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Junior research group leader

starting for the next possible date.

Full-time (40 hours per week) according to TV-L E 14 for a limited period (until 30.06.2026).

The main focus of the research of the junior research group should be on the topic of sustainable polymer research or automated chemical research with a focus on polymers, whereby one of the following three thematic priorities should also be addressed:

1. Modern polymer synthesis, processing and application
2. Sustainable polymeric materials
3. New materials for energy applications

The junior research group to be established should conduct research in at least one of these areas. More information on the individual thematic priorities can be found at www.ceec.uni-jena.de.

Your responsibilities:

• Independent leadership of a junior research group in the field of polymers chemistry and independent research in the field of sustainable polymers or automated polymer research
• Independent supervision of doctoral, master's and bachelor's students
• Close cooperation with industrial partners such as Altana AG and cooperation partners at the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena
• Publication of scientific results and, if necessary, acquisition of own third-party funds

 Your profile

• Successfully completed university studies and a very good doctorate in chemistry (preferably in the field of macromolecular chemistry), materials science or equivalent
• General computer skills, including Windows and Office
• Very good knowledge of spoken and written English
• The ability to work in an interdisciplinary, international team is required
• We expect a high degree of motivation, initiative and the willingness to familiarize yourself with a wide range of tasks

We offer:

• Management of an independent junior research group in an exciting and forward-looking research topic
• A research environment that is supplemented by a wide range of cooperation opportunities, especially with industrial partners in and around Jena as well as with Altana AG and within the Friedrich Schiller University Jena
• Unique team of scientists and engineers
• Attractive fringe benefits, e.g., capital-forming benefits, job ticket (discounts for public transport), company pension scheme (VBL)
• An exciting field of activity with creative freedom
• Opportunity for habilitation is given
• University health promotion and a family-friendly working environment with flexible working hours
• Remuneration according to the provisions of the collective agreement for the public service of the federal states (TV-L) according to the personal requirements up to salary group 14      

The position is initially limited to three years. This is a 100% full-time position (40 hours/week).

The University of Jena strives for a higher proportion of women in science; therefore, we strongly encourage qualified female scientists to apply.

Severely disabled people will be given preference if they have the same suitability, ability and professional qualifications.

If your research focuses very well on the outlined subject areas, then please provide a short description of your research in this context, naming one of the specific thematic focuses (length of approx. 1-2 pages) as well as meaningful documents about yourself (curriculum vitae in tabular form, certificates in copies, list of publications, etc.) by 30.06.2023 to:

Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Chemisch-Geowissenschaftliche Fakultät
Herr Prof. Dr. Ulrich S. Schubert
Philosophenweg 7a
07743 Jena

oder per Email an: ceec-jena@uni-jena.de

For further information for applicants, please refer to https://www.uni-jena.de/en/job-market

Multiple PhD and Post-Doc positions

At a research group at the University of Jena (Germany) led by Kevin Maik Jablonka.

We are looking for highly motivated Ph.D. students and postdocs for projects at the intersection of machine learning and material science. In particular, we aim to increase our understanding of the performance of frontier models and agents on impactful tasks in a project supported by OpenPhilanthropy.

We strongly encourage candidates of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. Each new hire is an opportunity for us to bring in a different perspective, and we are always eager to diversify our team further.

Background:

Frontier models offer an unprecedented possibility to solve tasks in the chemical sciences that no other modeling approach would be able to solve.

Recently, we have systematically measured the performance of such models and have shown that they perform “superhuman”External link and also built the first eval framework for multimodal vision-language models in chemistry and materials science.External link
We currently spend much of our effort on building similar frameworks for consequential real-world tasks, including agentic frameworks and lab automation.

At the same time, we are building the modeling frameworks to “solve” those benchmarks.
We do this with both industrial and academic collaborators across the globe.

For more background on Kevin’s thinking see his websiteExternal link and publications.External link

Your Profile:

• A Master's degree or a four- or five-year Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or related fields. For the PostDoc positions, a Ph.D. is required for employment).
• Motivation for working on challenging projects, passion for scientific research, and thrive for excellence.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills.
• Growth mindset and inclusive team culture.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Ideally, programming and machine learning experience (e.g., in Python, Julia).

