At the end of their studies (Bachelor or Master), students should demonstrate and improve their ability to work on a current, scientific or practice-oriented research topic by writing a final thesis.
Content of the final thesis at our chair
We supervise Bachelor's and Master's theses in the chair's teaching and research topics. You will work on current scientific issues relating to the circular economy, bioeconomy, sustainability assessment, or quantitative methods for decision support in accordance with the examination regulations applicable to you.
Practice-oriented work in these areas, for example in cooperation with companies or non-university research institutions, is also possible in principle. The prerequisites for this are a thematic reference to the teaching and research topics of the chair, an appropriate core, and the fulfillment of the requirements of a scientific thesis as well as existing supervision capacities. Please note that you cannot submit a purely practical topic, e.g. a business plan or the calculation of a carbon footprint, as a thesis.
Requirements
We expect you to be interested and motivated in the topic you are working on. The topics are based on the topics covered in our teaching programs. Accordingly, you should have attended the relevant modules of our chair with above-average success. Depending on the topic, we also require in-depth elective courses.
Procedure
Please read the descriptions of the available topics on our website. If you think one of the topics fits your interests and study program, please contact us via our application form (see below).
If you intend to work on a topic of your own choice, please check the research interests of our team members for a potential advisor and apply with your proposal.
We will then get back to you as soon as possible and arrange an appointment for further discussion. Please note that we will first coordinate this with the chair; it may, therefore, take some time to get back to you.
Application
To apply for a thesis, please use our application form via the following link. Applications sent by other means, e.g. by e-mail, cannot be considered. After you have submitted your application, we will contact you as soon as possible.
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Duration
Bachelor thesis
3 months
Master thesis
6 months
Currently available topics
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Master’s thesis:
Background
Nowadays, end-of-life vehicles are an essential waste stream in terms of the high-quality materials used. In the context of the Circular Economy, closing (post-consumer) material loops from end-of-life back into production is of high importance. While research into such cycles and the tracing of end-of-life management is already well advanced in the case of passenger cars, very little is known about whereabouts and recycling of commercial vehicles. It can be assumed that in future, similar to passenger cars, commercial vehicles could be subject to stricter regulatory requirements regarding end-of-life practices and the use of secondary material in production. Therefore, an analysis of current life cycles and end-of-life practices for heavy commercial vehicles needs to be done.
Research Challenge
The current subject of research is the tracking of heavy duty end-of-life vehicles. The focus of this research is to identify whereabouts and end-of-life treatment practices for commercial (heavy duty) vehicles in Europe. This includes identifying where they are exported to and where they are ultimately recycled. Therefore, literature and statistics have to be identified and analyzed.
Your Tasks
- Conduct a thorough review of literature and statistics regarding the collection, trade, whereabouts, and end-of-life treatment for heavy duty vehicles.
- Analyze the destinations to which end-of-life commercial vehicles are exported, and identify the locations (countries) where they are processed or recycled.
- Examine trade flows within the European Union between various member states, as well as exports beyond the EU, with a focus on heavy duty vehicles.
- Identify and analyze relevant statistics related to commercial vehicles, including their numbers, usage, whereabouts, and end-of-life treatment trends across different regions.
Requirements
- Strong interest in reviewing scientific literature and analyzing statistical data
- Good knowledge of statistics and data analytics is advantageous
- Being enrolled at SoM, SoLS, TUMCS
- High motivation and ability to work independently
- Capability to work target-oriented and reliable
Please send your application, covering a short motivation letter, your CV and a transcript of records, to dominik.reichert(at)tum.de by 31.03.2025 the latest.
In case of any further questions, please use the contact information provided below.
Contact
Dominik Reichert | Chair of Circular Economy and Sustainability Assessment | Am Essigberg 3 | 94315 Straubing | Tel. +49 9421 187 217 | dominik.reichert(at)tum.de
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Bachelor’s/Master’s thesis: Comparison of the Sustainability Impacts of the Straubing Bring-in-Packaging Waste system vs. the Yellow Bin Approach. (f/m/d)
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Bachelor’s/Master’s thesis: Circular Carbon Economy (f/m/d)
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Bachelor’s/Master’s thesis: Assessing Carbon Capture and Utilisation Technologies (f/m/d)
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Bachelor’s/Master’s thesis: Comparative Assessment of Chemical Recycling Technologies (f/m/d)
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Bachelor’s/Master’s thesis: Assessing Micro-algae-based Chemicals Production (f/m/d)
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Bachelor’s/Master’s thesis: Potentials and limits of Bio-Naphta Production (f/m/d)
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Bachelor’s/Master’s thesis: Circular Economy and Growth (f/m/d)
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Bachelor’s/Master’s thesis:
Bavaria’s bioeconomy strategy aims to transition from fossil-based to bio-based economic practices. As part of this effort, a collaborative project has been launched to develop a scientifically grounded Bavarian Biomass Resource Strategy (BioReSt). The objective is to collect data on biomass flows in Bavaria and develop economically and ecologically viable approaches for their provision, utilization, and circular management. The Chair of Circular Economy focuses specifically on organic waste streams, employing methodologies such as material flow analysis (MFA), potential analysis, life cycle assessment (LCA), and strategy development.
Research Tasks
Building upon the prior work conducted within the project, the student will contribute to ongoing research efforts by:
· Conducting a literature search on higher-value circular economy production processes and innovative use cases.
· Conducting a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate environmental impacts.
· Performing a comparative analysis of current vs. future utilization pathways for biogenic waste (e.g., composting, energetic recovery, pyrolysis, gasification).
Requirements
· Background in environmental sciences, sustainability, industrial ecology, or a related field.
· Familiarity with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Material Flow Analysis (MFA).
· Experience with LCA software (e.g., Brightway, Activity Browser) is an advantage.
· Student of Campus Straubing; TUM School of Life Sciences or Management.
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Bachelor’s/Master’s thesis:
Background
Currently, a car's most significant share of greenhouse gas emissions stems from fuel combustion during the use phase. Hence, switching from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles is essential to decarbonize the automotive sector. Electric vehicles have lower emissions overall, but the embedded emissions in the materials used to produce the car will become the largest share of emissions. Therefore, fully decarbonizing the automotive sector requires additional approaches on top of electrification – such as circular economy strategies.
Research Challenge
Traditionally, policymakers have targeted the emissions in the car use phase – for instance, the CO₂ emission performance standards for cars and vans in the European Union and the zero-emission vehicle program in California. Unclear, however, is how the policy landscape will change with a rising share of electric vehicles. Policymakers may consider more topics such as supply chain impacts, resource consumption, and circular economy. The goal of this master’s thesis is to review existing and analyze novel policies.
Your Tasks
- Review existing sustainability policies in the automotive sector,
- Review circular economy strategies in the automotive sector,
- Use qualitative and/or quantitative methods to develop and assess the impact of novel circular economy policies in the automotive sector.
Requirements
- Excellent student with an (interdisciplinary) background in engineering, management, environmental sciences, or other relevant disciplines,
- Enrolled at TUM School of Life Sciences, TUM School of Management, or TUM Campus Straubing,
- Strong interest in sustainability, circular economy, and public policy,
- Familiarity with sustainability assessment tools such as Life Cycle Assessment and Material Flow Analysis,
- Fluency in English.
Please send your application with a short motivation letter, your CV, and a transcript of records to mattia.maeder(at)tum.de by 02.03.2025 at the latest. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. If you have any further questions, please use the contact information below.
Contact
Mattia Maeder, M.Sc.
Chair of Circular Economy and Sustainability Assessment
Am Essigberg 3
94315 Straubing
mattia.maeder@tum.de -
Bachelor’s/Master’s thesis: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Serological Glass Pipettes in Wet Labs to Increase Sustainability in Life Science Research (f/m/d)
Background
Life science research is essential for advancing our understanding of living organisms and their processes, ultimately improving health, advancing technology, and addressing environmental challenges. Yet, involved research activities consume significant resources and generate substantial waste. “Wet labs” are laboratories that are specifically designed for conducting experiments that involve handling of liquids, biological materials, chemical etc. Typically wet labs use much more energy and water than office spaces and the generated plastic waste is connected to a plethora of environmental impacts. One central consumable used daily are serological pipettes which transfer and measure exact volumes of different types of biological and chemical solutions. They are available in two configurations, as single-use plastic or reusable glass pipettes. Reusable serological glass pipettes are known for their chemical resistance but require energy-intensive cleaning processes such as autoclaving. In contrast, single-use serological plastic pipettes are valued for their convenience and reduced contamination risk.
Methods- Compare the environmental impacts of both pipette types in a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
- Key metrics include climate change impacts, water use, energy consumption, and waste generation, among others
- Perform an economic analysis to evaluate daily costs for the users
Requirements- Ideally first experience with or background knowledge of the LCA method
- Quick wit
- Willingness to travel to both sites, Munich and Straubing, and to observe the pipette use in the wet labs
- Strong communication skills to collect data for the life cycle inventory (LCI)
- Structured way of working
