Germany is continental Europe's largest research system, with over 400 universities and major non-university research organisations including the Max Planck Society, Fraunhofer Society, Helmholtz Association and Leibniz Association. Most academic salaries follow the public-sector TV-L scale (E13 for PhD/postdoc, W2/W3 for professors). Positions are usually funded by the DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft), the BMBF, or institutional budgets.
•Salary scale: TV-L E13 (~€50,000–65,000 gross for postdocs)
•Working language: English common in STEM labs, German for admin
•EU Blue Card fast-tracks work permits for researchers
•DFG is the main competitive funding body
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) · Rechtsangelegenheiten (RECHT)
Administrative / Other
Legal Trainee (f/m/d) in Elective Rotation – Talent Program for Lawyers
You have passed the First State Law Examination and are looking for a versatile elective rotation with the option of two-year continued employment and job rotation? Then start in the subject-specific talent program at KIT. Your tasks in the elective rotation You analyze complex legal issues, particularly in the areas of corporate law, insurance law, copyright and media law, as well as tax law. Additionally, you support the team in legal consulting, oversee our organizational units, and provide technical guidance for research projects. Perspective after the...
Published on: 21.08.2026 The Rhineland Friedrich Wilhelm University of Bonn is an international research university with a broad spectrum of disciplines. 200 years of history, around 31,500 students, more than 6,000 employees and an excellent reputation at home and abroad: The University of Bonn is among the most significant universities in Germany and was designated as an excellence university. At the Institute for Entrepreneurship of the Faculty of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Engineering Sciences, a position is available on a limited-term basis for an initial period of three years according to § 2(1)…
What is the TV-L salary scale for academic positions in Germany?+
Most academic positions in Germany follow the TV-L (Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst der Länder) salary scale. PhD students and postdocs are typically on E13, earning roughly €50,000–65,000 gross per year depending on experience level and state.
Do I need a Habilitation for a professorship in Germany?+
Traditionally yes, but Germany has been introducing tenure-track (Juniorprofessur) positions that serve as an alternative to the Habilitation. Many universities now offer W1 tenure-track positions leading to W2/W3 professorships without requiring a Habilitation.
Is English sufficient for academic work in Germany?+
In most STEM research groups, English is the everyday working language. However, teaching duties, administrative communication and some social science/humanities positions require German. Job postings typically specify the language requirement.
University of Bonn
Scientific staff
Scientific Employee
Published on: 15.05.2026 The University of Bonn (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn) is an international research university with a broad spectrum of disciplines. 200 years of history, around 31,500 students, more than 6,000 employees and an excellent reputation nationally and internationally: The University of Bonn is one of Germany's most significant universities and has been designated as an Excellence University. The AI Service Center WestAI is seeking a Scientific Employee as of July 1, 2026, for part-time work (50%) and currently for a limited period according to § 2 (1) WissZeitVG until December 31, 2027. The AI Service Center WestAI is one of four AI Service Centers in Germany funded by the BMFTR. WestAI pools the expertise of leading research institutions from North Rhine-Westphalia and supports companies, in particular SMEs and start-ups, as well as the scientific community in the practical application of Artificial Intelligence. The focus is on consulting, prototype development, access to AI computing resources, models and test platforms, as well as the transfer of excellent AI research into application. After successfully establishing the center, WestAI is now in its second funding phase, with a stronger focus on operations, quality assurance, sustainability and integration into the national and European AI ecosystem. For the strategic further development of WestAI, we are seeking a scientifically qualified, committed leadership personality to take over the operational management of the center. Application deadline: 14.06.2026 Reference number: 2026/202 Working hours: Part-time Start of activity: Duration: limited Salary grade: TV-L EG 13 You are responsible for the operational management of the AI Service Center WestAI and ensure smooth operations within the consortium, represent the center externally, and actively drive the further development of structures and services. This includes in particular: The University of Bonn promotes an open, appreciative and discrimination-free university culture and is committed to...
