{"id":2848337,"url":"https://alion.io/job/fraunhofer-gesellschaft-masters-thesis-ai-powered-formulation-development-for-a-pla-based-plastic","title":"Master's Thesis \"AI-powered formulation development for a PLA-based plastic\"","company":{"id":18856,"name":"Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft","domain":"fraunhofer.de","url":"https://alion.io/company/fraunhofer-institute-for-photonic-microsystems","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"SuccessFactors","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":91,"open_postings":8,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.375,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":27,"computed_at":"2026-11-02T06:13:15Z"}},"role":"Early Careers","role_family":"Early Careers","seniority":null,"employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Oberhausen, Germany"],"countries":["DE"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":16000,"max_usd":25000,"period":"year","method":"role_country_seniority_unknown","sample_n":738},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Python","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-19T12:12:19Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-19","last_verified_at":"2026-11-02T04:32:13Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":14,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":14},"description":"We want an earth that is worth living on. Our applied research in Circular Economy, Carbon Management, Green Hydrogen and Local Energy Systems makes concrete contributions to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. As an institute of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, we show how to not only master challenges, but grow with them. We push boundaries, think ahead and shape the future with applied research. Diverse perspectives and approaches strengthen creativity and innovation in our scientific work.\nWould you like to help us shape a sustainable world? We are looking for reinforcement!\nIn the department “Circular and Bio-based Plastics”, we develop customized bio-based plastics for a wide range of applications. Polylactide (PLA) is one of the most promising bio-based and biodegradable thermoplastics for engineering applications and packaging. Tailoring the property profile requires careful optimization of the compound formulation and processing conditions. Data-driven artificial intelligence approaches make it possible to derive optimal formulation-process combinations from existing experimental data, thereby significantly reducing development effort.\nBe part of change\nLiterature Review and State of the Art: Familiarization with the state of the art regarding PLA compounds, materials informatics, and Bayesian optimization for formulation problems\nData Preparation and Analysis: Review, cleaning, and structuring of existing datasets (formulation components, process parameters, material properties), including identification of relevant influencing factors\nModel Development as a Surrogate Model: Development of ML models (e.g., Gaussian process regression) to predict material properties as a function of formulation and process parameters\nMulti-criteria optimization: Implementation of a Bayesian optimization strategy using an open-source framework, including the definition of objective functions and constraints to derive concrete, improved formulation and process proposals\nExperimental validation and evaluation: Production of selected compounds proposed by the model, materials characterization, comparison of measured properties with model predictions, as well as critical evaluation and derivation of recommendations for further use\nWhat you contribute\nStudies in materials science, polymer engineering, chemical engineering, or a comparable field of study\nBasic knowledge of the Python programming language\nInterest in data-driven methods and a willingness to learn Python-based ML tools\nBasic knowledge of polymer processing and materials characterization is desirable\nGood English skills would be an advantage\nWhat we offer\nWe are committed to creating an inspiring working environment in which all employees can develop. To this end, we promote and value the uniqueness of each person and create a culture of respect, openness and appreciation in which everyone is welcome:\nTeamwork at eye level: an open-minded team in which you can contribute your own ideas. New Work, diversity and inclusion as well as cooperative teamwork are central components of our culture.\nTheory meets practice: The opportunity to combine your knowledge from your studies with practical experience at the interface between business and science.\nFlex work: Your studies have priority - we offer you flexible working hours that adapt to your everyday study routine.\nStudents@UMSICHT: Comprehensive onboarding, good support and networking opportunities as well as versatile support for your career development through training and keynote speeches.\nHealth & well-being: Health offers for a good balance in everyday life.\nYou can find even more attractive benefits here: Fraunhofer UMSICHT as an employer\nRemuneration according to the general works agreement for employing assistant staff.\nApplication:\nInterested? Apply online now via our career portal and join the Fraunhofer UMSICHT team! We look forward to getting to know you. Please submit at least the following documents:\nCurriculum vitae\nCurrent certificate of enrollment\nCurrent transcript of records\nBachelor's degree certificate\nDiversity & equal opportunities:\nWe value and promote the diversity of our employees' skills and therefore welcome all applications - regardless of age, gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, ideology, disability, sexual orientation and identity. Severely disabled people are given preference if they are equally suitable.\nAccessibility:\nWe are continuously working to make the application process and our workplaces more accessible. If you need support, please get in touch - we're here to help!\nContact\nPlease do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding this position:\nJürgen Stein, +49 208 8598-1128\nAstrid Wessel, +49 208 8598-1338\nIf you have any questions about the application process, please contact:\nEmily Kirchhoff, +49 208 8598-1353, \nIf you have any questions about accessibility and workplace design, please contact our representative for severely disabled employees:\nSascha Rollka, +49 208 8598-1781, \nFraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT\nwww.umsicht.fraunhofer.de\nRequisition Number: 85982","description_format":"text","description_chars":5274,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Flexible schedule"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["CRO & CDMO Services","Engineering Services","Research Institutes"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-19T12:12:19Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":77,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.861,"p_room":0.9,"age_days":13,"expected_fill_days":27,"reasons":["conf:1","velocity","win:mid","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-11-02T06:13:15Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/fraunhofer-gesellschaft-masters-thesis-ai-powered-formulation-development-for-a-pla-based-plastic","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/fraunhofer-gesellschaft-masters-thesis-ai-powered-formulation-development-for-a-pla-based-plastic.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-02T17:48:58Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":24757,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-03T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":18856},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=18856"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Ffraunhofer-gesellschaft-masters-thesis-ai-powered-formulation-development-for-a-pla-based-plastic"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Ffraunhofer-gesellschaft-masters-thesis-ai-powered-formulation-development-for-a-pla-based-plastic"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Ffraunhofer-gesellschaft-masters-thesis-ai-powered-formulation-development-for-a-pla-based-plastic"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/fraunhofer-gesellschaft-masters-thesis-ai-powered-formulation-development-for-a-pla-based-plastic\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Ffraunhofer-gesellschaft-masters-thesis-ai-powered-formulation-development-for-a-pla-based-plastic"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":2848337}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"fraunhofer.de","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":2848337},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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