Research Associate in Wood Biology and Wood Products

University of Göttingen

At the University of Göttingen -Public Law Foundation-, Abteilung für Holzbiologie und Holzprodukte, there is a position as

Research Associate (all genders welcome)
Entgeltgruppe 13 TV-L/100%

to be filled. Starting date is as soon as possible. The position is limited to 30.06.2028.

Recruitment can only take place after the project application has been approved by the funding institution.

Your Responsibilities

You will play a central role in the collaborative research project „WoodFutureAdapt – Adaptation of Wood-Based Material Production to a Changing Wood Species Composition Due to Climate-Induced Forest Transitions“, actively contributing to the development of sustainable wood-based materials. Your responsibilities include:

• Independent scientific leadership and advancement of the project, particularly in the development of sustainable bio-based adhesives for veneer-based wood composites using natural raw materials such as lignin, proteins, and rosin.
• Production and comprehensive characterization of wood-based materials at pilot scale in close collaboration with research institutions and industrial partners involved in the project.
• Development and application of computer-aided engineering (CAE) methods, including finite element modeling (FEM), for simulating and optimizing mechanical strength and deformation behavior of wood composites.
• Design and implementation of a data-driven decision support tool for the application-oriented production of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) from non-grade-sorted roundwood assortments.
• Coordination and alignment of scientific collaboration with partners from academia and industry.
• Oversight of project finances, budget monitoring, and regular reporting to the funding agency.

Your Profile

You hold:

• A completed academic university degree (master's or diploma) in one of the following fields: Wood Science, Materials Science, Process Engineering, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• A PhD is highly desirable.
• Solid expertise in the production, characterization, and development of wood-based materials.
• Demonstrable experience in computational material modeling, particularly in simulating mechanical strength and deformation behavior (e.g., FEM).
• Knowledge in chemical synthesis and adhesive development, preferably with a focus on sustainable and bio-based systems.
• Proven experience in project management, including the execution and documentation of scientific research projects.

Additional Qualifications We Value

• High level of independence, analytical thinking, and structured work ethic.
• Strong communication skills in both German and English, both written and spoken.
• Evidence of scientific publications in reputable peer-reviewed journals.
• Interest in interdisciplinary research and collaboration with industry partners.

We Offer

• A challenging and future-oriented position within an internationally recognized research environment.
• A motivated, interdisciplinary team committed to sustainable materials innovation.
• Access to state-of-the-art laboratory and simulation infrastructure.
• Support for scientific career development and advancement opportunities.
• An attractive working environment at Georg-August-University Göttingen, with close collaboration with two additional research institutes in Lower Saxony.

The University of Göttingen is an equal opportunities employer and places particular emphasis on fostering career opportunities for women. Qualified women are therefore strongly encouraged to apply in fields in which they are underrepresented. The university has committed itself to being a family-friendly institution and supports their employees in balancing work and family life. The University is particularly committed to the professional participation of severely disabled employees and therefore welcomes applications from severely disabled people. In the case of equal qualifications, applications from people with severe disabilities will be given preference. A disability or equality is to be included in the application in order to protect the interests of the applicant.

Please upload your application in one pdf file including the usual documents until 1/20/2026 on the application portal of the university using this link: http://obp.uni-goettingen.de/de-de/OBF/Index/76202. For more information get in touch with Carsten Mai directly via E-Mail: cmai@gwdg.de, Tel. +49 551 3928212.

Please note: With submission of your application, you accept the processing of your applicant data in terms of data-protection law. Further information on the legal basis and data usage is provided in the Information General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)