PhD Position – Chemical Process Engineering and Laboratory Automation

Job Description

Organization: Kurt Schwabe Institute for Sensor Technologies (KSI)

Degree Awarded By: Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden)

Location: Meinsberg, Saxony, Germany

Employment Type: Part-Time, Temporary (TV-L E13, 75%)

Project Overview

The successful candidate will contribute to the development of BioConBot, a modular robotic platform for automated biomolecular conjugation reactions. The platform integrates laboratory automation, analytical instrumentation, standardized digital interfaces, and machine-learning-guided closed-loop optimization for autonomous experimentation.

The research combines chemical process engineering, laboratory robotics, analytical chemistry, scientific programming, and automation technologies in close collaboration with industrial software partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and integrate robotic laboratory modules and analytical systems.
• Implement liquid handling, spectroscopy, and chromatographic workflows.
• Develop automated workflows for biomolecular conjugation reactions.
• Compare automated closed-loop optimization with manual experiments.
• Program laboratory workflows, instrument control, and data acquisition using Python.
• Develop data processing pipelines and device communication interfaces.
• Perform system validation, scientific documentation, data analysis, and publish research findings.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in (Bio)Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, Analytical Chemistry, Automation Technology, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• Strong interest in laboratory automation, robotics, analytical chemistry, and autonomous experimentation.
• Programming experience, preferably in Python.
• Experience with scientific computing, workflow automation, data analysis, or laboratory instrument control.
• Ability to work independently and within interdisciplinary research teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of bioconjugation, protein, peptide, or nucleic acid chemistry.
• Experience with spectroscopy, chromatography, machine learning, closed-loop optimization, or digital laboratory interfaces.

Research Environment & Benefits

• Interdisciplinary research in chemical engineering, robotics, automation, and bioanalytics.
• Access to modern laboratories, analytical instrumentation, microfabrication facilities, and automation infrastructure.
• Excellent opportunities for publications, conference participation, and doctoral training.
• Doctoral supervision in cooperation with TU Dresden.
• Salary according to TV-L E13 (75%).
• KSI shuttle service between Dresden and Meinsberg.

About KSI

The Kurt Schwabe Institute for Sensor Technologies is a non-profit research institute specializing in sensor technologies, micro- and nanotechnology, materials science, electrical engineering, bioanalytics, and scientific instrumentation. TU Dresden, the degree-awarding institution, is one of Germany’s Universities of Excellence.