Practical trainings, student assistants and theses

This Master thesis focuses on the development and characterization of random peptide libraries for application in phage surface display. The aim is to explore new strategies for generating and analyzing functional peptide sequences. The project includes the design and molecular construction of peptide libraries as well as their experimental evaluation in terms of diversity and basic functional properties. Initial studies on the interaction of selected peptides with target structures will also be performed. The work combines molecular biology and combinatorial biotechnology and provides insight into the development of innovative biomolecular systems.

• Enrolled in a Master’s program at a university, preferably with a focus on molecular biology or a related field
• Practical experience in molecular biology techniques (e.g., cloning, transformation, PCR, sequencing techniques)
• Familiarity with genetic engineering safety regulations
• Basic knowledge of bioinformatic analysis of sequencing data
• Initial experience in in silico peptide modeling is desirable

• Work within an international team (laboratory language is English)
• Supervision is provided within an interdisciplinary junior research group
• Laboratory work is permitted on weekdays only, between 07:00 and 17:00
• Workplace is the Dresden-Rossendorf campus
• A customary expense allowance will be provided
• Start from June 2026, minimum duration: 5 month

Froth flotation is a widely applied physicochemical process for the enrichment of valuable metals in mineral processing. It operates by exploiting both inherent and induced differences in the surface properties of mineral particles. The efficiency of the process relies on the synergistic use of various reagents, including collectors, frothers, and promoters, which collectively modify surface characteristics and enhance selective separation. Particle size distribution is a critical parameter influencing flotation performance, as it governs the selective recovery of valuables from gangue. Therefore, for the true flotation process, a feed size distribution in the range of 20 μm - 150 μm is generally considered optimal. Which makes recovery for finer (< 20 μm) and coarser size range (> 150 μm) poor due to several reasons.
Glass bubbles (GB) are low-density hollow glass spheres which, upon hydrophobization under controlled conditions, act as an ultrafine particle (< 10 μm) collection vesicle enhancing the rate of the recovery process in froth flotation by means of carrier flotation. Recently hydrophobized GB have attracted attention (still only limited studies are available) in flotation due to their low density, structure stability, and tunable surface hydrophobicity, enabling their effective use as carrier particles for improving the particle recovery. This novel concept, carrier flotation exhibits a high potential for application in the flotation of various fine-ultrafine ores.
In this project, at HIF-HZDR (Dept. of mineral processing) we will pursue the following steps:
1.Characterization of hollow glass bubbles (LD, optical microscopy, SEM)
2.Systematic modification (esterification) and surface characterization (Contact angle measurements and FTIR)
3.Study the effect of HGB in froth flotation (magnetite-quartz-apatite flotation system)
4.Quantitative analysis and characterization of recovered fractions (XRF, ICP-MS/OES, TGA)
5.Optimization and development of a flowsheet for improved recovery and grades.
6.Batch flotation and pilot scale testing

• Second year Masters’ student with background of mechanical and process engineering /chemistry/ mineral Processing/ material science
• Basic idea about the importance of the topic and physical processes mentioned in the text
• Sound knowledge about analytical methods mentioned for feed characterization

• Independent and team worker, solution oriented, flexible with work environment

In recycling of end-of-life electronic waste (WEEE), copper is recovered as a major metallic component alongside precious metals such as gold, silver, palladium, and platinum. Although a significant portion of this waste consists organic materials (polymers) and invaluable inorganic fillers, it remains highly valuable due to presence of these precious and base metals making their recovery very important. During PCB manufacturing, processing, or disposal, dust generated also contain these valuable metals. Such fine dust (20 μm – 315 μm) makes recovery of precious metals challenging. Systematic separation and analysis of these precious metals from PCB dust can offer both economic benefits and reduction in environmental impact. The present thesis focuses on detailed feed characterization of the fine PCB waste fractions. Physicochemical and particle-based methods for metal identification, extraction, and refining will be designed and developed. This approach aims to valorize fine dust classified as hazardous waste through strategies aligned with the principles of the circular economy approach.
In this thesis project, at HIF, HZDR (Department of mineral processing and process metallurgy) we will pursue the innovation along following steps:
1.Pre-processing of PCB dust (comminution, dry/wet sieving and splitting)
2.Pre-characterization in order to know about the size distribution, elemental assay, present phases using (LD, ICP-OES/MS, XRF, SEM)
3.Liquid-liquid particle separation- optimization of the developed process
4.Froth flotation- optimization of the developed process
5.Extraction and recovery of Cu and precious metals from concentrated fractions
6.Final characterization of recovered fractions (ICP-MS/OES, TGA, XRF, CHNS, SEM)
7.Conclude with optimizing the economical process for individual metal recovery

• Masters’ student with background of chemistry/ mineral Processing/process metallurgy
• Basic idea about the importance of the topic and physical processes mentioned in the text
• Sound knowledge about analytical methods mentioned for feed characterization
• Independent and/ team worker, solution oriented, flexible to different work environment

Master thesis work

At Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), over 1,500 employees from more than 70 nations are conducting cutting-edge research in the fields of ENERGY, HEALTH, and MATERIALS to address the major challenges facing society today.
The Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS), founded in Görlitz in 2019, is a German-Polish interdisciplinary research center focusing on data-intensive digital systems.
CASUS offers student internships in a wide range of scientific fields. You are welcome to apply and join CASUS if you are interested in gaining knowledge in the following research areas:

• Theoretical Chemistry
• Earth System Science
• Systems Biology
• Digital Health
• Computational Radiation Physics
• Theory of complex systems
• Dynamics of Complex Living Systems
• Machine Learning for Infection and Disease

