W3-professorship for “Environmentally Suitable Products and Processes” (m/f/d)

The University of Kassel is a dynamic university with approximately 22,000 students. It has an exceptionally broad profile with competence fields in nature, technology, culture, and society. With the Kassel Institute for Sustainability, founded in 2020, the university is placing an even greater emphasis on teaching and research in sustainability within the context of the 17 SDGs. Additionally, the University of Kassel is cooperating with the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology IEE, which is also based in Kassel.

Within the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the Institute of Production Technology and Logistics is searching to fill the following position by April 01, 2026:

W3-professorship for “Environmentally Suitable Products and Processes” (m/f/d)

Application deadline: 26.09.2025

Date of hire: 01.04.2026

Vacancy number: 38641

We are looking for an experienced researcher with contacts in the industrial environment who can demonstrate their previous activities in the fields of circular economy and resource efficiency through relevant research activities and publications in relevant journals and at congresses. In the context of the EU's “Green Deal Industrial Plan”, future research will focus on business and industry along the entire product life cycle. A profile in at least two of the following areas:

• Design (e.g. recycling-friendly designs as part of product development)
• Production (e.g. resource-conserving production methods and processes, methods for selecting suitable materials against the background of closed material cycles and the criticality of raw materials and preliminary products used)
• Dismantling (e.g. recycling-friendly removal and handling)
• Recycling and/or disposal (e.g. technical options for material recycling)

of sustainable products must be presented.

Prior research must follow a systemic approach and consider the entire product life cycle using suitable ecological assessment and evaluation criteria. In particular, the methods of life cycle engineering and the ecological assessment criteria of the EU taxonomy should be applied. The DNSH rule (Do No Significant Harm) is of particular importance for the circular economy in this context. Due to the resulting multi-criticality, this requires new scientific evaluation and optimization approaches along the entire value and supply chain.

The focus of the professorship can be either theoretical or experimental or a combination of both. The theoretical methods should therefore focus on digital planning processes such as modelling, numerical simulation, optimization processes or, if necessary, the use of artificial intelligence methods. Experimental work should focus on prototype construction as a model for sustainable products and production technologies. The concept for future cooperation with stakeholders from industry and local authorities should include participation in publicly funded joint projects with other fields - including other universities - and, taking sustainability aspects into account, a cooperation with the Kassel Institute for Sustainability (KIS).

Teaching responsibilities include coordinating the Bachelor's degree course in “Sustainable Materials and Process Engineering” and participating in other courses offered by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at both Bachelor's and Master's level. In addition, the field is involved in the faculty's services for other courses offered by other faculties. The field is also responsible for the compulsory lecture “Nachhaltigkeit, Ressourcennutzung und Produktlebenszyklen” (NRP) and the elective course “Life Cycle Engineering”. Further courses in the field of sustainable product development are encouraged. Applicants must provide evidence of teaching experience. A willingness to teach courses in German is required. Teaching in English is desired.

Applicants are expected to have demonstrated their expertise through a dissertation qualified as very good, as well as relevant scientific publications. Based on their expertise, they should be capable of conducting interdisciplinary research in collaboration with colleagues in mechanical engineering, mechatronics, and other related engineering disciplines. The ability to perform independent scientific work is required and qualifications are to be proven through habilitation or equivalent scientific achievements. The acquisition of research funds (third party funding) is expected, and relevant experience must be demonstrated. The hiring requirements and performance standards according to §§ 67, 68 HessHG apply. In the event of any differences between the German and English versions of this call for application, the German wording is legally binding.

Please send your application with the following documents (CV, references, certificates, list of publications, three selected publications, a list of previous courses taught, externally funded projects and a research concept consisting of two page) and state the reference number in the subject line, using the online form.

For further information, please contact Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Böhm, Tel.: +49 561 804-3141.