Job description

The FireSpace (Fire Safety for Space Exploration) project, funded by the prestigious ERC Synergy Grant, aims to revolutionize fire safety in space exploration by developing advanced fire-retardant materials and innovative firefighting strategies for spacecraft and future lunar/Martian habitats. The project is a collaboration between the University of Bremen (Germany), the Centrale Lille Institute (France), Ghent University (Belgium), Sorbonne University (France), and New York University (USA).

The environment in spacecraft, characterized by reduced gravity, lower pressure, and increased oxygen concentrations, poses particular fire risks. Conventional fire protection measures are unsuitable for these conditions, requiring groundbreaking research in the fields of materials science, combustion dynamics, and active/passive firefighting. FireSpace will address these challenges with a multidisciplinary approach combining experimental, numerical, and systemic analyses.

The tasks mainly include:

• Planning and designing experiments for the Bremen drop tower
• Designing suitable diagnostics for flame characterization
• Conducting experiments in the laboratory and on various microgravity platforms
• Scientific evaluation of the experiments
• Contributing to the development of numerical models using experimental data

The first phase involves familiarization with the scientific issue and the project consortium. This will be followed by the design of a scientific experimental platform for investigating flame propagation and firefighting on various microgravity platforms, primarily the Bremen drop tower. In addition, suitable diagnostics are to be developed to generate high-quality data for validating numerical simulations. Once completed, the developed platform will be used in the Bremen drop tower.

The working group also has technical staff available to assist with design and electronic work. In addition, there is close cooperation with the partners in the joint project. The progress of the project and the scientific findings are presented at conferences and prepared for scientific publications.

What you can expect:

• Independent work in an interdisciplinary team in which cooperation and mutual support are very important
• A wide range of opportunities to help shape the research field
• Participation in (inter)national conferences and summer schools

Requirements

• A successfully completed academic university degree (master's/university diploma) in engineering or physics
• Applicants who are in the final phase of their master's degree will also be considered. Please note that the master's degree certificate must be submitted in order to be hired.
• Very good written and spoken English skills

Applicants are expected to have a very good technical and physical understanding as well as the ability to work independently in a team.

In addition, the following skills would be desirable:

• Prior knowledge in the areas of combustion, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and measurement technology/diagnostics
• Programming skills, e.g., Python, MATLAB, C++, etc.
• Design skills with CAD

• If you are suitably qualified, we will be happy to support your desire to pursue a PhD as part of the project.

General Information

We offer:

• Annual special payment (‘year-end bonus’), regular automatic salary increases in line with collective agreements and additional public service pension scheme (VBL)
• A crisis-proof, interesting and varied job in an open-minded university
• 30 days' holiday per calendar year
• A diverse, future-orientated and open corporate culture
• Support from a collegial, motivated team with a positive working atmosphere
• Personalized induction training
• The opportunity for further and advanced training
• Compatibility of family and career through flexible working hours (‘flexitime’) and the option of mobile working (subject to the general conditions)
• Free social and family counselling services
• Active company health management, including the option of discounts at local sports clubs, gyms and swimming pools (EGYM WELLPASS)
• The option of using a job ticket for local public transport
• Numerous sports and cultural activities
• Varied catering options in the student union canteens

General Information:

Open to unconventional approaches in research and teaching, the University of Bremen has retained its character as a place of short distances for people and ideas since it was founded 50 years ago. With a broad range of subjects, we combine exceptional performance with great potential for innovation. As an ambitious research university, we stand for the approach of research-based learning and a pronounced orientation towards interdisciplinarity. We actively organize scientific cooperation worldwide in a spirit of partnership.

Today, around 23,000 people learn, teach, research and work on our international campus. In research and teaching, administration and operations, we are firmly committed to the goals of sustainability, climate justice, and climate neutrality. Our Bremen spirit is expressed in the courage to try new things, in supportive cooperation, in respect, and appreciation for one another. With our study and research profile and as part of the European YUFE network, we assume social responsibility in the region, in Europe and the world.

The university is family-friendly, diverse, and sees itself as an international university. We therefore welcome all applicants regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion/belief, disability, age, sexual orientation, and identity. 

The University of Bremen intends to increase the proportion of female employees in academia, which is why women are expressly encouraged to apply. Women with equal qualifications will be given priority unless there are compelling reasons to favor a male applicant. Severely disabled applicants will be given priority if they have essentially the same professional and personal qualifications.

For general questions about the recruitment process and questions about the content of the advertised position, please contact: florian.meyerprotect me ?!zarm.uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de

Please send your application (motivation letter, CV, certificates, list of publications if applicable) with the reference number A005-26 by March 19^th, 2026 as a PDF file by unencrypted electronic mail to: florian.meyerprotect me ?!zarm.uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de

or by regular mail to:

University of Bremen
ZARM
Dr.-Ing. Florian Meyer
Am Fallturm 2
28359 Bremen
GERMANY

We would like to point out that no photos are to be attached to the application documents.

Please only send us copies of your application documents (no folders) as we cannot return them. They will be destroyed after the selection process has been completed. Any costs for the application procedure cannot be reimbursed.