• Student in computer science, physics, chemistry, or related fields
• Student already enrolled at the university in Germany, Poland or Czech Republic (close exchange and attendance in the office preferable and combined with the moblie working from Germany combinable)
• Eager to learn new skills
• Strong motivation to work in a collaborative environment
• Preliminary experience in code development is an advantage
• Excellent communication skills in English and/or German or Polish

• A vibrant research community in an open, diverse and international work environment
• Scientific excellence and extensive professional networking opportunities
• A wide range of qualification opportunities
• We support a good work-life balance with the possibility of part-time employment, mobile working and flexible working hours
• Either an immediate start or a start in 2024 is possible

1D- und 2D-Ramanspektroskopische Meßreihen oder auch Maps liefern detaillierte ortsaufgelöste chemische Informationen über die untersuchten Proben. Damit kann z. B. die Komponentenverteilung in Stoffgemischen quantitativ bestimmt oder die Homogenität einphasiger Proben gezeigt werden. Andererseits lassen sich lokale Strukturveränderungen, Spannungszustände, Stapelfolgenänderungen in 2D-Materialien und Punktdefekte charakterisieren. Voraussetzung dabei ist eine möglichst engmaschige Datenerfassung bis hin zur Auflösungsgrenze der verwendeten Laserstrahlung sowie eine große Anzahl an Messpunkten. Mit modernen Spektrometern sind Messzeiten im Sekundenbereich gut realisierbar. Die Umsetzung der spektroskopischen in eine chemische Information erfordert dann die Extraktion von Parametern wie Schwingungsfrequenz, Intensität und Linienbreite durch Spektrenanpassung. Die Gerätesoftware bietet dafür nur eingeschränkte Möglichkeiten.
Im Rahmen einer Graduierungsarbeit soll in Zusammenarbeit mit dem HZDR-Rechenzentrum ein Auswertealgorithmus für die automatisierte Auswertung von 1D- und 2D-Ramanspektroskopischen Meßreihen entwickelt, an Beispielen getestet und dokumentiert werden.

1. Studium der Werkstoffwissenschaften, Physik oder Chemie
2. Interesse, Freude und Befähigung für wissenschaftliche Arbeit
3. Grundkenntnisse in Programmierung und sicherer Umgang mit Büro- und wissenschaftlicher Software
4. Sehr gute Englisch-Kenntnisse

Die Arbeit ist in die umfangreichen Aktivitäten der Abteilung Nanoelektronik (FWIO) zu 2D-Werkstoffen eingebettet. Sie kann jederzeit aufgenommen werden.

Wir beschäftigen uns mit der Entwicklung von PET-Radiotracern, die Rezeptoren im Tumormikromilieu (TME = tumor microenvironment) für die Diagnostik und Therapie von Krebs sichtbar machen. Dazu werden geeignete tumoraffine Leitstrukturen identifiziert (niedermolekulare organische Moleküle, Peptide und Peptidomimetika), synthetisiert und mit einem geeigneten Radionuklid kovalent (z. B. Fluor-18, Iod-123) oder über einen Chelator (z. B. Gallium-68, Lutetium-177) markiert. Diese Radioliganden werden in vitro an Tumorzelllinien und in vivo im Tiermodell hinsichtlich einer Anwendung in der Nuklearmedizin getestet. Langfristiges Ziel ist die Translation der entwickelten Radiotracer in die Klinik als Diagnosewerkzeug (PET/CT) oder nach Markierung mit einem Beta- oder Alphastrahler für die Endoradiotherapie von Tumorerkrankungen.
Im Rahmen eines Studentenpraktikums oder einer Bachelor- oder Masterarbeit sollen organische Wirkstoffmoleküle synthetisiert und für eine anschließende radiochemische Markierung modifiziert werden. Die neuen Radioliganden werden dann biologisch in vitro und in vivo untersucht.

• Studium der Chemie
• Gute Noten in organischer Synthesechemie
• Fähigkeit sich in ein interdisziplinäres Wissenschaftler-Team einzugliedern
• Bereitschaft zum Umgang mit Radioaktivität
• Gute Kenntnisse der deutschen und englischen Sprache

• Beginn nach Absprache jederzeit möglich
• Praktikumsdauer mind. 4 Wochen, mit möglichst täglicher Anwesenheit

Tower power plants represent the latest generation of solar thermal power generation systems (see figure). Large-area mirror arrays concentrate sunlight onto a central absorber, where it is converted into thermal energy, which is then transferred to a heat transfer medium. Compared to photovoltaics, solar thermal energy has the inherent advantage of energy storage capacity and availability on demand. The challenge for further increasing the efficiency of solar power plants lies in developing materials with temperature stability up to 800 °C in air. Within the framework of graduate theses and research projects, thermally stable coatings for the core components of solar tower power plants will be developed and tested. State-of-the-art in-situ and ex-situ methods such as magnetron sputtering, ellipsometry, UV-vis-NIR-FTIR retroreflector, and Raman spectroscopy will be employed.
The following tasks are offered in this area:
i) Design and optical simulation of solar-selective coating stacks for solar power plants
ii) Deposition, optimization, and characterization of the structural, optical and electrical properties of individual components and whole coating stacks for solar power plants
iii) Ex situ and in situ investigations of the thermal stability of individual components and entire coating stacks for solar power plants
Other topics can be discussed individually.

1. University program in physics, chemistry, or materials science with good grades or better
2. Interest, enthusiasm, and ability for scientific work
3. Basic programming skills and proficiency in using office and scientific software
4. Fluent English language skills

This work is carried out in collaboration with national and international partners, payment includes the standard expense allowance