Are you interested in the sustainable use of natural resources and would like to learn the basics for efficient recycling methods as part of a PhD study?Then the PhD Graduate School WERA „Wertstoff Abwasser“ (Valuable Wastewater) is a good place for you. The RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau is looking for 6 motivated PhD students as of 01.07.2026 (or earlier).
In WERA, 13 cooperative research projects on the recovery of the important raw material phosphorus (P) from wastewater are being worked on together using novel natural scientific and engineering approaches through to technical implementation. In WERA, various processes, such as the synthesis of tailor-made adsorbers and innovative separation units for phosphorus recovery will be developed, combined in process chains and validated on a wastewater recycling pilot plant. Suitable methods for process analysis and characterization will be extended and the chemical-physical relationships will be studied using molecular and thermodynamic simulations. The research findings of WERA can be transferred to many other fields of the circular economy.
PhD study in WERA takes 4 years in a close cooperation between PhD students and interdisciplinary professors team. WERA’s study concept includes summer schools, keynote lectures given by internationally renowned scientists, topic-specific courses and interdisciplinary workshops as well as offers for visit of international research institutes. Due to a comprehensive scientific education of WERA you will obtain a highly qualified expertise in the promising fields of resource recovery and environmental technology.
The following PhD topics are available, which are explained in more detail by clicking on the topics (on ):
In Chemistry:
Supervisor: Prof. Stefan Kubik
In Process Engineering:
Supervisor: Prof. Fabian Jirasek
Supervisor: Prof. Sergiy Antonyuk
Supervisor: Prof. Erik von Harbou
In Wastewater Engineering:
Supervisor: Prof. Heidrun Steinmetz
Supervisor: Jun.-Prof. Carlo Morandi
Your area of responsibility:
Your requirements profile:
Prerequisite for the PhD position is an Master's degree (or equivalent) in engineering, chemistry or physics.
We offer:
Health promotion
Family Service Center
Vocational Training
Flexible working hour
Jobticket
Retirement provision
Sport & Fitness programms
Culture & Leisure offers
Local recreation in the Palatinate Forest
RPTU stands for diversity among all employees. We welcome applications from all interested parties, regardless of their ethnic and social origin, age, religion, gender, disability and sexual orientation or identity. Preference will be given to severely disabled persons and persons equivalent to them if they have the appropriate qualifications and suitability.
The RPTU aims to increase the proportion of women in areas where women are underrepresented. Applications from researchers from abroad are expressly encouraged. The position can also be filled on a part-time basis.