For the next gen­er­a­tion of re­searchers

Aeronautics summer school
At the DLR Summer Schools, students can gain valuable practical experience. This image shows a flight simulator during the annual summer school on the topic of aeronautics, hosted in collaboration with various universities.
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Research balloon BEXUS prepared for launch
A helium filled balloon is prepared for launch into the stratosphere. On board are experiments developed by students from various universities as part of the BEXUS research programme.
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The DLR_Graduate_Program …
… teaches doctoral students generic skills and promotes interdisciplinary exchange.
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Aeronautics, space, energy, transport, digitalisation and security – DLR addresses numerous issues relating to interesting subjects with a high degree of societal relevance and excellent future prospects. The spectrum ranges from designing the aircraft of tomorrow, using satellites and sensors for environmental research, through to exploring the Solar System. It also includes designing the transport system of the future and implementing renewable energy technologies. The professions and scientific disciplines at DLR are equally diverse – from atmospheric research to aerospace medicine, adaptive systems, mechatronics and robotics to planetary research, and from propulsion technology to materials physics in space. DLR makes significant contributions to numerous national and international projects and institutions. These include the International Space Station (ISS), the European satellite navigation system Galileo, the German-Dutch Wind Tunnels (DNW) foundation, as well as Europe's biggest solar power plant in Almería, in southern Spain. In addition to the research it conducts, DLR, in its role as a space agency acting on behalf of the German Federal Government, plans and implements the national space programme. DLR also functions as an umbrella organisation for one of the largest project management agencies in Germany.

Diverse career prospects

Opportunities for students

DLR offers very special opportunities for the next generation of researchers. Students can complete internships at DLR institutes and carry out their degree projects, where they may even have the opportunity to get involved in international programmes. In addition, DLR invites students to participate in research programmes, such as the 'NASA/DLR Design Challenge' in the field of aeronautics, or the REXUS/BEXUS programme, which is about conducting experiments on board sounding rockets or during balloon flights. In cooperation with local universities, DLR also involves students in flight-test campaigns, parabolic flights, or other spectacular projects. A number of DLR_Summer_Schools regularly provide students with important insights into current research projects and the corresponding practical knowledge.

Support programmes for doctoral candidates

Doctoral candidates get a high level of supervision and support from the DLR institutes. The DLR_Graduate_Program is a high-quality qualification and support programme, which was designed specifically for doctoral candidates at DLR. The three-year-long, voluntary programme teaches the candidates key interdisciplinary skills – from project management to preparing scientific publications and presentations, acquiring third-party funding and other core expertise. The knowledge and skills acquired can be already be used efficiently during the doctoral phase and will also help with future career planning.

The doctoral phase can be followed by further steps, such as leading groups of young researchers at one of the DLR institutes, or even secondments abroad. DLR also offers mentoring programmes and schemes to develop young talent.

Topics and forward-looking perspectives for students and doctoral students

We do our best to sup­port your PhD

DLR's PhD opportunities are outstanding – this is not only due to the exciting research topics and dedicated professional support. As a PhD student, you will also benefit from a very special qualification opportunity: the DLR_Graduate_Program. During diverse workshops and seminars, you will, in addition to learning to use scientific tools, primarily acquire general management and social skills that are important for your doctorate and beyond.

DLR_Sum­mer_School on Space Propul­sion

Since 2011, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) site at Lampoldshausen has held an annual DLR_Summer_School on the topic of 'Space Propulsion'. The 10-day seminar serves to encourage the next generation of researchers in the field of space systems engineering.

RE­XUS/BE­XUS

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB) are jointly carrying out the REXUS/BEXUS programme to support the younger generation of engineers and scientists. This means that European students should be able to get practical experience in preparing and carrying out space exploration projects.

DLR-DAAD Fel­low­ships

International doctoral and postdoctoral students may apply for fellowships: The German Aerospace Center and the German Academic Exchange Service are recruiting more international researchers and scientists for Germany.

DLR De­sign Chal­lenge

Already during your studies, you can steer aeronautical engineering in new directions with your own ideas. Developing designs for efficient, low-emission and environmentally friendly aircraft that address the challenges faced by the world now and in the future. This is the task that the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) has been setting students throughout Germany since 2017. Each year, a different topic is addressed as part of the DLR Design Challenge.

Above the clouds: the fly­ing lec­ture the­atre

The manager of Oberpfaffenhofen airfield has been offering students of aeronautics and space exploration, and other interested atmospheric scientists, the opportunity of carrying out an 'in-flight practical'since 2005. The concept was developed in collaboration with universities and other institutes of further education and lets students experience research flights live.

Bach­e­lor's and mas­ter's the­sis projects un­der the Span­ish sun

As part of ongoing research and development activities, bachelor's and master's thesis projects and internships are regularly offered to European students in the fields of physics, mechanical engineering and metrology.

Re­search dur­ing a roller­coast­er ride in the sky

How do human beings respond to living in weightlessness? How can we improve foundry processes? Scientists at the German Aerospace Center, from universities, Max Planck Institutes, and many other institutions, are trying to answer these and many other questions by conducting experiments during parabolic flights.

Links

Ways to apply

PhD candidates

Course paper / final thesis

Student placement

Internship

Downloads

DLR at a glance (2021)

1.3 MB | PDF

Contact

Christoph Pawek

Ed­u­ca­tion, Out­reach
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin