Research Associate (PhD Student) – Polymer Membranes (HI 2025/01 until 21.06.2025)

Achieving climate neutrality within the next 20 years will require a surge in innovation for the development of highly efficient, scalable, cost-effective and sustainably produced energy technologies. Polymeric materials play a central role in this process. HIPOLE Jena integrates and extends world-class expertise in polymer chemistry, materials science, high-throughput experimentation and artificial intelligence with complementary expertise in inorganic/hybrid materials, scalable devices and advanced characterization.

We are now looking for a research associate/PhD student for our site in Jena, Germany. You will have the chance to support the newly founded institute with your ideas and expertise from the very beginning and will collaborate with researchers from all over the world to contribute to the development of a climate-friendly future.

The position is located in the department of Professor Dr Ulrich S. Schubert with a research focus on:
Polymer membranes for electrochemical energy storage and converters
For more information on our thematic focal points, please visit .

Your Tasks

• Synthesis and characterization of novel monomers and polymers (e, g. based on polysulfones) as well as functionalization of known polymers for use as membranes in photoelectrochemical cells and redox flow batteries (RFBs)
• Characterization of polymers, e. g. using NMR, IR and SEC
• Membrane characterization regarding their suitability for redox flow batteries, e. g. using cyclic voltammetry
• Conduction of cell tests in organic RFB systems
• Summary, presentation and publication of the results (in English)

Your Profile

• Master degree in chemistry or a comparable discipline
• Strong experimental background in organic chemistry and/or polymer chemistry
• Hands-on experience with analytical techniques for polymer characterization
• Sound knowledge of electrochemistry and battery cells
• Very good written and spoken English skills

You demonstrate a high degree of motivation, initiative and willingness to familiarize yourself with a wide range of tasks and are characterized by your ability to work in a team, reliability, independence and communication skills. You enjoy working in an interdisciplinary, international team in a diverse and dynamic working environment.

• An international/diversity-sensitive working environment at a Helmholtz institute with a workplace in the science city Jena
• Good work-life balance (flexible work time models: flextime, part-time)
• 30 days paid leave
• Health management, company pension scheme (VBL)
• Opportunities for further development/training opportunities
• An attractive salary according to German TVöD-Bund,
  salary agreement for public service employees
• And a team that looks forward to meeting you!

Fixed term contract for 48 months. The salary is based on the Collective Agreement for the German Public Service (TVöD-Bund).

How to apply

We look forward to receiving your application via our application management system by . For reasons of data protection regulations, we are unfortunately unable to consider applications that reach us by other means (such as email or mail) in the application process.

We very much want our workplace to be diverse, and welcome applications from people with different backgrounds. It is our mission to promote equal opportunities and to improve women’s representation in the workforce. We are therefore very interested in receiving applications from women. Where the qualifications are met, we will give preference to people with disabilities.