We Offer:

• Become part of an international and interdisciplinary research group within a scientific network that offers research and infrastructure at the highest level. We collaborate with world-leading experimental groups in Jena as well as the Helmholtz Center in Berlin that have access to unique high-throughput experimentation as well as characterization setups.
• Participate in international and national conferences, summer schools, and workshops (we have allocated a significant amount of resources for travel).
• Excellent in-house computational infrastructure (you will have multiple A100 and H100 cards waiting for you)
• Become part of a research group that cares about your personal development: We will create tailored personal development plans, that we review every year.
• A family-friendly working environment with a variety of offers for families: University Family Office (JUniFamilie) and flexible childcare (JUniKinder).
• University health promotion and a wide range of university sports activities.
• Attractive fringe benefits, e.g., capital formation benefits (VL), Job Ticket (benefits for public transport), and an occupational pension (VBL)
• 30 days of recreational leave in the calendar year plus one day off for Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 that should be taken without any guilt.

Application Process:

1. Fill this formExternal link. If you would first like to learn more, reach out to Kevin (mail@kjablonka.com). 
2. Selected candidates will be invited first to a non-technical discussion and then in a second round of a technical interview (including a ~25 minutes presentation and a Python/Machine Learning assignment).

Candidates with disabilities will be given preference in the case of equal qualifications and suitability.

We will provide support for visa applications and any other potential relocation issues.
We will also support fellowship applications if you would prefer joining the lab on your own funding. Contact Kevin for more details on suitable fellowships.

Diversity and Equity:

At the Friedrich Schiller University (FSU) people from a wide range of (cultural and academic) backgrounds study and work together. At FSU, and in particular in our group, we see diversity as a strength and key for our success. We rely on different ways of thinking to create the most impactful research.
Our group will be a place in which everyone—-irrespective of the background feels safe and will be successful.

Doing a Ph.D. at the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena:

The Friedrich Schiller University is a traditional university with a strong research profile rooted in Jena, at the heart of Germany. Since its foundation, it has been one of Germany's most famous places to study, where outstanding academics like Goethe and Schiller left their marks. As a university covering all disciplines, it offers a wide range of subjects. Its research is focused on the areas Light—Life—Liberty. It is closely networked with non-research institutions, research companies (links going back to Carl Zeiss, Otto Schott, and Ernst Abbe) and renowned cultural institutions. With around 18,000 students and more than 8,600 employees, the university plays a major role in shaping Jena’s character as a cosmopolitan and future-oriented city (of around ~100 000 inhabitants).

Germany is a beautiful and safe country with great work-life balance and life satisfaction.

You will receive a very competitive salary with which you will live comfortably and save money for leisure activities.

Students need approximately 700 EUR monthly for rent, food, health insurance, books.

Your Workplace:

Our lab (CZSExternal link Research group"Polymers for energy applications” ) is located in the newly constructed Center of Energy and Environmental Chemistry Jena II at the Landgrafencampus (close to one of the best viewpoints of the city), where four new buildings with ca. 7500 m² lab space have been built over the last 10 years. Frequently, start-companies involving Ph.D. students and Postdocs are created, and a new incubator for chemistry related start-ups is currently built next to the campus.

Student Job - HiWi(m/f/d) in the field of polymer chemistry and organical chemistry

What We Offer:

• Contract for 3 months or longer
• Up to 40 hours per month
• Immediate start
• Flexible working hours
• Monthly pay according to the nationwide guidelines on working conditions for graduate and student assistants (“Richtlinien der Tarifgemeinschaft deutscher Länder”).

Why Join Us?

• Gain hands-on experience, collaborate with leading international scientists, and work in the modern labs of FSU Jena.
• Build your skills in organic synthesis and polymer science within one of Germany’s top research groups – the Schubert group.

Your Role:

You’ll have the opportunity to work on projects such as: 

• Synthesizing and characterizing phthalonitrile resins, the most heat-resistant thermosetting materials known, in partnership with Altana AG.
• Synthesizing and electrochemically characterizing polyelectrolytes as electrode materials in organic radical batteries.
• Developing 3D-printable inks for carbon electrodes.
• Engaging in applied projects in collaboration with Altana AG.

Who Can Apply ?

• Master’s students in any semester, except for those in their thesis-writing phase.
• Applicants should have skills in organic synthesis and organic substance characterization.
• You should be motivated toward self-development and interested in a career in chemistry.

Please submit your application via email only, as we cannot accept applications through other methods.

Apply now with your CV:

Email: boris.bulgakov@uni-jena.de

Join our innovative team today!