PhD Position: Generative Machine Learning for Molecular Thin Films (physics degree required)

About the position

PhD Position: Generative Machine Learning for Molecular Thin Films (physics degree required)

Institution: Heidelberg University

Department: Institute for Theoretical Physics

Organisation/Company: Heidelberg University

Research Field: Physics » Computational physics

Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)

Positions: PhD Positions

Application Deadline: 1 Oct 2026 - 00:00 (Europe/Brussels)

Job Status: Part-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?: Not funded by a EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?: No

A fully funded PhD position is available in the group of Prof.

Tristan Bereau at the Institute for Theoretical Physics, Heidelberg University, in collaboration with the group of Prof.

The successful candidate will develop generative machine-learning methods for amorphous molecular thin films — the supramolecular structures that govern the performance of organic-electronic materials.

Equilibrating such films by brute-force molecular dynamics is prohibitively slow.

The work sits at the interface of statistical mechanics, molecular simulation, and deep generative modeling, and is embedded in SIMPLAIX, a research initiative on multiscale simulation and machine learning funded by the Klaus Tschira Foundation.

Experience with machine learning and/or molecular simulation; strong Python and PyTorch skills

Genuine interest in method development, and comfort with mathematical formalism

A degree in physics is required for admission to the Heidelberg Graduate School for Physics (HGSFP).

This is a formal admission requirement.

The position is funded for three years at 75% of salary group E13 TV-L.

Please note that a 75% appointment is the standard arrangement for doctoral researchers in German physics departments: this is a full doctoral position, and the remaining time is your own thesis work.

It is not a part-time job requiring additional income.

The working language of the group is English; no German is required.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

If the deadline shown above has passed, please check the group website or write directly — the position may still be open.

Full details: https://tristanbereau.com/positions/gen_ml_morphologies.html

Research Field: Physics

Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Website for additional job details: https://tristanbereau.com/positions/gen_ml_morphologies.html

Company/Institute: Heidelberg University

What you’ll bring

• PhD Position: Generative Machine Learning for Molecular Thin Films (physics degree required)
• Experience with machine learning and/or molecular simulation; strong Python and PyTorch skills
• A degree in physics is required for admission to the Heidelberg Graduate School for Physics (HGSFP).
• The working language of the group is English; no German is required.
• Research Field: Physics
• Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

At a glance

Position type

PhD

Institution

Heidelberg University

Department

Institute for Theoretical Physics

Research group

Not stated

Location

Germany, DE

Supervisor / contact person

Prof. Tristan Bereau, Prof. Ullrich Köthe

Funding

Fully funded
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?: Not funded by a EU programme
A fully funded PhD position is available in the group of Prof.
The work sits at the interface of statistical mechanics, molecular simulation, and deep generative modeling, and is embedded in SIMPLAIX, a research initiative on multiscale simulation and machine learning funded by the Klaus Tschira Foundation.
The position is funded for three years at 75% of salary group E13 TV-L.

Duration

Not stated

Expected start

Not stated

Vacancy reference

EURAXESS-458142

Research focus

Discipline

Chemistry, Physics

Research area

Not stated

Methods

Molecular dynamics (MD)

Software

Python

Dates to know

Listed on FOSS Positions

18 Sep 2026

Original advertisement date

Not stated in the source

Application deadline

Deadline not stated

Priority review date

Not stated

Last checked

18 Sep 2026

Last updated

18 Sep 2026

2026-09-30T22:00:00+00:00

How to apply

Application Deadline: 1 Oct 2026 - 00:00 (Europe/Brussels)
Where to apply
Apply now

https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/458142

Contact: bereau@thphys.uni-heidelberg.de

Original sources

https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/458142 ↗