FRFraunhofer ZV · ZV - Zentrale der Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Administrative / Other
Network Specialist (all genders)
We at Fraunhofer offer you an exciting position in the field of "Central IT-Services" starting immediately at our Birlinghoven location (near Cologne and Bonn). Your new task is located in the "Infrastructure" area of the headquarters of the Fraunhofer Society. The department "B36 IT for Central Administration" provides all employees of the headquarters at numerous locations throughout Germany (Munich, Bonn, Birlinghoven, etc.) with various IT services: e.g. client management, back office, network and IT service management. As part of IT-Services, network components and services...
FRFraunhofer ZV · ZV - Zentrale der Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Administrative / Other
Specialist License and IP Contracts (all genders)
As part of the main department "Research and Development Contracts, Licenses and Intellectual Property Rights", our department "License and IP Contracts" processes and manages contracts with national and international contract partners for the exploitation of Intellectual Property (IP) – from conception through negotiation to contract conclusion. Here you drive change As a specialist, you participate in the processing and conclusion of license and IP contracts with national and international contract partners. You process the respective matters primarily...
FRFraunhofer ZV · ZV - Zentrale der Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Administrative / Other
Expert in Identity & Access Management - Focus on Keycloak (all genders)
Your new position is located in the Central IT Services Center department at the Bonn site. Here, central IT services are developed, operated, and continuously improved for the entire organization. You work in the Digital Identity Management area – a central pillar for the secure and efficient use of digital services within society. The team ensures the protection of all access and authentication and is responsible for, among other things, central directories, single sign-on systems, and role and rights management. The department…
FUFraunhofer UMSICHT · UMSICHT - Umwelt-, Sicherheits- und Energietechnik
Student / Thesis
Initiative Position for Final Theses
We want an earth worth living on. Our applied research in Circular Economy, Carbon Management, Green Hydrogen and Local Energy Systems makes concrete contributions to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. As an institute of the Fraunhofer Society, we demonstrate how to not only master challenges, but grow from them. We push boundaries, think further and shape the future with applied research. Diverse perspectives and approaches to thinking strengthen creativity and innovation in our scientific...
FUFraunhofer UMSICHT · UMSICHT - Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology
Administrative / Other
Unsolicited Application for a Thesis
We want an earth that is worth living on. Our applied research in Circular Economy, Carbon Management, Green Hydrogen and Local Energy Systems makes concrete contributions to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. As an institute of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, we show how to not only master challenges, but grow with them. We push boundaries, think ahead and shape the future with applied research. Diverse perspectives and approaches strengthen creativity and innovation in our scientific work. You want to help us shape a sustainable world, but can’t find a…
FUFraunhofer UMSICHT · UMSICHT - Umwelt-, Sicherheits- und Energietechnik
Student / Thesis
Master's Thesis "Cascaded Utilization of Deep Geothermal Energy"
We want an Earth worth living on. Our applied research in Circular Economy, Carbon Management, Green Hydrogen and Local Energy Systems makes concrete contributions to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. As an institute of the Fraunhofer Society, we demonstrate how to not only master challenges, but grow from them. We push boundaries, think further and shape the future with applied research. Diverse perspectives and approaches strengthen creativity and innovation in our scientific...
FUFraunhofer UMSICHT · UMSICHT - Umwelt-, Sicherheits- und Energietechnik
Internship
Master's Thesis/Internship in the Field of Polymer Chemistry of Bio-based Raw Materials
We want an earth worth living on. Our applied research in Circular Economy, Carbon Management, Green Hydrogen and Local Energy Systems makes concrete contributions to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. As an institute of the Fraunhofer Society, we demonstrate how to not only overcome challenges, but to grow from them. We push boundaries, think further and shape the future with applied research. Diverse perspectives and ways of thinking strengthen creativity and innovation in our scientific...
