329/2025 Postdoc / Senior Scientist (f/m/d) for Quantitative Ecological, Economic and Social Sustainability Analyses of Energy Storage Technologies

Organizational unit

Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS)

Job description

The research group "Research for Sustainable Energy Technologies" (RESET) conducts research on various energy generation and storage technologies. One focus is on electrochemical storage systems (in particular Power-to-X and batteries). The position within the RESET group involves the further development and management of an energy technology field. You will work in the area of assessing and optimising the environmental impacts of new and emerging energy technologies, with a particular focus on synthetic fuels and energy storage (P2X). Your responsibilities will include:

• Conducting life cycle sustainability assessments (prospective LCA, LCC, Social-LCA) for new and emerging energy technologies, including data collection, analysis and interpretation
• Developing tools, models, and databases to support sustainability and life cycle assessment activities, supporting LCA-Lab
• Collaborating in national and EU projects to integrate sustainability aspects into product design, development and decision-making processes.
• Identifying opportunities for environmental improvements and resource optimisation throughout the entire product life cycle, including circular economy approaches
• Communicating results and recommendations to societal stakeholders and project partners within projects and transdisciplinary activities
• Preparing reports, publications and presentations, and organising workshops

Starting date

01.10.2025

Personal qualification

We expect:

• A university degree (Master’s) in engineering, natural sciences or environmental sciences with a completed PhD
• Very good knowledge and experience in life cycle assessment methodology (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC)
• Knowledge in the fields of social life cycle assessment (S-LCA), multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and industrial ecology
• Understanding of sustainability principles, life cycle analysis methods and energy technologies, as well as systems analysis in the energy sector
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team, organisational skills and good communication skills
• Very good German and English language skills (spoken and written)
• An interest in working in an interdisciplinary and international team

Salary

Salary category 13, depending on the fulfillment of professional and personal requirements.