Stellenticket Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

We are developing an innovative semiconductor wafer for micro-LEDprojection displays used in augmented-reality (AR) and virtual-reality (VR)applications. The technology originates from scientific research and has already demonstrated promising technical feasibility. Our next objective is to transfer the technology from the laboratory toward industrial application. We are currently preparing an application for the EXIST Research Transfer program. Our prospective founding team consists of researchers at the Paul-Drude-Institut für Festkörperelektronik and is led by Dr. Jingxuan Kang. To complement the team's technical expertise, we are looking for a motivated prospective founding team member with a strong background in business development, economics, finance, or commercialization.

As Business Development and Commercialization Lead, you will take primary responsibility for transforming our scientific innovation into a commercially viable business. You will work closely with the technical founders, research partners, industry contacts, start-up advisors, and the institutional technology-transfer network. This is not intended to be a conventional consulting position. We are looking for someone genuinely interested in joining the founding team and contributing to the establishment and long-term development of the future company.

Your responsibilities:
Your main responsibilities will include:

• Leading the development of the business plan.
• Together with other team members, conducting comprehensive market research covering micro-LEDs, AR/VR display technologies, semiconductor wafers, epitaxy, and related supply chains.
• Defining the target market, customer segments, early-adopter strategy, and addressable market potential.
• Supporting the preparation and revision of the EXIST Research Transfer application and related presentations and representing the business perspective within the founding team and supporting strategic decision-making throughout the project.

Your profile:
We are looking for candidates who meet most of the following criteria:

• Background in business, finance, or a related discipline.
• Master’s degree, diploma, or equivalent qualification is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of business planning, market analysis, financial modelling, commercialization, or strategic business development.
• Professional fluency in German, with the ability to prepare business and application documents and communicate with German institutions and industrial partners. Good command of English for communication within an international scientific and industrial environment.

Additional experience that would be beneficial:
Knowledge in one or more of the following areas would be an advantage:

• Semiconductor, photonics, display, electronics, or fabrication industries.
• Financial modelling for capital-intensive or hardware-based businesses.

We are looking for candidates who meet most of the following criteria:

• Background in business, finance, or a related discipline.
• A master’s degree, diploma, or equivalent qualification is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of business planning, market analysis, financial modelling, commercialization, or strategic business development.
• Professional fluency in German, with the ability to prepare business and application documents and communicate with German institutions and industrial partners. Good command of English for communication within an international scientific and industrial environment.

Additional experience that would be beneficial:
Knowledge in one or more of the following areas would be an advantage:

• Semiconductor, photonics, display, electronics, or fabrication industries.
• Financial modelling for capital-intensive or hardware-based businesses.

What the project could offer following successful funding approval:

• A funded full-time position within the EXIST Research Transfer Phase I project for up to 18 months.
• The opportunity to join the founding team of a research-basedsemiconductor deep-tech venture at an early stage.
• Access to a strong scientific environment and specialized semiconductor research infrastructure.
• The possibility of assuming a long-term leadership role in the futurespin-off, subject to mutual agreement and successful company development.

We particularly welcome applications from women and candidates from diverse professional, cultural, and international backgrounds.

Interested candidates are invited to send: a curriculum vitae and a short motivation letter. Relevant certificates may also be included. To Dr. Jingxuan Kang by July 10, 2026. Email: kang@pdi-berlin.de Important information about the position: We are currently looking for a prospective founding-team member who will contribute to the preparation of our EXIST Research Transfer application. More information about EXIST can be found at https://exist.de/en/programm/forschungstransfer/This is not yet an existing or funded employment position. The full-timeposition described below will be created only if the EXIST Research Transfer application is approved and the corresponding project funding is granted. Before the funding decision, the selected candidate would join the prospective founding team and contribute to preparing the application. Following successful approval, the candidate is expected to take up the funded full-timeposition within the EXIST Research Transfer project, subject to the employment conditions and formal recruitment procedures of the host institution.