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Paid PhD Positions in Production Engineering at Leibniz University Hannover
6 min read
Updated
NBy Naman Kumar
Page Summary⌄
Multiple paid PhD positions: Full-time TV-L E13 academic employment at Leibniz University Hannover.
Research areas: Machining, grinding, sustainable manufacturing, future materials and surface engineering.
Eligibility: Completed university degree in a technical or natural-science field with above-average academic performance.
Languages: Very good German and good English are required.
Deadline:31 October 2026; positions are available as soon as possible.
Table of Contents
Leibniz University Hannover is recruiting multiple doctoral researchers in production engineering at the Institute of Production Engineering and Machine Tools (IFW) in Garbsen, Germany.
The positions are full-time and paid at TV-L E13, 100%. Research areas include machining, grinding, sustainable manufacturing, difficult-to-machine materials, medical and aerospace manufacturing, and surface engineering.
The initial contract is for 24 months, with an extension intended through completion of the doctorate. Applications close on 31 October 2026.
PhD Positions at a Glance
Information
Details
Institution
Leibniz University Hannover
Institute
Institute of Production Engineering and Machine Tools (IFW)
Location
Garbsen, Hannover region, Germany
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Paid Production Engineering PhD at Leibniz University Hannover
Number of positions
Multiple
Position type
Paid doctoral employment
Salary grade
TV-L E13
Employment
100%
Part-time
Possible by arrangement
Initial contract
24 months
Extension
Intended through completion of the doctorate
Degree required
Technical or natural-science university degree
German
Very good
English
Good
Application deadline
31 October 2026
Start
As soon as possible
The IFW states that it has around 90 academic researchers and works at an internationally competitive level in university production engineering.
What are these production engineering PhD positions about?
The positions are part of the IFW research area Fertigungsverfahren, or manufacturing processes.
As a doctoral researcher, you will work on research projects in production engineering while also taking on project responsibility, teaching tasks and, over time, leadership responsibilities.
The university explicitly frames the positions as a pathway toward completing a doctorate and states that it provides supportive structures for writing the dissertation.
Which research areas are available?
The official vacancy lists several research directions.
High-tech machining and grinding
You may work on advanced:
- milling
-turning
- grinding
- machining-process development.
These projects aim to improve performance, precision and efficiency in modern manufacturing.
Sustainable manufacturing
Research can focus on developing:
- resource-efficient processes
- economically sustainable manufacturing methods
- energy-efficient production.
Sustainability and energy efficiency are also named among the IFW’s broader cross-disciplinary research topics.
Future materials
The institute works on machining:
- lightweight materials
- difficult-to-machine materials
- materials used in aerospace
- materials relevant to medical technology.
This can include developing new strategies for machining challenging materials more efficiently and reliably.
Surface engineering
Another research area is the functional modification of surfaces.
Examples include;
- deep rolling
- edge-zone analysis
- surface functionalization
- process-induced material-property changes.
Is this a paid PhD?
Yes. The positions are salaried at: TV-L E13, 100%
This is full-time academic employment, not a stipend-only scholarship.
The university does not publish a fixed gross monthly or annual amount in the vacancy itself.
Your final salary under TV-L E13 depends on the applicable experience step and public-sector pay rules.
How long is the contract?
The initial contract is: 24 months
Leibniz University Hannover states that an extension through completion of the doctorate is intended.
This does not mean the doctorate is guaranteed to be completed within exactly two years.
The initial employment period is two years, with the intention of extending the contract further as needed for the doctoral process.
Who can apply?
You need a completed university degree in a:
- technical field
- natural-science field
- related academic discipline.
The vacancy accepts degrees from universities, technical universities and universities of applied sciences.
The university does not publish a fixed numerical GPA threshold.
However, it explicitly expects above-average academic results.
Can I apply with a natural-science degree?
Yes. The official vacancy explicitly accepts both technical and natural-science degree programmes.
Your degree title does not therefore have to be Mechanical Engineering.
You should still show how your academic background fits production engineering, manufacturing processes, materials or related research.
Do I need German for this PhD?
Yes. The official vacancy requires:
- very good German
- good English.
This is therefore not an English-only doctoral position.
If your German is weak, you should not assume that English research ability alone will be sufficient.
Can international applicants apply?
Yes. Leibniz University Hannover explicitly states that applications are welcome regardless of nationality, along with other protected characteristics.
However, international applicants still need to meet:
- the degree requirement
- the academic-performance requirement
- the German-language requirement
- the English-language requirement.
Do I need previous work experience?
The vacancy does not state a fixed professional-experience requirement.
Instead, it focuses on your:
- academic background
- academic performance
- ability to work independently
- teamwork skills
- language proficiency.
So recent graduates can potentially apply if they meet the academic and language criteria.
What skills does the IFW expect?
The university explicitly requires:
- ability to work independently
- teamwork
- above-average study results
- very good German
- good English.
You should also be comfortable working in research projects with technical responsibility.
The position includes not only research but also:
- teaching
- project management
- increasing responsibility
- leadership development.
What support do you receive during the PhD?
The IFW lists several benefits for doctoral researchers.
These include:
- structured support for dissertation work
- project responsibility
- leadership experience
- startup support
- access to an industrial network
- interdisciplinary teamwork
- university training programmes
- mobile working
- a work laptop
- university sports
- occupational health management
- childcare and family-support services.
Flexible working arrangements, including part-time work, mobile work and home office, may be possible by agreement.
Can I work part-time?
Potentially, yes. Although the positions are advertised as 100%, the university states that part-time arrangements may be possible by agreement.
If you need a reduced working schedule, you should clarify this during the recruitment process.
What documents do I need?
The official vacancy does not provide a detailed document checklist.
It only directs applicants to submit their application through the official application link.
So you should not assume that a specific list of documents is mandatory unless it appears in the application portal.
Prepare the standard academic-application materials you are likely to need, but check the portal before final submission.
How to apply for the Production Engineering PhD positions
Step 1 — Check your academic fit
Make sure you hold a technical or natural-science university degree and have above-average academic results.
Step 2 — Check your language skills
You need very good German and good English.
Step 3 — Choose your research fit
Review whether your background is closest to:
- machining
- grinding
- sustainable manufacturing
- lightweight or difficult-to-machine materials
- medical or aerospace manufacturing
- surface engineering.
Step 4 — Apply through the official portal
The university directs applicants to its online application system.
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