Please find our joint appointments and professorships on our website: Joint appointments / Professorships

Thesis / Student assistant (m/f/d) - AEM water electrolysis
Job Description
Req ID:  5075
Place of work:  Oldenburg
Starting date:  01.07.2026
Career level:  Student research project and final thesis, Student employment
Type of employment:  Part time
Duration of contract:  3 - 6 Monate

Remuneration: Remuneration is in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector - Federal Government (TVöD-Bund)

Enter the fascinating world of the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V.; DLR) and help shape the future through research and innovation! We offer an exciting and inspiring working environment driven by the expertise and curiosity of our 12,000 employees from 100 nations and our unique infrastructure. Together, we develop sustainable technologies and thus contribute to finding solutions to global challenges. Would you like to join us in addressing this major future challenge? Then this is your place!

The Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) in Oldenburg, with additional research facilities in Stuttgart, Cologne-Porz, Ulm and Hamburg, conducts research in the field of efficient and resource-saving technologies for a future with renewable energies.

 

What to expect
In the Department of Electrochemical Energy Technology, electrochemical reactors and storage systems play a key role in shaping our future with renewable energy from solar and wind sources. These include batteries, fuel cells, and electrolysers.

At our Oldenburg site, we focus intensively on the development of materials for low-temperature water electrolysers. This includes the synthesis of efficient (supported) catalysts for AEM water electrolysis and their integration into membrane electrode assemblies. A key objective is to develop active and stable membrane electrode assemblies not only for operation with alkaline electrolytes, but also without electrolyte additives (as in PEM water electrolysis).

The materials produced are analysed using physical and chemical methods and are also electrochemically characterised in three-electrode setups (up to 1 cm² active area) and single cells (up to 25 cm² active area). As part of your thesis, you will have the opportunity to actively contribute to the development of solutions for these challenges.

Your tasks

  • Physicochemical characterisation of the materials
  • Electrochemical performance and stability tests (three-electrode setup & single cell)
  • Chemical syntheses of catalysts
  • Production of catalyst layers on metallic and oxidic substrates
  • Evaluation and interpretation of the results to derive optimisation strategies.

 

Your profile

  • Ongoing bachelor's/master's degree in chemistry or materials science
  • Experience with laboratory work
  • Experience with physical and/or electrochemical analysis methods
  • Independent way of working
  • Very good written and spoken German and/or English skills

 

We offer

DLR stands for diversity, appreciation and equality for all people. We promote independent work and the individual development of our employees both personally and professionally. To this end, we offer numerous training and development opportunities. Equal opportunities are of particular importance to us, which is why we want to increase the proportion of women in science and management in particular. Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are qualified.

 

What we offer
DLR stands for diversity, appreciation and equality for all people. We promote independent work and the individual development of our employees both personally and professionally. To this end, we offer numerous training and development opportunities. Equal opportunities are of particular importance to us, which is why we want to increase the proportion of women in science and management in particular. Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are qualified.

 

We look forward to getting to know you!

 

If you have any questions about this position (Vacancy-ID 5075) please contact:

 

Dr. Michael Braun 
Tel.: +49 441 99906 5817