Welcome at the ILM !

Working at the ILM enables maximum personal responsibility and creative freedom in any position. Students who are working on their final or doctoral theses at the ILM experience this early on and

often continue their career at the institute. In addition, we are also pleased to welcome by external personnel enrichment.

Let the ILM inspire you too!

Head of department (m,w,d) applied photonics

The ILM is a business-oriented research institution of the Innovation Alliance Baden-Württemberg (innBW). In orders from industry and in funded projects, topics of applied photonics from the fields of medical technology, in-vitro diagnostics, light propagation in scattering media and optical metrology are worked on. To expand our business areas in the field of applied photonics we are looking for a department head. You will be responsible for the strategic development of your department as well as the acquisition, implementation and management of nationally and internationally oriented research contracts in your field. You actively shape your area, build it up and contribute ideas to the development of the institute, also across departments. You particularly enjoy entrepreneurial co-responsibility and strategic design.

Information about the institute can be found on our website: www.ilm-ulm.de.

To be filled at the earliest possible date is a


Head of Department (m,f,d) applied photonics
for experimental as well as theoretical work in the field of applied photonics.

  •     You will lead and develop a team of highly qualified, motivated and experienced scientists. You will be supported by experienced department heads.
  •     Through your cooperative and situational leadership style, you will create the optimal conditions for your team to work effectively and for your customers to receive high-quality services.
  •     You will be responsible for the professional and economic development of the department - you will actively seek and exploit business opportunities and be responsible for the successful delivery of 
        services to existing and new customers.
  •     Together with your team, you will expand your expertise in order to occupy a top position in the international arena.

Your profile:

  •     University degree and doctorate in engineering, physics, mathematics or computer science.
  •     Excellent knowledge in the field of theoretical and experimental optics
  •     Publications in renowned journals
  •     Experience in third-party funding acquisition (public and industrial projects)
  •     Very good English language skills, both written and spoken

We offer:

  •     Versatile and challenging work at the interface of science and industry
  •     Attractive performance-related pay
  •     Wide scope for creativity
  •     Leadership and development of an interdisciplinary team and working with creative and competent colleagues
  •     Possibility of habilitation
  •     No teaching obligations
  •     Permanent position

The ILM also encourages individuals with disabilities to apply.

Sending your complete application materials is requested by email with the subject line "Application Department Head Division IV" as PDF file(s) to bewerbungen@ilm-ulm.de.

For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Alwin Kienle or Mr. Hack.

Contact person

Group leader (m,w,d) for work areas in the environment of the departmental alignment

The ILM is a business-oriented research institution of the Innovation Alliance Baden-Württemberg (innBW). In orders from industry and in funded projects, topics of applied photonics from the fields of health, analytics and technology are worked on. The department "Quantitative Imaging and Sensor Technology" of the ILM deals both theoretically and experimentally with the interaction of light with scattering media. Applications range from medical diagnosis or therapy, process control, for example of food, pharmaceutical products or technical materials, to the investigation of microscopic image formation or computer-aided image synthesis.

For further information please visit our website: https://www.ilm-ulm.de/ueber-uns/organisation/quantitative-bildgebung-und-sensorik.html

For the next possible date a Group leader (m,w,d) for work areas in the environment of the departmental orientation, e.g.

  •     Structured illumination for the investigation of biological and technical media
  •     3D topography of scattering objects
  •     Optical diffuse spectroscopy for medical and technical applications
  •     Photoacoustic imaging of scattering media

To be filled.

Your profile:

  •     University degree and doctorate in engineering or natural sciences.
  •     Excellent knowledge in the field of theoretical and experimental optics
  •     Publications in renowned journals
  •     Experience in third-party funding acquisition (public and industrial projects)
  •     Very good English language skills, both written and spoken

We offer:

  •     Versatile and challenging work at the interface of science and industry
  •     Attractive performance-related pay
  •     Wide scope for creativity
  •     Interdisciplinary and creative work in a team
  •     Possibility of habilitation
  •     No teaching obligations
  •     Permanent position

The ILM also encourages people with disabilities to apply.

Sending your complete application materials is requested by email with the subject line "Application Group Leader Division II" as PDF file(s) to bewerbungen@ilm-ulm.de.

Contact person

Prof. Dr. Alwin Kienle

Prof. Dr. Alwin Kienle

Director Materials Optics & Imaging

Tel: +49 (0)731 / 1429 224

PostDoc Ingenieurwesen, Physik, Mathematik - Optik, Bildgebung, Spektroskopie (m/w/d)

Das ILM ist eine wirtschaftsnahe Forschungseinrichtung der Innovationsallianz Baden-Württemberg (innBW). In Aufträgen aus der Industrie und in Förderprojekten werden Themen der angewandten Photonik aus den Bereichen Gesundheit, Analytik und Technik bearbeitet. Die Abteilung „Quantitative Bildgebung und Sensorik“ des ILM beschäftigt sich sowohl theoretisch als auch experimentell mit der Wechselwirkung von Licht mit streuenden Medien. Die Anwendungen reichen von der medizinischen Diagnose bzw. Therapie, der Prozesskontrolle beispielsweise von Lebensmitteln, Pharmaprodukten oder technischen Materialien bis zur Untersuchung der mikroskopischen Bildentstehung oder der computerunterstützten Bildsynthese.
Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter: https://www.ilm-ulm.de/ueber-uns/organisation/quantitative-bildgebung-und-sensorik.html

Zu besetzen sind zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt

Postdoktoranden (m,w,d) sowohl für experimentelle als auch für theoretische Arbeitsgebiete im Umfeld der Abteilungsausrichtung, z. B.

