Doctoral researchers (f/m/d)

The Martian Mindset – A scarcity-driven engineering paradigm” is a newly funded Cluster of Excellence and will be established at the University of Bremen from January 1, 2026. In the Cluster, we are looking for up to 20 doctoral researchers (f/m/d) subject to job release on salary scale (German) 13 TV-L for 3.5 years. Up to 18 positions are to be filled full-time (39.2 hours per week) and up to two further positions part-time (75%).

The workplace and employment will be at one of the participating institutions of the Cluster of Excellence on the campus of the University of Bremen: University of Bremen, Leibniz Institute for Materials Engineering (Leibniz-IWT), Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials (IFAM), German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), or DLR Institute for Space Systems (DLR RY).

Job description

The Martian Mindset: Our scientists are developing the “Martian Mindset” to rethink the production of materials and components from scratch. The scarcity of resources and extreme conditions on the red planet serve as a setting to develop a new paradigm of sustainability that will lay the foundations for a fossil-fuel-free production of materials and parts from scarce resources in a highly automated and resilient way.

We are looking for up to 20 doctoral researchers who are eager to contribute to a sustainable human exploration of space and to a green transition on Earth. The challenging and interdisciplinary research in “The Martian Mindset” spans ten multifaceted foci in the three areas described below.

1. Sourcing: We research how to produce high-added-value materials and chemicals from low-grade ores using atmospheric gases as the only source of carbon and nitrogen and without burning fossil fuels. Disciplines: materials science, electrochemistry, photo- and bioelectrochemistry, biotechnology, microbiology, fluid dynamics, materials modeling, process modeling, space engineering, metrology.

2. Processing: We study how parts for system repairs and modifications can be produced with impure raw materials and minimal energy expenditure. Disciplines: manufacturing, material processing, production technology, process engineering, materials engineering, space engineering, polymer chemistry and technology.

3. Operating: We investigate how to remotely operate an adaptive and flexible production facility for enough-to-use parts with joint human/robot teams while facing large uncertainties. Disciplines: communications engineering, space engineering, internet of things, optimization under uncertainty, process monitoring, production engineering, robotics, team psychology, decision psychology.

More information on the ten research foci, the project leaders and potential supervisors is available on our website: www.mars.uni-bremen.de. Applications should indicate a maximum of two research foci and two potential supervisors.

Tasks: Conducting original research and developing your doctoral thesis within an interdisciplinary context; documenting, publishing, and presenting research findings; collaborating with other PhD students and researchers; participating in Martian Mindset events; mandatory participation in our qualification program; developing grant proposals; and possibly performing teaching tasks.

Requirements: Hold a master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field; be willing to engage in interdisciplinary work; have good English language skills (e.g., level B2 CEFR); demonstrate ability to work independently; show team spirit and strong communication skills; exhibit analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.

You will have access to: State-of-the-art research infrastructure; opportunities for international collaborations; a comprehensive mentoring and qualification program; support from the Welcome Center; annual special payment; 30 days of vacation; family-friendly work environment; and more.

Qualification concept: Designed to empower early-career researchers to become creative and responsible risk-takers. Further information is available online.

General: The University of Bremen is family-friendly and diverse. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and aim to increase the proportion of women and disabled applicants.

Contact: For questions, contact the recruiting team via email: MartianMindset.applications@uni-bremen.de.

Application procedure: Submit the following documents in English to MartianMindset.applications@uni-bremen.de by August 14, 2025, quoting reference number A176-25.