Join the Cluster of Excellence “BlueMat: Water-Driven Materials” and contribute to one of Europe’s most exciting research initiatives. Collaborate with a dynamic, interdisciplinary team that combines science, sustainability, and technology to create a better future. Help shape the next generation of sustainable materials inspired by nature’s most powerful resource: water.

For the Institute of Water Resources and Water Supply for 1 February 2026 we are looking for a

Research Associate (m/f/d) - 
Wissenschaftliche*r Mitarbeiter*in 

to conduct research within project Selective capacity deionization by carbon-based electrodes with tunable porosity, surface charge and conductivity (B2) as part of the BlueMat Cluster of Excellence. The position is full time and fixed-term until 31 January 2029. The remuneration is in accordance with salary group 13 TV-L (collective agreement for the public service of the federal states).

You will explore how novel materials interact with water constituents to enable their controlled selective removal via electrosorption and electrodesorption. You will collaborate with BlueMat scientists who design porous electrodes and modify them to maximize e.g., their pore volume and electrically conductive surface area. The results you generate will provide the foundation for BlueMat colleagues who model material–water interactions using molecular dynamics simulations.

YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS

• Set up and operate of a laboratory testing plant for electrosorption/desorption experiments with integrated data-monitoring and control equipment.
• Characterize electrode materials by e. g. zeta potential, cyclic voltammetry, hydrophobicity, contact-angle measurements, etc. 
• Conduct static and dynamic flow trails with modified electrodes for selective ion removal from model waters.
• Determine key metrics such as specific loading and desorption rates, including average salt removal rates (ASRR) and adsorption performance in both synthetic and real water matrices. 
  
• Collaborate closely with BlueMat (B2) scientists to optimize processes and gain deeper insight into underlying mechanisms.
• Publish and present your findings; contribute to outreach and knowledge transfer within the scientific community and to the public.

YOUR PROFILE

Essential qualification

• Completed scientific university studies (Master degree or equivalent), in particular in the subject areas of chemical / process or environmental engineering

Required knowledge and personal skills

• Curiosity and teamwork skills for working in interdisciplinary teams
• Very good English required (at least B2/C1 level according to CEFR) – German is not mandatory
• Strong background in water engineering and water chemistry
• Experiences in laboratory work and lab scale test equipment

Desired knowledge and personal skills

• Beneficial is the experience with membrane water applications or porous materials, and familiarity with sorption, desorption of water constituents 
• Expertise in the field of drinking water quality assessment
  

OUR OFFER

• Scientific qualification with the opportunity to pursue a PhD in a leading research cluster 
• Access to BlueMat Academy: training workshops, German language support, mentoring, and career development
• Participation in international conferences, research stays, and collaborative networks
• Flexible working conditions, 30 vacation days, family-friendly policies 
• Access to on-campus fitness facilities and health promotion programs

For further information please contact Prof. Dr. Mathias Ernst at mathias.ernst@tuhh.de or Prof. Dr. Franziska Lissel at franziska.lissel@tuhh.de - we are pleased to support you.