Research Training Group 3040: COIN – Copolymer Informatics

The application of computer science and robotics in polymer research is currently still very limited. However, these technologies offer enormous potential to gain a deeper scientific understanding of polymers and to identify novel combinations of properties. At the same time, the targeted development of copolymers for new applications will be significantly simplified and the speed of research can be considerably increased.

In the COIN research training group, computer science as well as robotic methods are to be developed and further optimized so that they can be applied in polymer research and particularly for copolymers. Their application will enable a targeted combination of synthesis, processing and properties of copolymers. In order to achieve this goal, expertise from the fields of synthesis, analytics, polymer chemistry, theoretical chemistry, engineering, computer science and robotics are combined.

In addition, structured training at the interface between computer science / robotics and polymer chemistry / engineering is being developed as part of the graduate school. This program enables the doctoral students involved to receive a training in (co-)polymer informatics and, thus, a high level of interdisciplinary training in order to be able to communicate between the fields and find new ways of research.

Scientific key words
Interdisciplinary training and research, polymers, machine-learning, robotics

Participating Faculties
Faculty of Chemistry and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM)

Cooperation partner
Joint Research Training Group with the University of Bayreuth, further cooperation partners: Helmholtz Institute for Polymers in Energy Applications Jena (HIPOLE Jena), Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology Jena (Leibniz-IPHT), Neue Materialien Bayreuth

Preferred language
English

Current number of doctoral candidates
8 (and 8 associated)

How can I become a doctoral candidate? What is the method of selection?
The recruitment and selection of doctoral researchers will be based on a two-stage selection process. The first stage will be hold online and the most promising candidates for the individual projects will be invited to Jena and / or Bayreuth. Hereby, detailed discussion with the principal investigators will take place. Afterwards, the best applications for each position will get an offer to join COIN as doctoral researcher.

Are there fixed dates to apply?
Yes, the first application process will start in March 2025. The next application round will start in August 2027.

Are there possibilities to be funded in this programme?
A funding for 8 PhD positions are available via COIN.

Interesting for graduates of the following subjects:
Chemistry, material science, physics, (polymer) engineering, computer science

Degree
PhD

Contact
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
GRK 3040 COIN
Philosophenweg 7
07743 Jena
Phone: +49 3641 9-48200
E-Mail: ulrich.schubert@uni-jena.de, stefan.zechel@uni-jena.de