Master Student – Internship/Thesis: Development of simulation methodology and experimental setup for the photothermal effect in gas sensing applications

26.02.2026, Studentische Hilfskräfte, Praktikantenstellen, Studienarbeiten

Photothermal gas sensing detects trace gases by converting absorbed laser light into heat. When a laser is tuned to a gas’s specific absorption line, even weak absorption causes a small temperature rise, leading to measurable refractive index changes or acoustic signals. These thermal effects are directly proportional to gas concentration, enabling highly sensitive, selective, and non-contact detection.

In this project at the Chair of Analytical Chemistry at TUM, we aim to develop a photothermal gas sensing system tailored for biogas plant applications. The project is in collaboration with several industrial partners who are already developing gas-sensing technologies.

Possible tasks in the project:
-Development of a simulation model for the photothermal effect in COMSOL Multiphysics
-Simulation of the project partner's gas sensing system using the developed methodology
-Design and implementation of an experimental setup to investigate the photothermal effect and acquire measurement data
-Verification and validation of the simulation results using experimental data

Your Profile:
-You are currently enrolled in a degree program in Physics, Chemistry, or another STEM-related field
-Initial experience with simulation software (e.g., ANSYS, Abaqus, COMSOL)
-Initial laboratory experience, ideally with lasers and/or optical systems
-Strong communication skills in English
-Independent and structured working style

Start:
As soon as possible.

Our Team is located in Großhadern, Georg-Heberer-Straße 11.

Note:
This position is unpaid, and it is designed for Master's students as a research intern/thesis student.

Organisation:
Simply contact Saikrishna Naidu Enjam (saikrishna_naidu.enjam@tum.de) or Prof. Dr. Christoph Haisch via E-Mail (haisch@tum.de)

Kontakt: saikrishna_naidu.enjam@tum.de or haisch@tum.de