The University of Kassel is a modern and growing University with round about 23.000 students. It has an extraordinary wide section with expertise of nature, technique, culture and society.

In the Department of Architecture - Urban Planning - Landscape Planning, Experimental and Digital Design and Construction (Prof. Philipp Eversmann), the following position needs to be filled as soon as possible:

Research Assistant (m/f/d), EG 13 TV-H, Postdoc for Biofabrication, fixed-term and part-time position (currently 30 hours per week)

Closes:	13.06.2023
Date of Hire	as soon as possible
Reference:	36123

Please send your application with the usual informative documents, stating the reference number in the subject line, via the online form. We have compiled further information for you in our FAQ.

In exceptional cases, we will also accept your application documents in paper form addressed to: The President of the University of Kassel, 34109 Kassel, Germany, or via mail to bewerbungen[at]uni-kassel.de, stating the reference number.

In the case of postal applications, please submit only copies of your documents (no folders), as these cannot be returned. All documents will be destroyed after completion of the selection process in compliance with data protection regulations.

Part-time with 75% of the regular working hours of a full-time employee. The position is initially limited to four years as part of the Volkswagen Foundation's momentum project "Robotic BioConstruction - towards Large-scale Circular Fabrication Processes with Biomaterials in Architecture" (§ 2 Para. 2 WissZeitVG).

The department of "Experimental and Digital Design and Construction" is dedicated to the research and teaching of computational design and fabrication processes in architecture, which are developed interaction between the adjacent disciplines of construction, engineering and design. Material properties, structural calculations and manufacturing technology are directly incorporated into the design process via digital design logic and are closely interlinked. The effects of the changing production conditions due to digitalisation on architecture are examined using empirical research and study projects. In this context, robotics represents a central design tool with which novel digital building processes are developed.

We are seeking a highly motivated Biotech Postdoc to join our research team in advancing sustainable digitisation in architecture and construction through biofabrication. As part of our team, you will work towards creating large-scale bio-fabrication in construction, bringing together material science, computation, and digital fabrication with living and non-living biomaterials.

The successful candidate will have a PhD in Biotechnology, Chemistry or a related field, with expertise in biomaterials, bioengineering, bioprocessing, or related areas. They will work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team of experts in materials science, architecture, robotics and engineering to develop a new, unique robotic biofabrication infrastructure, explore novel bio-materials, re-use of waste materials, and bio-joining, and develop modular soft- and hardware for design and fabrication. The role requires strong technical skills, including expertise in biofabrication, experimental design, and data analysis. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and executing experiments, designing and building biofabrication prototypes, and analyzing data using simulation and machine learning to predict and program material behavior. The role will focus on three main topic areas of biofabrication in construction: BIO-GROWTH, BIO-REUSE, and BIO-BINDING. The candidate will work on designing and fabricating processes with living materials (e.g. mycelium, algae, microbes), waste materials (e.g. shellfish and bone waste, agricultural and wood waste), and joining of materials using bioadhesives, biowelding, and form-fit joining. They will also be responsible for ensuring that biofabrication processes have unique technical requirements, including the entire growing process of the natural material, with precise control of the production environment.

The successful candidate will have excellent communication skills and be able to work effectively in a team environment. They will have a strong publication record and a desire to contribute to high-quality publications in leading international journals.

This is a part-time position, initially for four years with the possibility of extension, depending on performance and funding. We offer a highly stimulating research environment with state-of-the-art facilities and opportunities to work with leading experts in the field.

If you are passionate about biofabrication and want to contribute to advancing methods for digital sustainable fabrication and bringing biomaterials closer to practice, then we want to hear from you. Please send your CV / Portfolio and a cover letter describing your research interests and experience, as well as your motivation for applying for this position.

Tasks:

Scientific collaboration in research in the above-mentioned project in the field of material development, biofabrication and digital fabrication
Development of growth processes of biomaterials, biojoining and reuse strategies

Requirements:

Scientific university degree (for example Master degree) and a completed doctorate within the field of biotechnology, chemistry or related fields. The required degree must be available by the hiring date at the latest.
Good knowledge of English or German
Interest in interdisciplinary teamwork within architecture, engineering and robotics

Advantageous:

Knowledge of scripting / programming (e.g. Python, C#)
Prior knowledge of robotic/digital fabrication
Thorough and independent way of working
A high level of organizational skills and teamwork

Prof. Philipp Eversmann is available for questions, Tel.: +49 561 804-2373, E-Mail: eversmann(at)asl.uni-kassel(dot)de. More information of our chair can be found on our website: www.uni-kassel.de/go/edek

Our offer:
As an employee of the University of Kassel

you will be offered an interesting and diverse range of tasks within the framework of a modern and ambitious university,
you will be part of an interdisciplinary team with a good and collegial working atmosphere,
you will have the opportunity to participate in professional and interdisciplinary further education measures,
your workplace is centrally located in the city of Kassel with good public transport connections, which you can currently use for free.

In addition, you will benefit from the advantages of employment in the public service such as:

an additional company pension (VBL),
an optional child supplement in accordance with TV-Hessen, a family-friendly university (including childcare for emergencies),
an annual bonus
an entitlement to capital-accumulation benefits,
a promotion of voluntary commitment,
low-cost participation in university sports and a full range of fitness activities as part of Unifit, as well as workplace health management.

You can find more jobs at stellen.uni-kassel.de

The protection of your personal information is very important to us, so we will handle your personal information with care. By your application, you allow us the storage and use in the sense of the Hessian Data Protection and Freedom of Information Act. You can object to this at any time. Your personal data will be deleted.

Information according to Art. 13 DSGVO for the application process at the University of Kassel can be found at:
www.uni-kassel.de/go/ausschreibung-datenschutz

Information and FAQ about applying for a job offer:
https://www.uni-kassel.de/uni/universitaet/stellenangebote/hinweise-und-faq-zur-bewerbung-auf-ein-stellenangebot

The University of Kassel is very interested in the professional satisfaction of its employees. It is distinguished as a family-friendly university and, in the interests of equal opportunities, strives to offer everyone the same opportunities for development and to counteract existing disadvantages. It promotes the Family Welcome Service and also the Dual Career Service for positions that are scientifically and academically filled. One of the strategic goals of the University of Kassel is to significantly increase the proportion of women in research and teaching. Applications from women are therefore particularly welcome. Seriously handicapped and equivalent applicants are given preference if they have the same suitability, qualifications and professional performance. Full-time positions are generally divisible (except when filling civil servant positions). Applications indicating the Position Number, which may be in digital form, should be sent to the President of the University of Kassel, 34109 Kassel, Germany quoting the applicable reference number.