TUM SEED Center
Announcement of a Doctoral Scholarship
“Rural Biogas Generation”
Call for Applications
The TUM SEED Center is an Excellence Centre for Exchange and Development, funded by DAAD and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development from 2020 to 2029. The TUM SEED Center conducts research and offers higher education at the intersection of Sustainable Energies, Entrepreneurship and Development (SEED) in the Global South. The TUM SEED Center consists of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and ten leading technical universities across the Global South, including Bahir Dar University (Ethiopia), Bandung Institute of Technology (Indonesia), Burkina Institute of Technology (Burkina Faso), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana), Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (India), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Kenya), Makerere University (Uganda), Namibia University of Science and Technology (Namibia), Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (Peru), and Stellenbosch University (South Africa). Through its international and interdisciplinary doctoral program, the TUM SEED Center fosters academic exchange and facilitates excellent research.
This announcement invites master’s students from the Global South with excellent academic track record and strong motivation to apply for the doctoral scholarship in “Rural Biogas Generation”. The doctoral scholarship will focus on waste-to-energy concepts for biogas generation in rural and remote areas, contributing to SDG 7, Clean and Affordable Energy for All by 2030. The selected and awarded doctoral scholar will be supervised by Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Konrad Koch from the Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering at the Technical University of Munich (https://www.cee.ed.tum.de/en/sww).
The SEED doctoral scholarship includes a monthly stipend of EUR 1,300, international mobility grants, insurance support, family support for a spouse and children, and annual support. The duration of the scholarship program is 4 years, starting from 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2029.
SEED doctoral scholars are expected to:
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to the work as a doctoral student
- Participate and contribute to the activities of the TUM SEED Center (e.g. annual symposia)
- Engage in academic exchange (i.e., visit and collaborate with partner universities)
- Publish at least three peer-reviewed papers in Q1 journals
Application requirements:
- Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering or related fields
- Excellent academic track record
- Extracurricular skills, social engagement, and strong motivation
- Nationality from one of the eligible countries in the Global South (see DAC list)
Qualified women and individuals with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply. To apply, please upload your CV, a strong letter of motivation highlighting the fit to the TUM SEED Center, a research proposal of a maximum 3 pages, and the usual certificates, including the transcript of records in English through the online form: https://wkf.ms/3YQbhq9 by 10 February 2025.
The final candidates will be invited for an online interview with Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Konrad Koch and his team. The Selection Commission of the TUM SEED Center will make the final decision in line with DAAD criteria.
If you have any questions regarding the announcement, please contact Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Konrad Koch (Email: k.koch@tum.de).