The Professorship for Particle and Fiber technology is looking for a PhD funded by our ERC Grant

PhD Material Science / Polymer Physics

19.10.2026, Wissenschaftliches Personal

Our research focuses on extracting and isolating bio-based polymers such as cellulose and proteins from renewable feedstocks and waste streams. We aim to develop sustainable processes to convert these materials into high-performance fibers and functional materials. By manipulating molecular interactions through chemical and physical methods, we tailor the structural and mechanical properties of bio-based materials to advance the potential of biopolymers in various applications.

Project description
Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer on earth and offers significant potential for applications such as sustainable packaging materials and textiles. However, its use in mass production is limited by its ina-bility to melt like conventional thermoplastics. This limitation arises from the strong intermolecular bonding within cellulose: upon heating between 240 °C and 350 °C, cellulose begins to decompose rather than transitioning into a meltable phase.
LaserCell funded by ERC StG envisions an innovative approach to reshape and rearrange cellulose at the molecular level by disrupting cohesive interactions through resonant excitation of specific bonds. It will revolutionize the field of biopolymer processing beyond cellulose and yield fundamental insights into supramolecular structure and dynamics in biomaterials.

Your profile
We are looking for a candidate with the following qualifications:
• A Master’s degree in materials science, polymer physics, polymer engineering, materials engi-neering, or a closely related field.
• A solid understanding of polymer physics, particularly polymer structure, crystallinity, molecular interactions, and chain dynamics.
• Hands-on experience in experimental materials research, with the ability to design experiments, analyze results critically, and troubleshoot independently.
• Experience in mechanical testing, rheology, spectroscopy (e.g., FTIR, Raman), or structural characterization (e.g., XRD, SAXS/WAXS) is considered an advantage.
• Strong scientific curiosity, critical thinking, and a proactive approach to identifying research ques-tions and developing solutions.
• Self-motivation, initiative, and the ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with-in an interdisciplinary research team.

We offer
We offer an excellent research environment within a young, dynamic, and interdisciplinary team at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). We foster an open and collaborative research culture that en-courages scientific curiosity, independent thinking, and the development of new ideas. You will have the opportunity to take ownership of your research, develop your scientific skills, and contribute to innovative approaches for sustainable materials processing.
The position is based at TUM Campus Straubing for Biotechnology and Sustainability, a research hub specializing in renewable resources, biotechnology, and sustainable technologies. Located along the Danube near the Bavarian Forest, Straubing combines a historic town setting with an international aca-demic environment.
The position offers a three-year employment contract (65% TV-L E13), with access to modern, well-equipped laboratories and opportunities for international research collaborations. Participation in interna-tional conferences, scientific exchange, and professional development activities will be encouraged and supported.
TUM is an equal opportunity employer and explicitly encourages applications from women and individu-als who contribute to the diversity of the university. Applicants with severe disabilities will be given prefer-ence in cases of essentially equal suitability and qualifications.

Join us!

To apply for this position, please submit your application including the attachments mentioned below as one single PDF document in English via email to applications.pft@cs.tum.de
• CV including publications
• A max one page motivation letter
• Degree certificates and academic transcripts
• Contact details of two referees

The deadline for application is Nov 20th, 2026.

For more information about PFT group, please check on our website Particle and Fiber Technology (https://pft.cs.tum.de/de/). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews may be conducted as soon as suitable candidates are identified. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Kontakt: applications.pft@cs.tum.de