Study in Germany | University of Stuttgart ENWAT Doctoral Program Scholarship 2026
Are you interested in making a meaningful impact on the environment through your research? The University of Stuttgart, in partnership with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), is offering an exciting opportunity for aspiring scholars. They are providing up to two fully funded PhD scholarships as part of the prestigious ENWAT Doctoral Program.
This initiative focuses on a vital global challenge: understanding the seasonal variations of greenhouse gas emissions in wastewater treatment facilities. As you engage in this groundbreaking research, you’ll be tackling the critical issue of reducing methane and nitrous oxide emissions—two potent greenhouse gases that are significantly more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide (CO₂).
By joining this program, you will contribute to shaping sustainable practices in wastewater management and potentially mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. This is not just an opportunity for academic achievement; it’s a chance to be at the forefront of developing innovative solutions that can help protect our planet for future generations.
About the Program
- Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Sara Kleindienst
- Department: Environmental Microbiology, ISWA – Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality, and Waste Management.
Available Research Themes
- Microorganisms in wastewater systems
- Denitrification, nitrification, ammonia oxidation, and methanogenesis
- Microbial community dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions
- Laboratory microcosms and in situ WWTP experiments
- Environmental control strategies to reduce GHG emissions
Research Goals
- Explore seasonal microbial relationships that influence greenhouse gas emissions in WWTPs.
- Develop lab models utilizing tagged substrates to connect shifts in the environment with greenhouse gas emissions.
- Perform field experiments at the Stuttgart ISWA wastewater treatment plant to enhance operational conditions for reducing emissions.
Techniques You’ll Perfect?
- Analytical tools with high precision: HPLC, IC, GC-MS
- Microbial enhancement under aerobic/anaerobic environments
- Quantifying gas with electrochemical sensors and FTIR
- 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and comprehensive metagenomic/meta-transcriptomic assessment
- Sophisticated statistical and bioinformatics methods
Eligibility Requirement
- Educational Qualifications: M.Sc., Dipl.-Ing., or similar degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Management, Microbiology, or relevant sciences.
- Extra Qualification: B.Sc. in the same or a related discipline.
- Experience: Strong foundation in molecular ecology and environmental microbiology.
- Language: Evidence of English language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS or verification of degrees in English).
- Residency Requirement: At the time of DAAD nomination (Dec 2025), you should not have resided in Germany for the last 15 months and must have obtained your most recent degree within the last 6 years.
- Files: résumé, grade scale transcripts, two academic references (dated within the last 2 years), motivation letter (one page), and a research summary (one page).
How to Apply
Application Timelines
The cutoff date for applications for the PhD role “Understanding the Seasonal Variation of Greenhouse Gas Production in Wastewater Treatment Plants” at the University of Stuttgart is October 1, 2025. Candidates who are shortlisted will be submitted to the DAAD in December 2025, with successful applicants anticipated to commence their research on October 1, 2026
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