Research Assistant (PhD candidate) (m/f/d) with a focus on “Robotic additive manufacturing of wood–mycelium habitat structures for urban biodiversity”

19.03.2026, Wissenschaftliches Personal

About the project
Urban environments offer vast, yet underused, potential for biodiversity. The ROBOHAB project combines ecology, fungal biotechnology, computational design, and robotic additive manufacturing to develop 3D‑printed wood–mycelium habitat structures that mimic the ecological functions of natural deadwood. The project is conducted jointly between TUM and the Technion in Israel (Professorships of Architecture & Landscape Architecture). The advertised PhD position is jointly supervised by Prof. Wolfgang W. Weisser (Terrestrial Ecology) and Prof. J. Philipp Benz (Fungal Biotechnology in Wood Science).

Your Tasks
• Develop wood and wood–mycelium composite mixtures for ecological field experiments in collaboration with
Technion’s robotic fabrication lab.
• Design and conduct field experiments using 3D‑printed or moulded nest structures to evaluate colonisation by
insects (e.g. wild bees) and birds.
• Carry out laboratory experiments on acceptance of printed nest structures
• Characterise environmental parameters (e.g. humidity, temp.) in microhabitats for material parameterization.
• Integrate ecological, material, and environmental data to optimise design and functionality of habitat structures.
• Publish results in peer‑reviewed journals and present at international conferences.
• Optional: participate in teaching and supervision of students.

Requirements / Your Profile
• Above-average university degree (MSc or equivalent) in ecology, biology, biotechnology, environmental science, bioengineering, or related fields.
• Strong interest in urban ecology, fungal biotechnology, 3D-printing / AM, or bio-based materials.
• Experience in at least two of the following (others are a plus):
o field/insect ecology & species monitoring / behavioural experiments
o mycology and cultivation of fungi
o biomaterials or composite materials
• Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary, international team.
• Good command of English required; willingness to learn German is expected.

We are offering
• An exiting international research environment in one of the best universities in Europe
• Membership in the International Graduate School of Science and Engineering (IGSSE) and participation in the
course program (https://www.igsse.gs.tum.de/en/igsse/about/)
• IGSSE-funded doctoral scholarship (€2,000/month) for up to four years, with midterm evaluation after two years,
suitable for pursuing a doctorate at TUM.
• Optional support through a part-time TUM contract.
• An international research stay (≥3 months) at Technion, supported by mobility funding.
• Funding for materials and student assistants auch das gebe ich normalerweise nicht an
• Opportunity to organize a small international scientific event as part of the IPT program.

Application / Contact
Send applications including supporting documentation in GER or EN (letter of motivation, CV, certificates, credentials) until April 10
th 2026 at the latest to the following address (preferred by email as a single pdf-file). Preference
will be given to disabled candidates with essentially the same qualifications. TUM explicitly encourages applications
from women (Art. 7 Abs. 3 BayGlG).

fungal-biotech@hfm.tum.de
Technische Universität München
TUM School of Life Sciences

For questions please contact:
Professorship for Fungal Biotechnology in Wood Science
Prof. Dr. J. Philipp Benz
phone: +49-8161-71-4590
email: benz@hfm.tum.de
homepage: https://www.lse.ls.tum.de/en/fungbio/home/

Chair for Terrestrial Ecology
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang W. Weisser
phone: +49-8161-71-3495
email: wolfgang.weisser@tum.de
homepage: https://www.lss.ls.tum.de/toek/startseite/

Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2
85354 Freising, GER

Kontakt: benz@hfm.tum.de; wolfgang.weisser@tum.de

Mehr Information

https://www.lse.ls.tum.de/en/fungbio/home/; https://www.lss.ls.tum.de/toek/startseite/