Institute Center Schloss BirlinghovenFAQ – Applying for a job at an institute of the Fraunhofer Institute Centre Schloss Birlinghoven IZB
How do I find out which institute is best suited for my research interests?
Visit the Web sites of the Fraunhofer institutes on the Schloss Birlinghoven Campus:
Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing SCAI
Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology FIT
Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems IAIS
They provide rich information about the institutes' research fields and service offerings. The Web site of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (www.fraunhofer.de/en.html) provides links to the individual Web sites of all Fraunhofer institutes.
Where do I find the job openings at Fraunhofer?
Current job openings of the individual Fraunhofer institutes are listed in their respective Web sites. A list of all job offers at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is available at:
The Job Newsletter (in German) keeps you up-to-date on current job offers at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. To subscribe, visit:
How do I submit my application?
Visit recruiting.fraunhofer.de (in German) to submit your application. A person to contact for more information is named at the bottom of each job offer.
Students, Doctoral Students
What types of involvement for students do you offer?
We offer jobs as:
- Interns (e.g. as part of a Praxissemester);
- Student Assistants.
We also offer the opportunity to conduct R&D for a bachelor thesis, master thesis, Diplomarbeit or doctoral dissertation.
Are these jobs restricted to students in specific fields?
The Fraunhofer units on the Schloss Birlinghoven Campus mostly hire science or engineering students. Students in other fields are invited to apply for suitable jobs or to submit a detailed research proposal.
What is the first step in applying for a student job?
Please first check the Web site of the institute closest to your academic / professional interest for the details of the institute's business areas and research fields. The institute's Jobs / Career page lists current job offers of the institute.
The Fraunhofer Jobs / Career page (www.fraunhofer.de/en/jobs-career.html) links to classified job offers across all Fraunhofer institutes and research establishments. It also lets you submit your résumé unrelated to any specific job offer.
What should I mention in an unsolicited job application?
Please be as specific and focused as possible. In any case you should indicate your field(s) of study, your current year / semester and the time you would like work for Fraunhofer. Please also specify the kind of contribution you expect to make given your current qualification. Email your application to the contact person named in the Web page of the business area or research group you are interested in.
Are there any deadlines?
There are no general application deadlines for student jobs at Fraunhofer. Please bear in mind that the full application process may take three to six months, depending on the type of job.
What should I do if I would like to conduct R&D for my thesis or dissertation at Fraunhofer?
Before you contact us, make sure that your university lets you submit a thesis for which you conduct research in an external organization. If this hurdle is cleared, please send us a specific proposal for the research you would like to work on.
Due to the large number of inquiries we receive, we cannot answer unspecific inquiries for thesis support.
Please email your research proposal to the contact person named in the Web page of the business area or research group your R&D subject fits in.
Whom do I contact with a general inquiry about internships?
Ms. Susanne Harnisch is in charge of Intern Liaison And Support at the Fraunhofer Institute Centre Schloss Birlinghoven:
susanne.harnisch@zv.fraunhofer.de
Phone +49 2241 14-2235
As a doctoral student, how do I apply for a job in an institute on the Fraunhofer Schloss Birlinghoven Campus?
Please visit the respective institute Web sites to check for job offers for doctoral students (doctorates). We invite you to consider also job offers for regular Fraunhofer R&D positions. Depending on your subject and our current projects it may well be possible to work for your thesis in close connection with your job. Institutes may have their own doctoral programs or may cooperate with doctoral programs at a university, e.g. the Research School of the Bonn-Aachen International Center for Information Technology – BIT. For more information please check the institutes' Web sites.
Travel expenses
Will my travel expenses for an interview be refunded?
If we invite you for an interview, long-distance travel expenses can be reimbursed under certain conditions and rules. Travel expenses of applicants from the Bonn–Cologne area will not be refunded. For details please contact us ahead of the interview.
Contact information
Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing SCAI
Schloss Birlinghoven
53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
Phone +49 2241 14-2500
info@scai.fraunhofer.de
Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology FIT
Schloss Birlinghoven
53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
Phone +49 2241 14-3333
info@fit.fraunhofer.de
Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems IAIS
Schloss Birlinghoven
53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
Phone +49 2241 14-3000
info@iais.fraunhofer.de