Plants form the foundation of all life on Earth. They are essential for the preservation of habitats and biological diversity, our sustainable supply of food and raw materials, and for stabilizing the global climate. Their further development as high-yield crops and adaptation to new environmental conditions, as well as their use in obtaining valuable plant-based biopolymers and secondary metabolites, require precise knowledge of the involved developmental and metabolic pathways in order to be able to modify and optimize them in a targeted manner. This...
The Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME encompasses the areas of "Molecular Biotechnology", "Applied Ecology" and "Bioresources" and is a strong partner for contract research in the fields of agriculture, bioeconomy, chemistry, environmental and consumer protection as well as pharma and medicine. The research and service offerings are directed at industry, small and medium-sized institutes and the public sector. What you do with us You would like to support us in our endeavor, but do not have...
FSFraunhofer SIT · SIT - Sichere Informationstechnologie
Student / Thesis
Student Assistant in the Field of Continuing Education Courses in IT Forensics and AI Security
In the competency field "IT Forensics" we research and develop methods for digital trace detection in IT systems and on the internet on various specialist topics: Storage media analysis under Linux and Windows (file systems e.g. ext[234]/NTFS/FAT) Detection of image/video manipulations (e.g. deepfakes) using deep learning classifiers and traditional multimedia forensics Robust hash functions for image recognition OSINT and crawling, social media and darknet/cryptocurrencies Machine learning for data analysis AI Security: Attacks on deep learning (classifiers, LLMs) and...
FSFraunhofer SIT · SIT - Sichere Informationstechnologie
Student / Thesis
Master's Thesis: Detection of Suggestive Poses and Facial Expressions
Background/Motivation: Models capable of recognizing human skin, body parts, or scenes are frequently employed to detect erotic and pornographic image material. Using corresponding datasets [1], classification and object detection models can be trained. However, there are also images that are obviously erotic or pornographic but cannot be detected by conventional methods. This applies, for example, to images in which erotic poses or partial sections of pornographic scenes can be identified. Here, among other things...
FSFraunhofer SIT · SIT - Sichere Informationstechnologie
Student / Thesis
Master's Thesis: Detection and Segmentation of Suggestive Clothing
Background/Motivation: To detect erotic and pornographic image material, models are frequently used that can recognize human skin, body parts, or scenes. With the help of corresponding datasets [1], classification and object detection models can be trained. However, there are also images that are obviously erotic or pornographic, but cannot be detected by conventional methods. This applies, for example, to persons in tight-fitting latex or leather clothing. Existing approaches in the field of 'Human Parsing' can...
FSFraunhofer SIT · SIT - Sichere Informationstechnologie
Student / Thesis
Master's Thesis: Attacking Current Backdoor Detection Methods
Background/Motivation: Backdoor attacks are attacks on neural networks where a so-called trigger alters the decision-making behavior of the networks, thereby creating vulnerabilities. These triggers can be introduced into the training dataset or directly into the model weights. These are then called poisoned. Through parameter-efficient fine-tuning methods, backdoor attacks on large language models (LLMs) have become significantly more difficult to detect, since a poisoned parameter update is harder to identify than a poisoned dataset. Therefore, in the...
FSFraunhofer SIT · SIT - Sichere Informationstechnologie
Student / Thesis
Master's Thesis: Explainability of Transformer Models in Authorship Verification
Background/Motivation: Authorship verification (AV) is used in areas such as forensics, plagiarism detection, and fake news detection to identify the true author of a text. The goal of AV is to classify whether two or more texts were written by the same author (Y) or not (N). As in most AI fields nowadays, the most powerful models are usually based on transformer architectures. While these continuously achieve new state-of-the-art performance, the application of explainability methods is mostly limited to somewhat older...
