PhD student in Life Cycle Assessment (f/m/d) Volkswagen

work environment

We assess the environmental impact of the Volkswagen Group’s products and business activities, considering the entire life cycle – from raw material extraction to recycling. Our tasks include the standardization, quality assurance, and further development of life cycle assessments for materials, components, vehicles, and fleets within the Volkswagen Group. This also includes calculating the Decarbonisation Index (DKI), its internal and external reporting, and methodological development. We maintain close communication with the brands, Group divisions, and regions, and our work makes a significant contribution to achieving the Volkswagen Group’s environmental goals. We are looking to expand our interdisciplinary and motivated team as soon as possible.

Possible tasks of this role

• Writing a dissertation in the context of vehicle life cycle assessments (e.g. international harmonization, holistic evaluation of circular economy strategies)
• Analyzing, researching, calculating and processing data to address current issues and to support other group departments.

The final dissertation topic will be defined jointly with the professor. A prerequisite for this collaboration is a commitment to supervision and a confirmed topic delimitation from the professor at a university or research institution authorized to award doctorates. University supervision can be ensured through existing university partnerships.

Qualification requirements

• A university degree completed with good to very good grades and the right to pursue a doctorate, with a technical or scientific background (e.g., Environmental Engineering / Mechanical Engineering / Industrial Engineering / Environmental Sciences)
• Practical and methodological experience in the field of life cycle assessment
• Practical experience and/or interest in project and stakeholder management
• Excellent MS Office user skills (especially Excel)
• English and German language level B2
• Strong analytical skills, affinity for numbers and calculations
• Independent, structured work style
• Team spirit and enjoyment of challenges

Keywords

Dissertation, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), CE, Circular Economy, CO₂ Footprint, Carbon Footprint, Environmental Accounting, Sustainability

We offer this

• Attractive salary & 30 vacation days (+ 24.12. and 31.12. off)
• 35-hour week, flexible working hours, mobile work
• Special conditions for the purchase and leasing of vehicles
• Seminars on academic writing and interdisciplinary qualification
• Participation in the doctoral college for scientific exchange with representatives of teaching and other doctoral students of the Volkswagen Group

Contact for this tender: Fabian Wenzel