13 PhD Positions in TIDE Graduate School, Germany – April 2027 (Fully Funded)

Applications are now open for up to 13 PhD positions in the TIDE Graduate School. This joint program is supported by the universities of Cologne, Bonn, and Wuppertal in Germany. The positions start in April 2027 and focus on advanced research in organic electronics, molecular templating, and related fields in chemistry and physics. These are paid positions with a competitive salary for 3 years. There is no application fee. You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.

Key Details:

• Degree Level: PhD positions
• Host Country: Germany
• Host Universities: University of Cologne, University of Bonn, and University of Wuppertal
• Start Date: April 2027
• Application Deadline: Varies by Project (Please check on the official Website)
• Nationalities: Open to candidates of all nationalities

What This Opportunity Offers:

• You receive a competitive monthly salary under the TV L 13 pay scale
• You get the chance to earn a fully funded PhD degree over 3 years
• You work on exciting research projects with leading professors
• You gain access to modern laboratories and advanced research facilities
• You build strong skills in chemistry, physics, materials science, and device development
• You enjoy international collaboration across three top universities
• You receive support for attending conferences and building your professional network

Also Check: Sunway University Postgraduate Research Scholarships 2026 (Masters and PhD)

Eligibility Criteria:

• You must have recently completed or be close to completing an M.Sc. degree or equivalent in Chemistry, Physics, or a closely related subject
• You must have excellent academic results
• You must show strong interest in the research areas of the TIDE projects
• Female candidates are especially encouraged to apply
• Disabled applicants will receive preferential treatment if they have equal qualifications

Also Check: PhD and Postdoc Positions at University of Twente Netherlands 2026

Doctoral Projects – 3rd TIDE Cohort

Focus Area A – Molecular Building Blocks

• A1.3 – Prof. Arne Lützen (University of Bonn): Chirality Transfer from the Molecular to the Supramolecular Level and its Use for Polarization-Sensitive Devices 

• A2.3 – Prof. Sigurd Höger (University of Bonn): Synthesis of New Quinacridones as Low-Bandgap Absorbers for OE Devices

• A3.3 – Prof. Stephanie Kath-Schorr (University of Cologne): Helical Orientation of Pi-Systems using Nucleic Acid Template Structures

Focus Area B – Functional Templates

• B1.3 – Prof. Klaus Meerholz (University of Cologne): Chiral Surfaces for Templated Growth of Chiral Molecular Building Blocks
• B4.3 – Prof. Annika Kurzmann (University of Cologne): Electronic and Transport Properties in Twisted Bilayer Graphene Nanoribbons (tBL-GNR) as a Template for Ordered Molecular Adsorption

Also Check: Open PhD, Postdoc, and Professor Positions at NTNU Norway (Fully Funded)

Focus Area C – Surfaces and Interfaces

• C3.3 – Prof. Selina Olthof (University of Wuppertal): Interactions of Organic Thin Films with Templating Surfaces Studied by High-Resolution Reflection Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (HREELS)
• C4.3 – Prof. Paul Van Loosdrecht (University of Cologne): Electronic dynamics in templated and self-organized pi-conjugated systems

Focus Area D – Transport and Function

• D2.3 – Prof. Klaus Meerholz (University of Cologne): Chiral Charge Injection, Transport, Recombination and Emission in CISS-OLED
• D3.3 – Prof. Malte Gather (University of Cologne): Polariton OLED with Circularly Polarized Emission via Chiral Templating
• D4.3 – Prof. Klas Lindfors (University of Cologne): Active Optical Metasurfaces

Focus Area E – Theory and Modeling

• E1.3 – Prof. Stefan Grimme & Dr. Andreas Hansen (University of Bonn): Modeling the Growth of Molecular Layers to Guide Optoelectronic Material Design and Screening
• E2.3 – Prof. Thomas Bredow (University of Bonn): Automatic optimization of adsorption structures with periodic methods
• E3.3 – Dr. Andreas Hansen & Prof. Daniele Fazzi (University of Bonn): Modeling the Morphology, Charge and Exciton Transport Properties of Multi-Component Films

Also Check: Leiden University, Netherlands: PhD, Postdoc, and Professor Opportunities

How to Apply:

• Apply only through the official Jobportal of the University of Cologne
• Prepare the following required documents:
  • Cover letter
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Motivation statement explaining your research interests for the chosen TIDE project or projects
  • Copies of certificates and university grade transcripts for M.Sc. and B.Sc. or equivalent
  • List of publications, talks, and poster contributions if any

Also Check: University of Pisa PhD Scholarship Programmes 2026/2027