Area of research:
Diplom & Master
Job description:
Your Job:
The work will examine global supply chains for wind turbines, particularly offshore, or for microchip and semiconductor technologies, to identify bottlenecks, dependencies, and transformation paths. Based on a systematic literature review and trade data analysis, the first step will be to select the technologies to be considered (e.g., generator- and permanent magnet-based). A material flow-based database for the supply chain will then be established for these technologies, which will provide a basis for analyzing dependencies and the demand for (critical) raw materials. Specifically, you will work on the following tasks:
* Literature review on the global supply chain for wind turbines, including key production steps (raw materials – intermediate products – components – end products) and major production sites at the country level
* Compile and assess key technologies, potential substitutes, emerging technological developments, and associated development potentials and risks
* Conduct literature research on critical materials and material substitutes, including LCA-based material overviews, criticality assessments (e.g., EU evaluations or global production capacities), and potential substitutes for current and future technologies
* Select relevant technologies/raw materials and create scenarios as a basis for a material flow analysis
* Perform import/export analysis of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished products based on, for example, historical trade data ( )
* Analysis of historical developments in material flows
* Develop a database on material flows, including key figures such as volumes, origins, and processing stages, and analyze the demand for relevant raw materials, intermediate products, and production inputs
The project offers the opportunity to deal intensively with the renewable energy value chain and to work out connections to critical raw materials. The project is supervised by the Chair of Energy Economics at TU Dresden in cooperation with the Resource Strategies Department of Jülich System Analysis at Forschungszentrum Jülich. This thesis aims to publish a research article in a renowned international journal (e.g., Energy Policy, Journal of Industrial Production).
Your Profile:
* Very good academic records in your master`s studies in the field of energy technologies, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, physics, or a comparable field
* Knowledge of renewable energy technologies
* Experience with and/or interest in setting up a comprehensive database on material flows and their evaluation
* Knowledge of an object-oriented programming language (e.g., Python, Matlab) and MS Office
* Fluent language skills in written and spoken English or German
Our Offer:
We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and are offering you the chance to actively help in shaping the change! We support you in your work with:
* MEANINGFUL TASKS: Your thesis deals with a future-oriented, socially relevant topic with direct practical relevance in an international environment
* PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: With us, you will gain valuable practical experience alongside your studies and actively participate in interdisciplinary projects
* SCIENTIFIC ENVIRONMENT: You can expect excellent scientific equipment, modern technologies, and qualified support from experienced colleagues
* INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION: You will have the opportunity to work with keen researchers from various scientific fields and be part of designing the future energy system
* PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY: You organize your tasks independently—from preparation to implementation
* ONBOARDING & TEAMWORK: You can look forward to working in a dedicated, international, and collegial team. It is important to us that you quickly settle into the team and are given structured training for your tasks. We also support you from the very beginning and make your start easier with our Welcome Days and Welcome Guide: go.fzj.de/welcome
* WORK-LIFE BALANCE: We offer flexible working hours to help you balance your professional and personal life. You also have the option of flexible working (in terms of location), which is generally possible after consultation and in line with upcoming tasks and (on-site) appointments
* FLEXIBILITY: Flexible working hours make it easier for you to balance work and study
* FIXED-TERM: The position is limited to 6 months
* PERSPECTIVE: If you have the appropriate qualifications and funding is available, the institute offers the opportunity to do your PhD after completing your master`s thesis
* FAIR REMUNERATION: We will pay you a reasonable remuneration for your thesis
In addition to exciting tasks and a collegial working environment, we offer you much more: go.fzj.de/benefits
We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.
The following links provide further information on diversity and equal opportunities: go.fzj.de/equality and on specific support options: go.fzj.de/womens-job-journey
This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.
Company
The Helmholtz Association contributes to solving major challenges to assure the future of our society. With more than 47.500 people on staff in 18 national Research Centers and an annual budget of more than 6 billion euros, the Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organization. The name Helmholtz stands for concerted research, in which networks form the key principle behind inquiring thought and action.
The profile of the Helmholtz Association
The Helmholtz Association performs cutting-edge research which contributes substantially to solving the grand challenges of science, society and industry. To succeed in meeting these responsibilities, Helmholtz concentrates its work in six research fields: Energy, Earth and Environment, Health, Information, Matter, as well as Aeronautics, Space and Transport. Within each of these fields, research programs are developed by our scientists and regularly evaluated by renowned international experts. Their evaluation forms the basis for the program-oriented funding that is allocated to Helmholtz research. Within the six research fields, Helmholtz scientists cooperate with each other and with external partners – working across disciplinary, organizational and national borders.
Moreover, Helmholtz specializes in large-scale research infrastructures – from accelerator facilities, earth observation satellites, research ships to supercomputers. They form the basis for scientific advances in tackling global societal challenges. Managing national research infrastructure is part of the Helmholtz Association's mission.
Promoting young academics
Helmholtz scientists, a high-performance infrastructure and modern and efficient research management are the ingredients to the Helmholtz Association‘s success and global impact.
Promoting young researchers is a major priority for the Helmholtz Association. Its qualification schemes for young researchers are geared mainly towards PhD students, postdocs and young managers. The Helmholtz Association has set high standards for its talent management. Its strategy begins with targeted recruitment of highly qualified staff at all levels, followed by comprehensive support aimed at further developing their potential. Ensuring equal opportunities is an essential element in all talent management activities undertaken by the Helmholtz Association.
The Helmholtz Graduate Schools and Research Schools at almost all Helmholtz Centers provide doctoral students with the general and specific skills and training they need, as well as ample opportunity to network. The period following a doctorate is decisive in determining the direction and success of a scientific career. For this reason, we established Career Development Centers for postdoctoral researchers in the Helmholtz Centers. This equips young researchers with the skills they need to go on to head a Helmholtz Investigator Group, for example. As an Investigator Group leader, junior scientists can independently set up their own group to conduct research in their specialist field and acquire management skills.
Within its talent management strategy, the Helmholtz Association pays special attention to the increased recruitment of talented female scientists both from Germany and abroad. To this end, there are currently two funding programs supporting this policy: and Helmholtz Distinguished Professorship – Funding for the recruitment of leading international female scientists (W3) .
The increasing complexity of the content, structures and framework conditions of scientific work today requires researchers to organize their projects, their employees and, of course, themselves in a highly professional and effective way. In response to these demands, we have set up the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to provide leaders in science with professional management training. Furthermore, the Helmholtz network provides a platform for the alumni of the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to come together and share their experiences of leadership, career development and lifelong learning.
All of this combined makes the 18 Research Centers of the Helmholtz Association a highly attractive environment for talented researchers from all over the world.
Company info
Telephone
0049-30-206329-0
Location
Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Str. 2
Berlin
Berlin
10178
Germany