Fraunhofer EMFT conducts applied research on sensors and actuators for humans and the environment. Our doctoral students in particular play an important role here. By researching new topics or approaches, they make an indispensable contribution to finding forward-looking solutions. These, in turn, are elementary in order to be able to master the current challenges of our society.
Doctorates at Fraunhofer EMFT always take place in cooperation with a university or niversity of applied sciences. We are happy to support you in your search for a doctoral supervisor, but are also open to new collaborations.
Successful completion of the doctorate is followed by the award of the scientific degree of Doctor of Engineering or Natural Sciences.
Fraunhofer also issues the »Doctorate with Fraunhofer« certificate. This shows, among other things, the professional, interdisciplinary and transfer-related qualification measures that were completed during the doctoral project.
As a scientist at Fraunhofer, you are usually involved in funded projects or industrial projects. This allows you to gain valuable work experience while completing your doctorate. As Fraunhofer EMFT conducts applied research, it is more or less a hybrid of science and business. Therefore, the work experience also relates to both scientific and economic areas and competencies, which means that all options are open to you upon finishing your doctorate.
In order to make meaningful use of synergy effects, the doctoral topic ideally has the greatest possible overlap with the work to be done on a daily basis or the projects to be acquired. Accordingly, positions are primarily listed here that offer a particularly large potential for such an overlap.
Usually, at least one departmentally relevant topic is already formulated by the respective department when a doctoral candidate is hired, which can serve as a starting point for the doctorate. These topic suggestions are to be understood as an offer and are not bindingly fixed or completely planned. Topic adaptations and changes are possible, especially in the initial finding phase.
It is also important that the supervision of the doctorate is placed on a solid foundation. In many cases, the doctoral supervisor is unable to provide day-to-day supervision in the lab, so an additional mentor is named.
The mentors at Fraunhofer EMFT are also contact persons for matters relating to content and organization. They have been working at the institute for some time and have usually completed a doctorate themselves. This means that typical problems and challenges which may arise during the course of the doctorate are already known and can be taken into account preventively. In addition, the mentor should help the doctoral student to position publications (in her own subject area) in relevant journals and congresses and provide specialist orientation.
In principle, three to five years are planned for a doctorate at Fraunhofer EMFT.
In addition to the opportunity to take professional development training, doctoral-related courses are also provided. Doctoral students are encouraged and supported to attend doctoral-related continuing education courses, for example:
The supervision of theses, as well as otherwise employed student assistants, serves to establish scientific knowledge and at the same time provides initial experience in employee management. Ideally, doctoral candidates should supervise several student assistants, bachelor's theses or master's theses during their doctorate.
As an important part of scientific work, doctoral candidates are expected to publish their relevant results on a regular basis. Publications are discussed with the mentors, the doctoral supervisor and the executive. Possible prior patenting of the idea is examined. At best, at the end of a PhD there is at least one publication in a renowned journal, as well as some conference contributions. Fraunhofer supports all meaningful publications in the sense of providing working time and reimbursing costs incurred.
With over 28,000 employees, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is the largest organization for applied research in Europe and has a correspondingly broad network. This network should and may be used: The formation of networks within the "scientific community" - nationally and internationally - is fundamentally supported.
»Fraunhofer TALENTA« is a comprehensive career and development program for female scientists and female leaders that has been specifically designed to attract, develop and retain more women in applied research.
Whether you have just entered or want to enter research practice, have already gained relevant work experience, or are already leading a team: it is worth taking a closer look at our program.
»Fraunhofer TALENTA« is tailored directly to your needs in your respective career phase and offers you appropriate qualification opportunities. The so-called »career time« gives you the necessary freedom in your everyday working life for your own further development in your technical and leadership career in applied research.
Fraunhofer EMFT aims to provide the best possible framework in which doctoral students can successfully complete their PhD project. However, since the doctoral students themselves are ultimately responsible for their doctorate, a high level of self-motivation is enormously important for the success of the doctorate.
Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Microsystems and Solid State Technologies EMFT