Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Up to 13 funded doctoral positions (f/m/x)
Research Training Group (RTG) “Template-Designed Organic Electronics - TIDE”

We are one of the largest and oldest universities in Europe and one of the most important employers in our region. Our broad range of subjects, the dynamic development of our main research areas and our central location in Cologne make us attractive for students and researchers from around the world. We offer a wide range of career opportunities in science, technology, and administration.

The Research Training Group RTG “Template-Designed Organic Electronics - TIDE”, funded by the DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) invites for applications. TIDE is a collaborative effort by the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Physics at the Faculties of Natural Sciences at three Universities, the University of Cologne, the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Bonn, and Bergische University Wuppertal, Germany. The training program is organized in cohorts over a period of 3 years. The second cohort comes to an end in March 2027, and the program for the third cohort will start in April 2027.

The University of Cologne, Bonn and Wuppertal are committed to equal opportunities and diversity. Women are especially encouraged to apply and will be considered preferentially in accordance with the Equal Opportunities Act of North Rhine-Westphalia (Landesgleichstellungsgesetz - LGG NRW). We also expressly welcome applications from people with disabilities/ special needs or of equal status.

Subject to the availability of funds, the positions will be available from April 2027 (under certain circumstances an earlier start is possible) on a part-time basis (up to 75%). The positions are limited to a duration of three years. If the applicant meets the relevant wage requirements and personal qualifications, the salary will be based on remuneration group 13 TV-L of the pay scale for the German public sector.

Your application should include

a cover letter
a short motivation statement outlining the project that you are most interested in (see https://tide.uni-koeln.de/open-positions)
your CV
copies of Bachelor’s and Master’s degree certificates
a list of publications/talks/poster contributions


Please apply online with proof of the required qualifications without a photo under: https://jobportal.uni-koeln.de. The reference number is Wiss2605-03. The application deadline is 1 September 2026.
For further inquiries, please contact the RTG Speaker Professor Klaus Meerholz (klaus.meerholz@uni-koeln.de) or the Vice Speaker Professor Arne Lützen (arne.luetzen@uni-bonn.de). We provide a unique research-oriented training program, embracing interdisciplinary and cutting-edge research in the area of “Organic Electronics”. The RTG includes 12 research groups from the fields of organic synthesis, surfaces & interface sciences, device physics & applications, ultrafast spectroscopy, and quantum chemical theory & modelling (https://tide.uni-koeln.de/open-positions). The individual PhD positions will be associated to the respective research groups. YOUR PROFILE

Applying candidates should have recently obtained (or be about to obtain) a M.Sc. degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Physics, Material Sciences or similar with excellent results. Prior knowledge of a featured topic in “Organic Electronics” or related would be advantageous
The candidates should be highly motivated and interested to work in a collaborative and highly interdisciplinary environment on state of the art research topics
WE OFFER

Collaboration in a cohort of ca. 25 members
Advanced interdisciplinary training courses
Three-months research stay abroad (international)
A diverse working environment with equal opportunities
Support in balancing work and family life
Occupational health management offers
Flexible working time models