We are a leading research institute for wood and renewable raw materials in Europe. Our core competencies lie in materials research and process technology along the entire value chain – from raw materials to the finished product. More than 120 highly qualified researchers are developed methods and basics and perform applied research on the economy-science interface, in order to enable resource-efficient management in the circular bioeconomy.

For support in the numerous research projects we are looking immediately for a:

Research Associate (f/m/d)

Reclaimed wood is a key factor in sustainable materials science. Wood K plus investigates non-destructive testing methods and bio-informed machine learning for the reuse of wood in construction. Join our team and develop models that turn complex data into insights for a greener circular economy and the “twin transition.”

Your responsibility:

• Design and implement bio-informed machine learning (ML) workflows based on material science principles to characterise reclaimed timber
• Analyse multimodal datasets including CT imaging data (3D) and derived features, and mechanical, optical, and acoustic measurements
• Drive research questions on mechanical property prediction to enable reuse and circular economy strategies
• Plan, execute, and document the training of both:
  • Classical ML pipelines for multivariate analysis (e.g. PCA, PLS, SVMs, Random Forests)
  • Deep learning pipelines (e.g. VAEs or custom-built CNNs)
• Optional: Foundational work on advanced topics as preparation for a PhD dissertation

Your qualifications:

• Completed degree (FH/University) in Material Science, Wood Technology, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or related fields
• Solid understanding of statistics, data analysis and basic machine learning concepts
• Programming experience in Python, Julia, or C
• Interest in wood and bio-based materials combined with enthusiasm for computational methods and for integrating biological principles into machine learning models
• Strong English skills
• Open-mindedness and a structured, reliable, and independent working style
• High motivation and a strong sense of communication, teamwork, and responsibility.

Your Benefits:

• Flexible and family-friendly work arrangements (flexible hours, time off in lieu, home office)
• A diverse and stimulating challenge at the forefront of sustainable materials research
• Work in an international, motivated team within a highly active scientific environment
• Flexible working arrangements and autonomy in organising your tasks
• Hands-on experience with large, complex multimodal datasets
• Access to state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment
• Long-term collaboration opportunities with our project partners
• Gross monthly salary (40h/week) starting at EUR 2,800 (14x annually), depending on qualifications and experience
• Optional: Preparation for starting a PhD in a cutting-edge research field

Place of employment:

St. Veit an der Glan

Contact:

Johannes Huber, PhD
Telefon: +43 676 89744552
Wir freuen uns auf Ihre aussagekräftige Bewerbung via E-Mail an: j.huber@wood-kplus.at