© Fraunhofer
Together, we take health research – and your skills – to the next level.
What does starting a career in research through a PhD actually look like?
Our doctoral researchers at the Fraunhofer ITEM share how they actively contribute to research and which aspects of their work they find most fascinating.
With your dissertation, you make an important contribution to exploring new approaches and developing solutions to the challenges facing our society. At Fraunhofer ITEM, you benefit from a unique combination of scientific excellence and applied research.
As a doctoral candidate, you typically work on publicly funded or industry-sponsored projects, gaining valuable practical experience during your PhD. Your research is closely linked to our projects and focused on real-world challenges. This allows you to develop skills that are highly valued in both academic and industrial environments – opening up a wide range of career opportunities after graduation.
Upon successful completion, you will also receive the »Doctorate with Fraunhofer« certificate, which recognizes your professional and interdisciplinary competencies and helps you take the next step in your career.
With a master’s degree in a STEM field, you are in exactly the right place at Fraunhofer ITEM – whether you have completed your PhD or are joining us directly from university as a researcher or engineer. Here, you apply your knowledge directly in practice and work with interdisciplinary teams to develop innovative solutions for today’s challenges.
From day one, you will collaborate on projects with partners from industry and academia, experiencing how scientific questions turn into practical applications. Along the way, you will deepen your expertise and gain valuable experience in project work, interdisciplinary collaboration, and working with external partners.
You can also launch your career with an apprenticeship: as a technical specialist, you will take on a variety of laboratory tasks – from analyses and experiments to supporting ongoing research projects.
Whichever path you choose, you will make a direct contribution to advancing research that improves the health and well-being of tomorrow’s society.
After completing your studies or apprenticeship, you will find a wide range of entry-level opportunities in Central Services. Whether in HR management, recruiting, purchasing, controlling, accounting, contract management, or communication and marketing – your work provides the foundation that keeps our research running smoothly.
Through your contribution, you help advance projects, streamline processes, and support our research teams in the best possible way. In this way, you play a direct role in enabling cutting-edge research at Fraunhofer ITEM.
In our FAQs, you will find answers to many questions about your application.
Do you have specific questions about a position? Please contact the person listed in the job posting directly.
If you have general questions about the application process, we will be happy to help – you can find your contacts under »Contact«.
We look forward to receiving your application! Please use our online job portal for this purpose. You can access it directly via the »Apply now« button in each job posting.
To make sure your application reaches the right contact person and is handled in line with data protection requirements, please submit it via our online job portal.
Whenever possible, address your application directly to the contact person named in the job posting.
If you are unsure who to address, you are welcome to use a general greeting such as “Dear Sir or Madam.” We will make sure your application reaches the right person.
To process your application, we need your contact details and a CV. You can also optionally upload a cover letter as well as school and work certificates – this gives us the opportunity to get to know you even better.
Unfortunately, unsolicited applications for direct entry are not possible.
However, we invite you to subscribe to our job newsletter, which will automatically inform you about new positions that match your profile.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to apply for positions that are no longer published. . As soon as a position has been filled, it is immediately removed from our online job portal. Take a look at our current openings, perhaps there is something that fits your profile.
We will be happy to answer your questions about the advertised position. Please contact the person listed in the job posting directly.
Once we have received your application through our online job portal, you will automatically receive a confirmation. How quickly you receive feedback depends on various factors. Since a thorough review is important to us, we kindly ask for your patience.
If you have any questions about the status of your application, please reach out directly to the contact person named in the job posting.
Of course, your application will be treated confidentially. Your data will be processed in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Data Protection Act. Further information can be found in our privacy policy, which is displayed during the online application process.
Your application and all related data will be stored for a maximum of six months after the application process has been completed.
If your application is not successful, your documents will then be fully anonymized and archived solely for statistical purposes. You will not receive a separate notification about this.
In the case of a successful application, your data will be transferred to your personnel file. Information about the storage period in the personnel file can be found in our information on the processing of personal data of employees.
TVöD refers to the collective agreement for the public sector in Germany (Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst). The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft applies its regulations for employment, pay, and social benefits. You can find more information and the current salary tables (TVöD Bund) here.
Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine