Vacancies for professorships at FAU

The Faculty of Engineering at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) invites applications for a

Full Professor of Nuclear Fusion Materials

(salary group W3)

at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. This is a full-time and permanent position to be filled by the earliest possible starting date.

We seek to appoint an internationally recognized leader in the design and characterization of new materials and coatings tailored to meet the special requirements and conditions in nuclear fusion technologies. Research at the chair should focus on developing new concepts for structural and/or functional materials to meet the diverse requirements concerning constructive, mechanical and corrosive properties that are of relevance in fusion reactors. We expect relevant experience in the area of the interaction of high-energy radiation with materials, the typical changes materials undergo as a result, and the required characterization methods. We would also welcome a focus on sustainability, covering topics such as extending the lifespan of materials, or finding ways to reuse materials or return them to the material cycle.

We are looking for candidates with experience in conducting research in an interdisciplinary setting who are interested in collaborating with other groups from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering as well as the Faculties of Sciences and Engineering to develop an internationally visible research program at the intersection of their research interests and the FAU key research priority of “New materials and processes”.  

The advertised position is in the context of the Bavarian government’s Master Plan for Nuclear Fusion dated February 11, 2025. The successful candidate is expected to promote the objectives of the Master Plan in their research and teaching and to become actively involved in the new Bavarian Fusion Cluster (BFC).

The professor will be expected to teach in the degree programs currently offered at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering as well as in the degree programs in energy technology and mechanical engineering.

The successful candidate will have an outstanding track record in research and teaching. They are required to have a university degree and a doctoral degree in a relevant discipline and additional postdoctoral qualifications (either a habilitation or equivalent academic qualifications). These qualifications may also have been achieved in a non-university context or through a junior faculty position (for example as Assistant Professor).

The successful candidate is expected to carry out administrative duties and take a proactive approach to raising third-party funding. FAU pursues a policy of intense student mentoring and expects its teaching staff to be present during lecture periods.

In its pursuit of academic excellence, FAU is committed to equality of opportunity and to a proactive and inclusive approach, which supports and encourages all under-represented groups, promotes an inclusive culture and values diversity. FAU is a family-friendly employer and responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

Please submit your complete application (CV, list of publications, teaching concept and research concept, list of third-party funding, copies of certificates and degrees) online at https://berufungen.fau.de by January 25, 2026, addressed to the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. Please contact tf-dekan@fau.de with any questions.

The Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Theology at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) invites applications for an

open-topic tenure-track position as Associate Professor of Political Science

(salary group W2 with tenure track to W3)

at the Institute of Political Science. The position is to be filled by the earliest possible starting date for an initial period of six years. FAU offers the long-term perspective of a permanent appointment to a full professorship if the requirements of the tenure evaluation are met.

We seek to appoint an internationally recognized leader in research and teaching in political science. The professorship will take on a central role in the Cluster of Excellence 3039 “Transforming Human Rights” at FAU and will be responsible for managing a research group (equipped with two doctoral positions). The Cluster examines the transformation of human rights norms, institutions and practices in the context of five megatrends: autocratization, planetary environmental crises, international migration, fragmented economic globalization, and digitalization. The freely selectable focus of the research group should be human rights related and lie at the intersection of two megatrends. In addition, the successful candidate will be expected to strengthen training in empirical social science methods at the Institute of Political Science and in the doctoral program of the Cluster of Excellence. An independent research profile in political science with proven, internationally visible achievements and substantial compatibility with the research agenda of the Cluster of Excellence is expected.

The successful candidate will have an outstanding track record in research and teaching. They are required to have a university degree and a doctoral degree in a relevant discipline and additional postdoctoral qualifications (either a habilitation or equivalent academic qualifications). These qualifications may also have been achieved in a non-university context or through a junior faculty position (for example as Assistant Professor).

The successful candidate is expected to carry out administrative duties and take a proactive approach to raising third-party funding. FAU pursues a policy of intense student mentoring and expects its teaching staff to be present during lecture periods. Candidates who are able and willing to teach in both English and German are desired.

FAU offers career development and an attractive initial package. Based on international standards and transparent performance agreements, FAU ensures a fair tenure-track evaluation process.

In its pursuit of academic excellence, FAU is committed to equality of opportunity and to a proactive and inclusive approach, which supports and encourages all under-represented groups, promotes an inclusive culture and values diversity. FAU is a family-friendly employer and responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

Please submit your complete application (CV, list of publications, two-page research concept with details of human rights related focus at the intersection between two megatrends, two-page teaching concept focusing on empirical social science methods and their significance for human rights research, list of third-party funding, copies of certificates and degrees) online at https://berufungen.fau.de by February 1, 2026, addressed to the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Theology. Please contact phil-berufungen@fau.de with any questions.

The Faculty of Sciences at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) invites applications for a

Full Professor of Experimental Gravitational Wave Detection

(salary group W3)

at the Department of Physics at the Erlangen Centre for Astroparticle Physics (ECAP). This is a full-time and permanent position to be filled by the earliest possible starting date.

We seek to appoint an internationally recognized leader in the field. The professorship will pursue the key research priority of Physics and Mathematics of the Cosmos at the Faculty of Sciences at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and will be actively involved in the Erlangen Centre for Astroparticle Physics (ECAP). At present, the key research priorities at ECAP are gamma, neutrino, X-ray and multiwavelength astronomy, theoretical gravitational physics and technology transfer to medical applications. Gravitational wave astronomy is to be added as a further research priority.

The successful candidate should establish research at ECAP in the area of optical precision metrology in astroparticle physics, in particular for sensor networks for gravitational wave detection. The ECAP laboratory research building offers outstanding infrastructure for experimental work and ideal conditions for making a contribution towards instrumentation or the development of detectors for gravitational wave detection for ground or satellite-based experiments. We would welcome close collaboration between the Professor and the working groups in experimental and theoretical physics at FAU.

The successful candidate will have an outstanding track record in research and teaching. They are required to have a university degree and a doctoral degree in a relevant discipline and additional postdoctoral qualifications (either a habilitation or equivalent academic qualifications). These qualifications may also have been achieved in a non-university context or through a junior faculty position (for example as Assistant Professor).

The successful candidate is expected to carry out administrative duties and take a proactive approach to raising third-party funding. FAU pursues a policy of intense student mentoring and expects its teaching staff to be present during lecture periods. Candidates who are able and willing to teach in both English and German are preferred.

In its pursuit of academic excellence, FAU is committed to equality of opportunity and to a proactive and inclusive approach, which supports and encourages all under-represented groups, promotes an inclusive culture and values diversity. FAU is a family-friendly employer and responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

Please submit your complete application (CV, list of publications, teaching concept [1 page] and research concept [2 pages], list of third-party funding, copies of certificates and degrees) [preferably in English] online at https://berufungen.fau.de by January 16, 2026, addressed to the Dean of the Faculty of Sciences. Please contact nat-dekanat@fau.de with any questions.

The Faculty of Engineering at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) invites applications for an

Assistant Professor of  Machine Learning in Digital Health

(salary group W1)

at the Department of Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering (AIBE). The position is planned to be filled by the earliest possible starting date for an initial period of three years. Upon successful evaluation, the appointment will be extended for another three years.

We seek to appoint a top early career scholar / scientist with an internationally visible profile in research and teaching. We are looking for a candidate with the potential to build a world-leading, independent research program in the field. You will be responsible for appropriately representing the field of Machine Learning in Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering with a special focus on Digital Health in research and teaching. We seek applicants having an independent profile in one or several of the following areas:

• Digital radiology
• Generative AI for medical imaging
• Digital patient twin
• Data-driven therapy decisions and response monitoring
• Sustainability in healthcare: Designing for circularity
• Medical robotics
• Goal-driven agentic AI
• Autonomous medical imaging
• Design of AI-enhanced medical devices
• Machine learning models and algorithms for medical signal processing
• Embedded AI
• Privacy aware AI
• Foundations of machine learning
• Molecular modeling

However, applicants with a different profile in Machine Learning in Digital Health and/or Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering with a special focus on Digital Health can also outline their fit to the existing structures at FAU in their application.

Your responsibilities will furthermore entail setting up and leading an independent research group in the department AIBE. Your willingness to participate in particular in the degree programs B.Sc. Artificial Intelligence and Medical Engineering is mandatory. The appointment includes secondary membership of the Faculty of Medicine.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate initial academic achievements and the capacity for independent research at the highest international standards. They are required to have a university degree, an outstanding doctoral degree and relevant teaching experience with a commitment to excellence in teaching. No more than four years should have passed between the conferral of the doctoral degree and deadline of the call for applications; this period is extended to a maximum of seven years in the field of medicine or clinical psychology and may also be extended due to periods of supporting a family or caring for a family member. The date of the doctoral certificate is decisive.

The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate academic leadership, take a proactive approach to raising third-party funding and carry out administrative duties. FAU aims to create a supportive environment for students and expects its teaching staff to be present during lecture periods. Candidates who are able and willing to teach in both English and German are preferred.

FAU offers career development, mentoring and an attractive initial research budget. Based on international standards and transparent performance agreements, FAU ensures a fair evaluation process.

In its pursuit of academic excellence, FAU is committed to equality of opportunity and to a proactive and inclusive approach, which supports and encourages all under-represented groups, promotes an inclusive culture and values diversity. FAU is a family-friendly employer and responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

Please submit your complete application documents (CV, list of publications, teaching concept and research concept with max. 2 pages each, list of third-party funding, copies of certificates and degrees) online at https://berufungen.fau.de by February 8, 2026 addressed to the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. Please contact TF-dekan@fau.de with any questions.

The Faculty of Sciences at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) invites applications for a

tenure-track position as Associate Professor of Stochastics

(Heisenberg Professorship, salary group W2)

at the Department of Mathematics. The position is to be filled by the earliest possible starting date.

We seek to appoint an internationally recognized leader in mathematics whose scientific focus lies in a modern area of probability theory or statistics and can be linked to existing research at the department. The successful candidate is also expected to be willing to cooperate on joint projects within the department as well as in collaborative projects with other research centers. A willingness to teach in both the Data Science and Economic and Mathematics degree programs, as well as in teacher training, is desired.

The professorship will be established as part of the Heisenberg Program of the German Research Foundation (DFG). The establishment of the professorship is dependent on the individual successfully applying to and securing funding for a Heisenberg Professorship from the DFG Heisenberg Program following the University’s internal appointment procedure. Further information about the conditions of the Heisenberg Program and the Heisenberg professorship is available at http://www.dfg.de.

According to DFG regulations, the position shall be initially limited to three years. A permanent position may be granted after a positive evaluation by DFG and the university, three years after the initial appointment, if the requirements of the tenure evaluation are met.

The successful candidate will have an outstanding track record in research and teaching. They are required to have a university degree and a doctoral degree in a relevant discipline and additional postdoctoral qualifications (either a habilitation or equivalent academic qualifications). These qualifications may also have been achieved in a non-university context or through a junior faculty position (for example as Assistant Professor).

The successful candidate is expected to carry out administrative duties and take a proactive approach to raising third-party funding. FAU pursues a policy of intense student mentoring and expects its teaching staff to be present during lecture periods. Candidates who are able and willing to teach in both English and German are preferred.

In its pursuit of academic excellence, FAU is committed to equality of opportunity and to a proactive and inclusive approach, which supports and encourages all under-represented groups, promotes an inclusive culture and values diversity. FAU is a family-friendly employer and responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

Please submit your complete application (CV, list of publications, teaching concept [1 page] and research concept [2 pages], list of third-party funding, copies of certificates and degrees) online at https://berufungen.fau.de by February 15, 2026, addressed to the Dean of the Faculty of Sciences. Please contact nat-dekanat@fau.de with any questions.

The Faculty of Sciences at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) invites applications for a

Full Professor of Experimental Condensed Matter Physics

(salary group W3)

at the Department of Physics. This is a full-time and permanent position planned to be filled by January 1, 2027.

We seek to appoint an internationally recognized leader in the field of experimental solid-state physics with a focus on light-matter interaction in quantum materials research. Possible research topics include but are not limited to novel topological and correlated materials phenomena, quantum phase transitions, correlated or entangled processes in solid-state materials on different length and time scales, exotic properties of low-dimensional systems, and design of novel materials. The experimental methods should complement the experimental approaches available at the department.

Fundamental research of experimental and theoretical condensed matter physics, light-matter interaction, and quantum materials at the Department of Physics is an integral part of the FAU Profile Center “Light.Matter.QuantumTechnologies” (FAU LMQ). The successful candidate is expected to contribute to present and future collaborative research initiatives of FAU LMQ with a strong focus on novel materials. Furthermore, a willingness to establish collaborations within the Faculty of Sciences, the Faculty of Engineering as well as with local external institutes is expected.

The successful candidate is expected to fulfil teaching duties at all levels of general physics (BSc and export lectures) and within the specialization “Condensed Matter Physics” at MSc level.

The successful candidate will have an outstanding track record in research and teaching. They are required to have a university degree and a doctoral degree in a relevant discipline and additional postdoctoral qualifications (either a habilitation or equivalent academic qualifications). These qualifications may also have been achieved in a non-university context or through a junior faculty position (for example as Assistant Professor).

The successful candidate is expected to carry out administrative duties and take a proactive approach to raising third-party funding. FAU pursues a policy of intense student mentoring and expects its teaching staff to be present during lecture periods. Candidates who are able and willing to teach in both English and German are preferred.

In its pursuit of academic excellence, FAU is committed to equality of opportunity and to a proactive and inclusive approach, which supports and encourages all under-represented groups, promotes an inclusive culture and values diversity. FAU is a family-friendly employer and responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

Please submit your complete application (CV, list of publications, teaching concept (1 page) and research concept [2-3 pages], list of third-party funding, copies of certificates and degrees), preferably in English, online at https://berufungen.fau.de by April 1, 2026, addressed to the Dean of the Faculty of Sciences. Please contact nat-dekanat@fau.de with any questions.

The Faculty of Sciences at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) invites applications for a

Full Professor of Exogenic Geodynamics

(salary group W3)

at the Department of Geography and Geosciences. This is a full-time and permanent position planned to be filled by March 1, 2027.

We seek to appoint a leading expert with an internationally visible profile in research and teaching in the field of exogenic geodynamics. The professor’s research priorities should be in the field of weathering reactions, large scale material transport and sedimentary material cycles, and processes relating to global climate and environmental change. The methods used may take either an analytical geochemical or a modelling-based approach. We would welcome research into the potential of the geological substrate as a source of regenerative energy and for the storage of water and CO₂. The successful candidate will be expected to participate in interdisciplinary Earth system research (e.g., in the areas of endogenous geodynamics, paleoenvironments, tectonics, mineralogy, applied geology and geography) and to take an active part in collaborative projects.

Successful candidates should demonstrate an excellent academic track record in research and teaching at the highest international standards. They should have substantial research experience abroad and/or international cooperations as well as experience in managing research projects and in raising third-party funding. A university degree and an outstanding doctoral degree as well as a passion for education and relevant teaching experience are prerequisites. Candidates who are able and willing to teach in both English and German are preferred. The position also requires additional postdoctoral qualifications. These should be in the form of a habilitation (postdoctoral thesis) or equivalent academic qualifications. These qualifications may also have been achieved in a non-university context or through a junior faculty position (for example as Assistant Professor).

The successful candidate should demonstrate academic leadership, the ability to support early career researchers and to drive FAU’s strategic agenda. FAU pursues a policy of intense student mentoring and therefore expects its teaching staff to be present during lecture periods.

FAU offers an outstandingly productive research environment as well as a passionate and multi-disciplinary scholarly community within a vibrant institutional network.

In its pursuit of academic excellence, FAU is committed to equality of opportunity and to a proactive and inclusive approach, which supports and encourages all under-represented groups, promotes an inclusive culture and values diversity. FAU is a family-friendly employer and responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

Please submit your complete application documents (CV, list of publications, teaching concept [max. 1 page] and research concept [max. 3 pages], list of third-party funding, copies of certificates and degrees) online at https://berufungen.fau.de by March 20, 2026, addressed to the Dean of the Faculty of Sciences. Please contact nat-dekanat@fau.de with any questions.