  • Strukturierte Beleuchtung (SFD) zur Untersuchung von biologischen und technischen Medien
  • 3D-Topographiebestimmung von streuenden Objekten
  • Photoakustische bzw. OCT-Bildgebung von streuenden Medien
  • Optische diffuse Spektroskopie für medizinische und technische Anwendungen
  • Physik-basiertes Rendering, beispielsweise im Bereich des autonomen Fahrens
  • Monte-Carlo-Simulationen zur Lösung der Strahlungstransportgleichung
  • Theorie der Gewebeoptik
  • Numerische Methoden zur Lösung der Maxwellgleichungen

Ihr Profil:

  • Hochschulstudium und Promotion im Bereich der Ingenieurwissenschaften, Physik, Mathematik oder Informatik
  • Hervorragende Kenntnisse im Bereich der theoretischen und experimentellen Optik
  • Fundierte Programmierkenntnisse (Python/MATLAB, C++)
  • Publikationen in renommierten Zeitschriften
  • Erfahrung in der Drittmittelakquise erwünscht (öffentliche und industrielle Projekte)
  • Sehr gute englische Sprachkenntnisse in Wort und Schrift

Wir bieten:

  • Vielseitige und anspruchsvolle Tätigkeit an der Schnittstelle von Wissenschaft und Wirtschaft
  • Attraktive leistungsbezogene Bezahlung
  • Großen Gestaltungsspielraum
  • Interdisziplinäres und kreatives Arbeiten im Team
  • Möglichkeit zur Habilitation
  • Keine Lehrverpflichtungen
  • Option auf permanente Stelle

Das ILM ermuntert auch Menschen mit Behinderungen, sich zu bewerben.


Die Zusendung Ihrer vollständigen Bewerbungsunterlagen wird erbeten per E-Mail mit dem Betreff „Bewerbung Postdoktorand Abteilung II“ als PDF-Datei(en) per E-Mail.

Für weitere Auskünfte steht Ihnen Herr Prof. Dr. Alwin Kienle via E-Mail bzw. unter der Telefonnummer (0731) 14 29 224 gerne zur Verfügung.

Contact person

Prof. Dr. Alwin Kienle

Prof. Dr. Alwin Kienle

Director Materials Optics & Imaging

Tel: +49 (0)731 / 1429 224

Physicist/ Engineer/ Research Assistant (m/f/d) (PhD students)

The ILM is a business-oriented research institution of the Innovation Alliance Baden-Württemberg (innBW). In orders from industry and funded projects, topics of applied photonics from the fields of health, analytics and technology are worked on. The department "Quantitative Imaging and Sensor Technology" of the ILM deals both theoretically and experimentally with the interaction of light with scattering media on the nano-, micro-, meso- and macroscopic scale. Applications range from medical diagnosis or therapy, process control for example of food, pharmaceutical products or technical materials to the investigation of microscopic image formation or computer-aided image synthesis.
For further information please visit our website: https://www.ilm-ulm.de/ueber-uns/organisation/quantitative-bildgebung-und-sensorik.html

Several positions are available to fill as soon as possible.

Areas of responsibility:

  •     Physics-based rendering in the field of autonomous driving
  •     Monte Carlo simulations for the solution of the radiative transfer equation
  •     Numerical methods for the solution of Maxwell's equations
  •     Structured illumination for the investigation of biological and technical media
  •     Non-invasive optical determination of vital parameters

to be filled. The positions are initially limited to 3 years (with the possibility of deferral).

Your profile:

  •     completed university studies in engineering, computer or natural sciences
  •     Sound programming skills (Python/MATLAB, C++)
  •     Ability to work independently, a high degree of initiative and reliability as well as organizational skills
  •     Good knowledge of German and English

We offer:

  •     Versatile and challenging work at the interface of science and business
  •     Attractive performance-related pay (pay group 13 TV-L, 75 % -100 % of the collectively agreed working hours)
  •     Interdisciplinary and creative work in a team
  •     No teaching obligations
  •     Option for permanent position

The ILM also encourages people with disabilities to apply.

Please send your complete application documents by e-mail with the subject "Application PhD student" as PDF file(s) to bewerbungen@ilm-ulm.de.

For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Alwin Kienle by e-mail (alwin.kienle@ilm-ulm.de) or by phone (0731) 142 9224.

Contact person

Prof. Dr. Alwin Kienle

Prof. Dr. Alwin Kienle

Director Materials Optics & Imaging

Tel: +49 (0)731 / 1429 224