Vacancy No. 207/2025

PhD Candidate, Research Associate (f/m/d)

Field of Study: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Experimental Physics, Materials Science

Stable, rare nuclides—most notably ¹³C and ²H—can be used as contrast agents in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging. This enables the observation of metabolic processes with high spatial and temporal resolution, which is invaluable for applications such as cancer diagnostics. The challenge lies in the low concentrations involved, as well as the low sensitivity of conventional NMR and MRI systems to such nuclides. You will investigate how the sensitivity of MRI and NMR detector systems can be improved through cryogenic cooling and geometric optimization. 

Job description

You will have the following tasks:

  • Development of a new type of NMR/MRI probe head optimized for the detection of rare nuclides such as ¹³C and ²H. The primary electronic structures should be designed for minimal noise through cryogenic cooling.
  • Electronic and mechanical design, construction, and testing of prototypes. 
  • Supervise master’s and semester thesis projects.
  • Publish your findings in international journals and present them at international conferences.

This position offers the opportunity to pursue a doctorate alongside your research work.

Personal qualification
  • Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Experimental Physics, Materials Science, or a related discipline.
  • Knowledge and experience in magnetic resonance, cryogenic and vacuum technology, as well as in the design and construction of scientific instruments, are advantageous.
Salary

Salary category 13, depending on the fulfillment of professional and personal requirements.

Organizational unit

Institute of Microstructure Technology (IMT)

Starting date

as soon as possible

Contract duration

3 years

Application up to

15.06.2025

Contact person in line-management

For further information please contact Prof. Dr. Utz, email: marcel.utz@kit.edu.

Application

Please apply online using the button below for this vacancy number 207/2025 .
Personnel Support is provided by 

Ms Gätcke
phone: +49 721 608-25010,

Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany

We prefer to balance the number of employees (f/m/d). Therefore we kindly ask female applicants to apply for this job.
Recognized severely disabled persons will be preferred if they are equally qualified.