Polymer Scientist (m/f/div)
for Materials Central Scientific Facility

The Materials Central Scientific Facility (Materials CSF) at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart, Germany is looking for a new polymer scientist to lead the CSF’s polymer and soft matter research efforts and support interdisciplinary research projects throughout the institute. We are looking for a highly motivated and creative person who wants to join a dynamic international working environment and contribute to cutting-edge research. The Max Planck Society is committed to ensure equal opportunities for all job applicants.

About the Institute

The Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) has campuses in Stuttgart and Tübingen. The institute combines – within one center – theory, software, and hardware expertise in the research field of intelligent systems. The Tübingen campus focuses on how intelligent systems process information to perceive, act and learn through research in the areas of machine learning, computer vision, and human-scale robotics. Our Stuttgart campus has world-leading expertise in micro- and nano-robotic systems, haptic perception, human-robot interaction, robotic materials, bio-hybrid systems, and medical robotics.

The Materials CSF is a central facility of MPI-IS, currently employing one scientist, four technical engineers, and two PhD students, who are conducting materials science research relevant to intelligent systems, and supporting various ambitious research projects throughout MPI-IS with their expertise. The Materials CSF combines expertise in fabrication, microstructure, and properties of various materials systems to support fundamental research and to enable creation of new intelligent components and devices that improve the quality of human life. Researchers in the Materials CSF spend approximately half their time doing their own fundamental research, and the other half contributing to interdisciplinary projects in various departments and research groups at MPI-IS.

You will be joining the Materials CSF to lead the expanding thrusts of research in polymers and soft materials systems, related to research efforts such as soft robotic devices, micro-robots, haptic devices and artificial muscles.

Therefore, we seek applicants with an educational background in polymer science or organic chemistry, as well as experience in areas including synthesis, analysis, and characterization of polymers as well as fabrication of soft and flexible structures.

Your work will have a broad and positive impact on society, by creating knowledge and supporting innovation in materials science that aims to enable new types of intelligent systems. This polymer scientist position additionally comes with the unique opportunity to build up new experimental infrastructure to support your research efforts.

Desirable experience

We are looking for a polymer scientist who should have experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Polymers, hydrogels, or soft matter synthesis
• Device fabrication by e.g. roll-to-roll, industrial printing techniques, extrusion, or blade casting
• Polymer small scale or micro fabrication, e.g. 2-dimensional metal-polymer composites, 2-photon polymerization
• Relevant analysis methods, e.g. liquid / gas chromatography, mass spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy

We are looking for a polymer scientist:

• With a PhD in polymer science or organic chemistry
• With research experience in polymer-related material science
• Who is highly motivated to perform creative research in collaboration with engineers and researchers in the field of intelligent systems
• Who has a high level of oral and written communication skills in English; German language capabilities are advantageous but not required

We offer flexible working times within the institute’s administrative rules. To better reconcile family life and career, the MPI-IS houses a daycare facility on its campus in Stuttgart.

Salary and contract conditions will be based on previous experience according to TVöD guidelines. This is a full-time position and initially offered for two years. A permanent position will be available after positive evaluation from the institute leadership.

The Max Planck Society is committed to employing more handicapped individuals and especially encourages them to apply. Furthermore, the Max Planck Society seeks to increase the number of women in areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply. The Max Planck Society strives for gender equality and diversity.

Candidates should upload their application in English including CV and list of references in one PDF file under the following link: https://jobs.is.mpg.de/fs93w.

Preference will be given to applications received by April 10, 2022. For more information or questions about scientific and technical aspects of the position please contact Gunther Richter richter@is.mpg.de or Christoph Keplinger ck@is.mpg.de.

More information about the institute and the Materials CSF can be found on http://is.mpg.de and http://is.mpg.de/en/cfs-materials.

if you prefer to send a hardcopy application, you may do so. Please address it to:

Max-Planck-Institut
für Intelligente Systeme
Heisenbergstraße 3
70569 Stuttgart