6 PhD and 1 Postdoc Positions in Phosphorus Recovery from Wastewater – Graduate School WERA, RPTU
The PhD Graduate School WERA at Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU) is offering 6 fully funded PhD positions (4 years) and 1 postdoctoral position (3 years) focused on the innovative topic of "Phosphorus Recovery from Wastewater." This interdisciplinary program, supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG), brings together chemistry, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, materials science, and process engineering to address the vital challenge of sustainable phosphorus recovery and resource management.
WERA comprises 13 cooperative research projects, each targeting different aspects of phosphorus recovery from wastewater. Research themes include the synthesis of tailor-made adsorbers, development of advanced separation units, process chain integration, and validation on a pilot-scale recycling plant. The program emphasizes both experimental and numerical approaches, including molecular and thermodynamic simulations, to understand and optimize chemical-physical relationships in phosphorus recovery. The findings have broad applications in the circular economy and environmental technology.
PhD students will work closely with an interdisciplinary team of professors and benefit from a comprehensive scientific education. The curriculum features summer schools, keynote lectures by internationally renowned scientists, specialized courses, and interdisciplinary workshops. Opportunities for research stays at international institutes further enhance the academic experience. The available PhD topics span chemistry (e.g., flow processes for phosphorus removal using polymeric adsorbers), process engineering (e.g., thermodynamic modeling, precipitation and crystallization studies), and wastewater engineering (e.g., adsorption and ion-exchange, iron removal and recovery).
The postdoctoral position centers on "Advanced Particle Technology for Wastewater Phosphorus Recovery," with research tasks including scaling up particle formulation and crystallization from laboratory to pilot scale, developing large adsorbents with defined microstructures, and analyzing particle stability under process conditions. The postdoc will coordinate operations at the pilot plant, facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, and contribute to both experimental and simulation-based research (CFD-DEM, population balance modeling, mechanical testing, and micro-CT analysis).
Applicants for PhD positions must hold a Master's degree (or equivalent) in engineering, chemistry, or physics. Postdoc applicants require a doctoral degree in process engineering or a closely related field; experience in mechanical process engineering, wastewater treatment, particle measurement, and DEM-CFD simulation is beneficial but not mandatory. All positions are funded at the TV-L E13 level, with excellent working conditions and career development opportunities at RPTU, a leading technical university in Germany.
To apply, submit a letter of motivation (prioritizing a WERA topic), CV, and degree certificates with transcripts by 31 January 2026. PhD applications should be sent directly to the relevant supervisor, while postdoc applications go to Prof. Sergiy Antonyuk. For more information, visit
rptu.de/wera/open-positions
and
rptu.de/wera/team
. For general inquiries, contact Prof. Sergiy Antonyuk at [email protected].
Join WERA to advance your expertise in resource recovery, environmental technology, and interdisciplinary research, and contribute to sustainable solutions for the future.
