Ph.D. student or Postdoc position (f/m/d) | Advanced operando spectroscopy of heterogeneous catalysts in Mülheim an der Ruhr

Young Researchers Mülheim an der Ruhr

Structural and Cell Biology Chemistry

Job Code: OR012

Job Offer from September 14, 2026

The Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion (MPI CEC) in Mülheim an der Ruhr studies fundamental chemical processes for energy storage in chemical molecules. The Department of “Inorganic Spectroscopy” is currently seeking a candidate for a Ph.D. student or Postdoc position (f/m/d) in advanced operando spectroscopy of heterogeneous catalysts.

The position is available immediately, and the starting date is flexible. The doctoral researcher will work on a 3-year doctoral program and the postdoctoral position is initially for 12 months, with the possibility of additional one-year renewals. The position is funded by the SFB/TRR 247 collaborative research network “Heterogeneous Oxidation Catalysis in the Liquid Phase” and will be jointly supervised by Prof. Dr. Serena DeBeer and Dr. Olaf Rüdiger.

Your tasks

The successful candidate will carry out experimental research aimed at understanding electrocatalytic heterogeneous materials in-situ and under operando conditions, using advanced X-ray spectroscopic techniques (XAS, XES, RXES), both in-house and at synchrotron facilities. The work will be embedded in a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary environment spanning electrochemistry, spectroscopy, and computational chemistry. The working language of the group is English.

Your Qualifications

For the Ph.D. position, we require a Master's degree in Chemistry, Physics or a related field. For the postdoctoral position, we also require a Ph.D. in Chemistry, Physics, or a related field. The candidate should have prior experience in electrochemistry, inorganic chemistry, and/or X-ray spectroscopy applied to electrocatalysis; this is an advantage, but it is not a strict requirement for enthusiastic candidates.

Our offer

• We offer an international, dynamic working environment in a renowned research institute, family-friendly jobs, and flexible working hours.
• The Ph.D. will be remunerated according to the Max Planck Society´s funding guidelines for junior scientists and the postdoctoral position according to TVÖD (Bund), in line with your qualifications and professional experience.

The Max Planck Society is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in its workforce and therefore encourages applications from such qualified individuals. Furthermore, the Max Planck Society seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply.