Research Associate
Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiterin
Institute of
Remuneration EG 13
Start of employment as soon as possible
Application deadline April 2nd 2025
Scope full time and for a maximum of 24 months
Porcelain tile manufacturing is an energy-intensive process with high CO₂ emissions and significant raw material consumption. As environmental regulations tighten, there is a growing need for more sustainable and efficient production methods. By employing a combination of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), flowsheet simulation and multiscale simulation approaches, the project seeks to identify critical process parameters, optimize thermal energy consumption, and improve the overall production workflow.
Through a collaborative effort with a research team in Brazil, this DFG project will develop quantitative cause-and-effect relationships between raw material composition, processing conditions, and final product properties. The ultimate goal is to provide the ceramic industry with robust predictive models and optimization strategies that enable more sustainable manufacturing practices while maintaining or enhancing product quality. The position is initially limited to two years. However, if a continuation proposal is approved by German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG), there is the possibility of extending the project for an additional two years.

NOTICE FOR GRADUATES OF FOREIGN EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Please submit proof of all obtained university degrees and, if available, the recognition of your educational qualifications in Germany (e.g. anabin excerpts and/or acknowledgement of previous employers)

• Develop and implement simulation models for the porcelain tile manufacturing process
• Investigate the interactions between process parameters, raw material composition, and final product properties
• Optimize sintering processes to improve energy efficiency and reduce CO₂ emissions
• Integrate various simulation approaches, including CFD, flowsheet simulation, and data-driven analysis
• International collaboration with research team in Brazil