials. You have an interest in soft matter based on sustainable materials, e.g. structure construction, mechanical properties or functions, You have hand-on experience in using analytical devices for materials science or chemistry, polymer materials or soft matter You are able to work collaboratively and effectively within an interdisciplinary and multi-cultural research team. Previous experience with cellulose or wood, soft matter, mechanical testing is preferential, You are highly motivated to acquire new experimental and analytical skills and to work independently on a challenging interdisciplinary research project You have an excellent command of written and spoken English.

If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Dr. Kai Zhang via e-mail kai.zhang@uni-goettingen.de. The University of Göttingen strives to increase the proportion of women in areas where they are underrepresented and therefore strongly encourages qualified women to apply. It also considers itself a family-friendly university and promotes the compatibility of science/career and family. The university is particularly committed to the professional participation of employees with severe disabilities and therefore welcomes applications from people with severe disabilities. In the case of equal qualification, applications from people with severe disabilities will be given preference. A disability or equivalent status should already be included in the application to protect interests. Please submit your meaningful application with all important documents by 07.10.2026 exclusively via the application portal http://obp.uni-goettingen.de/de-de/OBF/Index/76645. Information is provided by Ms. Kirsten Rattelmüller, E-Mail: kirsten.rattelmueller@forst.uni-goettingen.de, Tel. +495513924039 Note: We point out that the submission of the application constitutes consent under data protection law to the processing of your application data by us. Further details on the legal basis and data use can be found in the information sheet on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).