THE FiW AS AN EMPLOYER
In this successful, interdisciplinary team and in cooperation with a broad network of practice and politics, you can actively shape the future of water management at the FiW. You will work independently and with a high degree of creative freedom. At the FiW, you will develop strategically and technologically outstanding projects and support their implementation in practice with high quality standards and an intensive exchange with clients and project partners.
THE FiW DURING YOUR STUDY
As part of a student research project or final thesis, you have the opportunity to gain an insight into the diverse project work of the FiW. You can find current suggestions for topics under the heading "Student research projects and theses". Do you have your own ideas? Then please contact our contact person for study coordination Matthias Hirt (hirt@~@fiw.rwth-aachen.de or +49 241 80 2 68 40) with your proposed topic."
For current and planned projects we are looking for reinforcement
Asked – Doctoral studies at the FiW
Transfer research and doctoral studies go hand in hand. A special feature, but also a challenge, of doctoral studies at the FiW is that the focus of the dissertation is on application-oriented transfer research projects and is integrated into everyday project work. Currently, six colleagues are working at the FiW in various stages, but all are working intensively on their doctoral theses.
Mark Braun studied environmental engineering and sustainable energy supply at RWTH Aachen University. Since 2017, he has been working as a research assistant at FiW in the field of water management with a focus on climate impact adaptation. His area of expertise lies in particular inthe field of strategic management of the consequences of climate-related events. As a project manager, he is currently overseeing the R2K-Klim+ project funded by the BMBFTR. Since 2024, Mark Braun has been head of the Water Management & Climate Impact Adaptation division.
Doctoral thesis topic:
Derivation of scenarios and monetisation of the effects of climate change and anthropogenic uses on low water events and the economy in the Rhine catchment (0,6 MB)
Sebastian Kerger studied environmental engineering. He has been working at FiW since 2019, initially as a student assistant and then as a junior engineer. Since 2021, he has been working at FiW as a research associate in the field of wastewater technology and process development with a focus on sewer network control. As project manager, he supervised the DBU-funded ENTfrachtEN project.
Doctoral thesis topic:
Hybrid real-time control strategies for combined sewer systems (0,3 MB)
Peter Schleiffer studied civil engineering with a specialisation in sanitary engineering at the RWTH Aachen University. Afterwards, he worked there as a research associate at the Institute of Environmental Engineering. Since June 2025, he has been working at the FiW in the department of Wastewater Treatment Technologies & Process Development. As a project manager, he is currently responsible for the BMFTR-funded projects AIX-WATCH and AIX-WWR.
Doctoral thesis topic:
Resource-saving and integrated activated carbon production at municipal wastewater treatment plants for the elimination of organic micropollutants (PDF 0,4 MB)
Fabio Voit studied Mechanical Engineering (B.Sc.) and Process Engineering (M.Sc.) at RWTH Aachen University. Since 2021, he has been working at FiW as a Research Associate in the field of energy technologies and sector coupling, with a focus on energy concepts at WWTPs and simulations. He is currently the project manager of the BMV-funded project E-BO2t.
Doctoral thesis topic:
Model-based Evaluation of advanced dynamic Power-to-Fuel Strategies for Wastewater Treatment Plants (PDF 0,5 MB)