FSFraunhofer SIT · SIT - Secure Information Technology
Student / Thesis
Student Assistant Windows Binary Fuzzing
Fraunhofer SIT is one of the leading research and development institutes for secure information technology in Germany and Europe. The focus is on applied research and the development of innovative solutions for real security and data protection issues. The Secure Software Engineering research department researches and develops innovative solutions for the automatic identification of malware, vulnerabilities and exploits in software components. As a team, we have already developed and marketed various tools. To support our team, we are now looking for a student assistant in the field of…
FSFraunhofer SIT · SIT - Secure Information Technology
Student / Thesis
Student Assistant Backend Development of Security/Hacking Tools
Fraunhofer SIT is one of the leading research and development institutes for secure information technology in Germany and Europe. The focus is on applied research and the development of innovative solutions for real security and data protection issues. The Secure Software Engineering research department researches and develops innovative solutions for the automatic identification of malware, vulnerabilities and exploits in software components. As a team, we have already developed and marketed various tools. To support our team, we are now looking for a student assistant in the field of Java…
FSFraunhofer SIT · SIT - Secure Information Technology
Student / Thesis
Student Assistant Backend Development of Security/Hacking Tools - C/C++
Fraunhofer SIT is one of the leading research and development institutes for secure information technology in Germany and Europe. The focus is on applied research and the development of innovative solutions for real security and data protection issues. The Secure Software Engineering research department researches and develops innovative solutions for the automatic identification of malware, vulnerabilities and exploits in software components. As a team, we have already developed and marketed various tools in this area. Fuzzing is an automated technique for detecting vulnerabilities in…
FSFraunhofer SIT · SIT - Sichere Informationstechnologie
Student / Thesis
Student Assistant Frontend Development
Fraunhofer SIT is one of the leading research and development institutes for secure information technology in Germany and Europe. The focus is on applied research and the development of innovative solutions for real security and data protection issues. Have you already completed small projects in the field of frontend development beyond your first experiences and are looking for a job alongside your studies? Then apply to Fraunhofer SIT! We develop IT security solutions for various use cases and constantly investigate current security-related...
FSFraunhofer SIT · SIT - Sichere Informationstechnologie
Postdoc
Scientific Employee (Postdoc) - Cryptography & AI (Fundamentals and Applications)
ATHENE is the National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity and ranks among the leading institutions in Europe and worldwide. Our contributors include the Fraunhofer Institutes SIT and IGD and the universities TU Darmstadt, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, and Hochschule Darmstadt. Together we develop innovative solutions for pressing security and data protection challenges through excellence-oriented research and work closely with national and international partners, including leading companies, universities, and research institutions in Europe, the...
FSFraunhofer SIT · SIT - Secure Information Technology
Postdoc
Postdoctoral Researcher - Cryptography & AI (Foundations and Applications)
ATHENE is the National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity and is one of the leading institutions in Europe and worldwide. Our contributors include the Fraunhofer Institutes SIT and IGD as well as TU Darmstadt, Goethe University Frankfurt, and Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences. Through excellence-driven research, we jointly develop innovative solutions to pressing security and data protection challenges and work closely with national and international partners, including leading companies, universities, and research institutions in Europe, the USA, and Israel. About our area Our…
FSFraunhofer SIT · SIT - Sichere Informationstechnologie
Scientific staff
Scientific Employee iOS Security
Digitalization presents society, economy, and politics with major challenges. To successfully shape it, many practice-relevant research questions in cybersecurity and privacy protection must be addressed. The National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity ATHENE is a research facility of the Fraunhofer Society with the participation of the Fraunhofer Institutes SIT and IGD as well as the universities TU Darmstadt and Hochschule Darmstadt. In a previously unique and innovative cooperation model of university and...
FSFraunhofer SIT · SIT - Sichere Informationstechnologie
Scientific staff
Scientific Research Associate in Reverse Engineering
Digitalization presents major challenges for society, economy, and politics. To successfully shape it, many practice-relevant research questions in cybersecurity and privacy protection must be addressed. The National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity ATHENE is a research facility of the Fraunhofer Society with participation from the Fraunhofer Institutes SIT and IGD as well as the universities TU Darmstadt and Hochschule Darmstadt. In a previously unique and innovative cooperation model between university and...
