Doctoral Candidate / Research Assistant (f/m/d) Thermoacoustic Microenergy Devices

You are working on the development of thermoacoustic microsystems that utilize the thermoacoustic effect to convert thermal energy into acoustic waves, which can then be used to generate electricity or manage heat at the microscale. The goal is to improve the performance, efficiency and scalability of these microscale systems for a wide range of industrial, automotive and energy-related applications. You will have the following tasks:

• Design concept and development of thermoacoustic microdevices, focusing on optimizing their acoustic and thermal properties
• Developing and optimizing numerical models to simulate the performance of thermoacoustic microdevices 
• Designing, fabricating, and experimentally testing prototype thermoacoustic energy harvesting/cooling microdevices
•  Integrate thermoacoustic microdevices into practical applications, such as micro-cooling systems and portable energy generators.
• Simulation-based design optimization

The activity offers the opportunity for a part-time doctorate.

The institute is equipped with an array of state-of-the-art facilities, including a 600 m² clean room, mechanical workshop, advanced rapid prototyping capabilities like lithography, 3D printing and laser cutting, construction and connection technology labs, as well as various metrology laboratories. 

Persönliche Qualifikation

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Acoustics, Microengineering, or a related field. 
• Knowledge of mechanical engineering, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and microsystems.
• Experience for micro-scale device development, fabrication innovation.
• Experience in CAD, Lumped element modelling and/or FEM simulation and/or MATLAB programming, thermal, mechanical, electrical testing and characterization
• High proficiency in spoken and written  English

Salary

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

Organisationseinheit

Contract duration

3 years

Application up to

31.12.2025

Contact person in line-management

For further information please contact Dr. Jingyuan Xu, email: jingyuan.xu@kit.edu 

Job type/category

• Fixed-term position

Favored career stage

• Job experience > 2 years

Location/region

• Karlsruhe city, Karlsruhe region

Sector

• Other

Language at workplace

• German

Type of company

• Scientific institution