Research Associate

We are a leading research organisation in the area wood and wood-related renewable resources in Europe. Our core competences are materials research and process technology along the complete value chain – from raw material to finished products. More than 120 highly qualified researchers are developed methods and basics and perform applied research on the economy-science interface, in order to enable resource-efficient management in the circular bioeconomy.

For support in the numerous research projects, we are looking immediately for a:

Research Associate (f/m/d)

Reclaimed wood is a key factor in sustainable materials science. Wood K plus investigates non-destructive testing methods and bio-informed machine learning for the reuse of wood in construction. Join our team and develop models that turn complex data into insights for a greener circular economy and the "twin transition."

Your responsibilities:

o   Design and implement bio-informed machine learning (ML) workflows based on material science principles to characterise reclaimed timber.

o   Analyse multimodal datasets including CT imaging data (3D) and derived features, and mechanical, optical, and acoustic measurements.

o   Drive research questions on mechanical property prediction to enable reuse and circular economy strategies.

o   Plan, execute, and document the training of both:

·      Classical ML pipelines for multivariate analysis (e.g. PCA, PLS, SVMs, Random Forests),

·      Deep learning pipelines (e.g. VAEs or custom-built CNNs).

o   Optional: Foundational work on advanced topics as preparation for a PhD dissertation.

Your Qualifications:

o   Completed degree (FH/University) in Material Science, Wood Technology, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or related fields.

o   Solid understanding of statistics, data analysis and basic machine learning concepts.

o   Programming experience in Python, Julia, or C.

o   Interest in wood and bio-based materials combined with enthusiasm for computational methods and for integrating biological principles into machine learning models.

o   Strong English skills.

o   Open-mindedness and a structured, reliable, and independent working style.

o   High motivation and a strong sense of communication, teamwork, and responsibility.

Your Benefits:

o   Flexible and family-friendly work arrangements (flexible hours, time off in lieu, home office).

o   A diverse and stimulating challenge at the forefront of sustainable materials research.

o   Work in an international, motivated team within a highly active scientific environment.

o   Flexible working arrangements and autonomy in organising your tasks.

o   Hands-on experience with large, complex multimodal datasets.

o   Access to state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment.

o   Long-term collaboration opportunities with our project partners.

o   Gross monthly salary (40h/week) starting at EUR 2,800 (14x annually), depending on qualifications and experience.

o   Optional: Preparation for starting a PhD in a cutting-edge research field.

Place of employment:

St. Veit an der Glan

Contact:

Johannes Huber, PhD

Smart Composites & Surfaces

Tel.:

Please send your application via e-mail to: E-Mail: j.-