IGCS is hiring Research Associate in the field of sustainability and circular economy

The Institute of Sanitary Engineering and Solid Waste Management (ISAH), Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover, invites applications for the position of a

Research Associate (PostDoc, m/f/d) in the field of sustainability and circular economy

(Salary Scale 13 TV-L, 100 %)

to be filled as soon as possible. The position is limited until December 31st, 2024. The scope of the position corresponds to 100 % of the collectively agreed working hours.

Background

In 2010, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) and several German universities jointly established the Indo-German Centre for Sustainability (IGCS), located on the IITM campus in Chennai, as a platform for international academic exchange and interdisciplinary research collaboration on major sustainable development issues. In Germany, the IGCS activities are supported by the ‘TU9’ group of Technical Universities (led by RWTH Aachen University) and Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel. Focus areas of sustainability education and research related to water (Kiel Univ.), waste (TU Hannover), land use and rural/ urban development (RWTH Aachen Univ.), as well as energy (TU Berlin).

The IGCS is part of the initiative “A New Passage to India” by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). It receives funding from the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) via DAAD and the Dept. of Science and Technology, Government of India. Since its inception, the IGCS has offered short-term Winter/ Summer Schools on various sustainability topics, workshop participation, and short- and long-term research stays to students and researchers from India and Germany at IGCS Chennai or the German partner universities. German and IITM academic staff closely collaborate both in teaching and research.

In the research field of Waste Management and Circular Economy at ISAH, research and networking activities between India and Germany on the topic of recycling management and resource conservation are to be further developed. This includes a stay of several months each year at IIT Madras. Thereby, under consideration of already existing research fields, the following priorities should be set:

  • Greenhouse gas reduction through pyrolytic processing of organic municipal waste
  • Development and implementation of cross-sectoral circular economy measures in the water-food-energy-waste nexus
  • Sustainable recovery and recycling processes of post-consumer plastics

Furthermore, a key task is networking with partner institutions, which includes state agencies, industries and civil society organisations in India and Germany, as well as consolidating existing networks within the IGCS and promoting research and teaching cooperation. This includes my own teaching activities at the IIT Madras and LUH. Additionally, the objective is to form a close interaction with the other IGCS core areas.

Working field

You should conduct research projects and teaching together with IGCS colleagues in different formats as well as individually (e.g. lectures at IITM and your home university in Germany, create content for workshops, teach and supervise Summer and Winter School students). With the support of the Indian and German project coordinators, you will actively contribute to organizing events. Furthermore, you will be a point of contact for exchange students and scientists, who are planning their stay in Chennai or in Germany. The majority of your work time you are required to spend at the IGCS office at IITM in Chennai, at least six of twelve months. You will be able to solicit research grants in Germany (e.g. DFG, industry) and collaborate with IGCS’ area coordinators in Indian research projects, engage in IGCS activities and support in teaching.

Requirements

  • Completed university degree (M.Sc.; M.Tech.) in civil and environmental engineering, process engineering, or cf.
  • Experience in teaching
  • Knowledge of German and English (both fluent)
  • The ability to obtain a work visa in India or Germany

Desired:

  • Completed doctoral degree and successful publications in one of the above-mentioned sustainable research fields (pyrolysis of organic waste, plastics recycling, circular economy measures)
  • Work-abroad experience and knowledge of the region

You are expected to engage in interdisciplinary research and design your own project ideas and focus areas in India.

The university aims to promote equality between women and men. For this purpose, the university strives to reduce under-representation in areas where a certain gender is under-represented. Women are under-represented in the salary scale of the advertised position. Therefore, qualified women are encouraged to apply. Moreover, we welcome applications from qualified men. Preference will be given to equally-qualified applicants with disabilities.

Please send your application with the usual documents in German by January 2nd, 2023, in the electronic form to

Email: weichgrebe@isah.uni-hannover.de

Or alternatively by post to:
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover
Institute for Urban Water Management and Waste Engineering
PD Dr.-Ing. habil. Dirk Weichgrebe
Welfengarten 1, 30167 Hannover
http://www.uni-hannover.de/jobs

For reasons of cost, application documents will not be returned. Please submit copies only. Information on the collection of personal data according to article 13 GDPR can be found at https://www.uni-hannover.de/en/datenschutzhinweis-bewerbungen/.