With cutting-edge research in the fields of ENERGY, HEALTH and MATTER, around 1,500 employees from more than 70 nations at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) are committed to mastering the great challenges facing society today.
The Institute of Fluid Dynamics is conducting basic and applied research in the fields of thermo-fluid dynamics and magnetohydrodynamics in order to improve the sustainability, the energy efficiency and the safety of industrial processes.
The Department of Process Diagnostics is looking for a
PhD Student / Scientific Assistant (f/m/d) Recycling of Rare Earth Elements from Permanent Magnets,
subject to project approval.
Tasks
- Development of a process for the recycling of rare earth elements from permanent magnets
- Recovery of Dy and Nd from molten salts at 500 °C
- Design, construction, and operation of the electrolysis cell
- Analysis, interpretation, and documentation of experimental results
- Publication and presentation of research findings at project meetings and scientific conferences
Requirements
- Completed university studies (Master/Diploma) in the field of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field (e.g., Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Process Engineering, or Physics)
- Enthusiasm for experimental work is desirable
- Willingness to work with high-temperature molten salts
- Knowledge of electrochemistry is desirable
- Ability to work independently in a structured and solution-oriented manner
- Motivation to work in a multidisciplinary and international research environment
- Excellent written and spoken English skills desirable
What we offer
- A vibrant research community in an open, diverse and international work environment
- Scientific excellence and extensive professional networking opportunities
- Salary and social benefits in accordance with the collective agreement for the public sector (TVöD-Bund) including 30 days of paid holiday leave, company pension scheme (VBL)
- Depending on the personal qualifications, the candidate may be classified in salary group 13 according to TVöD-Bund
- We support a good work-life balance with the possibility of part-time employment, mobile working and flexible working hours
- Numerous company health management offerings
- Employee discounts with well-known providers via the platform Corporate Benefits
- An employer subsidy for the "Deutschland-Ticket Jobticket"
How to apply
We look forward to receiving your application documents (including cover letter, CV, diplomas/transcripts, etc.), which you can submit via our online-application-system: https://www.hzdr.de/db/Cms?pNid=490&pLang=en&pOid=78551
Facts
- Number of employees
- 1.500
- Category
- PhD student, Research assistant
- Job location
- Germany, Saxony, Dresden
- Area of responsibility
- Academia and research, Research, Chemistry
- Start date (earliest)
- 01.11.2026
- Duration
- 3 years
- Full/Part-time
- 75 %
- Remuneration
- TVöD Bund
- Remote work
- Partially possible
- Working language and expected level
-
- English (Fluent in speech and writing)
- German (Very good command of the language)
- Homepage
- https://www.hzdr.de
Requirements
- Field of study
- Chemistry
Contact
- Reference number
- 2026/111
Apply
- Application deadline
- 30.09.2026
- Reference number
- 2026/111
- Application documents
-
cover letter, CV, diplomas/transcripts, etc.
- Online
- https://www.hzdr.de/db/Cms?pNid=490&p...