PhD Positions in Phosphorus Recovery from Wastewater – WERA Graduate School RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau in Germany

Are you interested in advancing sustainable resource management and efficient recycling methods? The PhD Graduate School WERA ('Wertstoff Abwasser' – Valuable Wastewater) at RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau offers six fully funded PhD positions starting July 1, 2026 (or earlier). WERA is a collaborative research initiative comprising 13 projects focused on the recovery of phosphorus (P) from wastewater, integrating innovative scientific and engineering approaches with practical implementation.

Research in WERA spans the development of tailor-made adsorbers, innovative separation units, and process chains for phosphorus recovery, all validated on a dedicated pilot plant. The program emphasizes advanced process analysis, characterization, and the study of chemical-physical relationships through molecular and thermodynamic simulations. These findings have broad applications in the circular economy and resource recovery sectors.

PhD students in WERA benefit from a four-year program that fosters close cooperation with an interdisciplinary team of professors. The curriculum includes summer schools, keynote lectures by leading international scientists, specialized courses, and interdisciplinary workshops, as well as opportunities to visit international research institutes. Graduates will gain expertise in resource recovery, environmental technology, and related fields.

Available PhD topics include:

• Chemistry: Development of flow processes for phosphorus removal using polymeric adsorbers (Supervisor: Prof. Stefan Kubik)
• Process Engineering: Thermodynamic modeling of phosphorus recovery (Supervisor: Prof. Fabian Jirasek); Investigation of precipitation and crystallization processes (Supervisor: Prof. Sergiy Antonyuk); Experimental investigation and modeling of adsorption/desorption processes (Supervisor: Prof. Erik von Harbou)
• Wastewater Engineering: Adsorption and ion-exchange for phosphorus elimination and recovery (Supervisor: Prof. Heidrun Steinmetz); Iron removal and recovery from sewage sludge using zeolites (Supervisor: Jun.-Prof. Carlo Morandi)

Applicants must have a Master's degree (or equivalent) in engineering, chemistry, or physics. Application documents should include a letter of motivation (prioritizing a WERA topic), CV, and degree certificates with transcripts. For general inquiries, contact Prof. Sergiy Antonyuk at [email protected]. The application deadline is January 31, 2026.

RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau is a leading technical university in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, with over 20,000 students and a strong international research profile. The WERA Graduate School (GRK 2908) is financially supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and government funds, offering excellent working conditions and career development opportunities.

For more details and to apply, visit the WERA team page and the DAAD listing.