The University of Kassel is a modern and growing University with round about 22.000 students. The university’s wide range of expertise covers subjects in the natural, applied, cultural and social sciences.

At the University of Kassel, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Institute for Water, Waste, Environment – Resource Management and Solid Waste Engineering (Prof. Dr. David Laner) invites applications - subject to third-party funding approval -for the following position to be filled from 1 January 2025:

Research Assistant (m/w/d), EG 13 TV-H, EG 13 TV-H, fixed term-position, full time (currently 40 hours per week)

Application deadline:
25.10.2024

Date of hire: 01.01.2025

vacancy number: 37796
This is a fixed term-position of for four years until 31 December 2028 as part of the project ‘BioLoop: Micro-biologically enhanced material cycle for closing PE and PE-PET multilayer plastic foil Loops’ according to § 2 Abs. 2 WissZeitVG. The possibility for a doctorate is given.

The BioLoop project is funded by the Volkswagen Foundation and is being carried out by two research groups at the University of Kassel (Resource Management and Solid Waste Engineering and Polymer Engineering) and one research group at the University of Hamburg (Microbiology and Biotechnology). The overall aim of the project is to develop a new and environmentally optimal class of PE foil and multilayer recycling scheme based on enzyme-driven PE and PET depolymerization and subsequent reactive extrusion of short-chain building blocks to high grade products. The subproject of the group of Resource Management and Solid Waste Engineering includes the characterization of different waste streams regarding PE and multi-layer films to create a high-resolution plastic flow model for films at the national level as a basis for assessing the environmental performance of the microbially enhanced material cycle for PE and multilayer foils in comparison to other existing and emerging plastic recycling technologies.

Tasks:

• Performing research in the BioLoop project
• Planning and implementing sampling and waste characterization campaigns
• Collecting and evaluating data on plastic films and plastic film waste in Germany
• Performing material and substance flow analyses
• Environmental assessment and explorative modelling of different (emerging) plastic recycling processes
• Dissemination of research results via publications in scientific journals and conference contributions
• Support with project management
• Support of project administration and organization of project meetings
• Ongoing coordination and exchange with project partners

Requirements:

• Scientific university degree in the field of environmental engineering, environmental sciences, environmental technology, resource management, recycling technology or a related field. The required degree must be obtained by the date of employment at the latest.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in German and English
• Motivation to pursue a doctorate in the field of environmental engineering
• Knowledge in the field of modelling and evaluating resource systems

Advantages are:

• Thorough and independent way of working
• A high level of organizational ability
• Programming skills (e.g. Python)
• Knowledge in the field of waste management
• Experience in the field of material and substance flow analysis and/or life cycle assessment
• Experience with experimental work

For further information please contact Prof. Dr. David Laner, Tel.: +49 561 804-3983.

In the event of any differences between the German and English versions of this call for application, the German wording is legally binding.

Our Offer:
As an employee of the University of Kassel

• you will be offered an interesting and diverse range of tasks within the framework of a modern and ambitious university,
• you will be part of an interdisciplinary team with a good and collegial working atmosphere,
• you will have the opportunity to participate in professional and interdisciplinary further education measures,
• is your workplace with good connections to public transport, which you can currently use free of charge.

In addition, you will benefit from the advantages of employment in the public service such as:

• an additional company pension (VBL),
• an optional child supplement in accordance with TV-Hessen, a family-friendly university (including childcare for emergencies),
• an annual bonus
• an entitlement to capital-accumulation benefits,
• a promotion of voluntary commitment,
• low-cost participation in university sports and a full range of fitness activities as part of Unifit, as well as workplace health management

You can find more jobs at stellen.uni-kassel.de

Please send your application with the usual informative documents, stating the reference number in the subject line, via the online form. We have compiled further information for you in our .

In exceptional cases, we will also accept your application documents in paper form addressed to: The President of the University of Kassel, 34109 Kassel, Germany, or via mail to , stating the reference number.

In the case of postal applications, please submit only copies of your documents (no folders), as these cannot be returned. All documents will be destroyed after completion of the selection process in compliance with data protection regulations.

The protection of your personal information is very important to us, so we will handle your personal information with care. By your application, you allow us the storage and use in the sense of the Hessian Data Protection and Freedom of Information Act. You can object to this at any time. Your personal data will be deleted.

Information according to Art. 13 DSGVO for the application process at the University of Kassel can be found at:

Information and FAQ about applying for a job offer:
The University of Kassel is very interested in the professional satisfaction of its employees. It is distinguished as a family-friendly university and, in the interests of equal opportunities, strives to offer everyone the same opportunities for development and to counteract existing disadvantages. It promotes the Family Welcome Service and also the Dual Career Service for positions that are scientifically and academically filled. One of the strategic goals of the University of Kassel is to significantly increase the proportion of women in research and teaching. Applications from women are therefore particularly welcome. Seriously handicapped and equivalent applicants are given preference if they have the same suitability, qualifications and professional performance. Full-time positions are generally divisible (except when filling civil servant positions). Applications indicating the Position Number, which may be in digital form, should be sent to the President of the University of Kassel, 34109 Kassel, Germany quoting the applicable reference number.