PhD Student Adhesive Bonding / Debonding (f/m/d)

PhD Student Adhesive Bonding / Debonding (f/m/d)

Work environment

The continuous improvement of materials, product properties, and production technologies - while simultaneously considering the recyclability and circularity of materials and components - is essential for automotive manufacturers to remain competitive on both national and international levels. Within the “Sustainability Solutions” department of Group Innovation at Volkswagen AG, new and forward‑looking approaches are evaluated and further developed with the goal of transferring them into the development departments. The Adhesive Competence Center as well as the sub‑department “Bio‑Materials & Polymers” focus on new and sustainable material concepts and their potential applications. Our activities concentrate on developing future‑ready materials, ensuring their integrability into the automotive process chain, and assessing material‑and manufacturing‑related product properties. The overarching goal is to make vehicles more future‑proof through holistic strategies. If you would like to contribute your scientific curiosity to a future‑relevant field and actively help shape the automotive transformation toward sustainable circular processes, we look forward to receiving your application.

Possible Tasks within this Role

• Familiarizing with the topic of innovative joining concepts and debonding
• Defining requirements for bonding process scenarios and implementing them in product properties
• Developing new bonding strategies with a focus on debonding in the context of automotive applications
• Planning and conducting experimental investigations as well as scientifically evaluating the results
• Cooperating and coordinating with the internal and external partner network

The final doctoral topic is defined together with the professor. The prerequisite for the cooperation is the confirmation of supervision as well as a confirmed delimitation of topics by the professor of a university or research institution entitled to confer a doctorate.

Qualification requirements

• Good to very good university degree qualifying for doctoral studies in the field of mechanical engineering, chemistry, production/manufacturing technology, materials science or comparable courses of study
• Very good theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of joining technology, especially adhesive technology
• Experience in material testing
• Quick comprehension in the development of complex relationships
• High degree of initiative, independence and determination

Keywords

What we offer

• Attractive salary & 30 vacation days (+ 24.12. and 31.12. off)
• Special conditions for the purchase and leasing of vehicles
• Free seminars on scientific work and interdisciplinary qualifications
• Participation in the doctoral network for scientific exchange with science representatives and other doctoral candidates within the Volkswagen Group

Contact person for this posting: Fabian Wenzel

Job ID: 22187

Location: Wolfsburg, DE, 38436

Department: Research and Development

Working Model: Full-time

Contract Type: Fixed-term

Remote Working: Up to 80%

Posting Date: Mar 23, 2026

Volkswagen - that's why

We want to revolutionize and shape the mobility of tomorrow sustainably. For this purpose, we are looking for talents who are willing to break completely new ground with us and are not afraid to make mistakes. We are looking for personalities who want to achieve something extraordinary. And talents who believe in the innovative power of big ideas. Are you in?

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