With the doctoral center "Sustainable Intelligent Technologies for Resource-Optimized Production" (NITRO), THA plays a leading role in a consortium with the Deggendorf Institute of Technology and Landshut University of Applied Sciences.
The mission of the doctoral center is to provide intelligent and sustainable technologies for resource-optimized production. This is achieved through three main areas of focus:
- Methods such as AI, the Industrial Internet of Things, and digital twins are used in the research of intelligent production systems and processes.
- The focus on product design and materials engineering addresses the sustainable combination of different material classes and their processing methods for the manufacture of sustainable products.
- The focus of the technology & innovation priority area is on systemic approaches (in particular model-based systems engineering) and integrates sustainability assessments such as life cycle assessments into the evaluation of products and production processes.
The key topics of sustainability and resource efficiency are an integral part of all research activities at the doctoral center.
Further information
Requirements
Those interested in pursuing a doctorate can apply for admission to the NITRO Doctoral Center under the following conditions:
- Fulfilment of admission requirements (including a master's degree with an overall grade of 2.0 or better) (PromO §§ 5 and 6)
- Submission of all necessary documents (PromO § 8 (2))
- Doctoral project fits into the subject area of "Sustainable intelligent technologies for resource-optimized production"
The decision on admission to the doctoral center is made by the doctoral committee after the application has been submitted. If your doctoral project does not fit thematically into the NITRO doctoral center, you can also find out about a cooperative doctorate.
Application process
- Compile documents in accordance with the guidelines
- Upload application documents via our application form (application closed) Note: If the application documents and necessary information have not been submitted in full, the application cannot be processed.
- Formal review by the THA Graduate School
- Technical review by the doctoral committee
- Feedback (acceptance, rejection, submission of additional documents may be necessary)
- Upon admission to the doctoral center: Enrollment at the university of the primary supervisor and at the THA (student services fee only needs to be paid at one university)
(The appendices to the supervision agreement do not need to be completed for the application, but serve as assistance in the further course of cooperation between doctoral candidates and supervisors.)
Application periods
- October 1 - November 11, 2026 (admission on January 1, 2027)
- January 1 - February 17, 2027 (admission on April 1, 2027)
- April 1 - May 19, 2027 (admission on July 1, 2027)
- July 1 - August 10, 2027 (admission on October 1, 2027)
- October 1 - November 10, 2027 (admission on January 1, 2028)
- January 1 - February 16, 2028 (admission on April 1, 2028)
After the application period, it takes approximately 4 to 5 weeks until you receive feedback on the decision.
During the doctoral program, the components of the structured doctoral program (see PromO § 13 + guidelines) must be fulfilled.
The doctoral procedure can only be initiated once the structured doctoral program has been completed in full and all documents are available (see PromO § 15).
The structured doctoral program consists of:
Participation in the scientific publication process (in accordance with § 13 (1) PromO):
PhD candidates are expected to publish their research findings through relevant publication channels during their doctoral studies; by the time the doctoral programme commences, at least two academic publications must have been accepted in peer-reviewed journals or peer-reviewed conference proceedings, with the candidate as the lead author.
Doctoral candidates must present and discuss their research findings at at least one scientifically recognised conference during their doctoral studies.
An overview of publications must be submitted at the start of the doctoral procedure.
Annual reports as part of the structured doctoral program (in accordance with § 13 (3) No. 1 PromO):
As part of the structured doctoral program pursuant to § 13 PromO, it is necessary for supervisors and doctoral candidates to hold regular meetings (at least once a year). During these meetings, a brief list of steps taken and, if necessary, an adjusted work plan are drawn up jointly. Information that the meeting has taken place must be reported to the THA Graduate School by email by the end of September each year (see template).
Anyone who was admitted to the doctoral center before July 1 of the current year must submit a report by the end of September of the current year.
Interim report as part of the structured doctoral program (in accordance with § 13 (3) No. 2 PromO):
The presentation of the interim report is regulated in a concept (see below) and takes place within the framework of a colloquium organized by the NITRO doctoral center. The colloquium takes place up to three times a year. Dates will be announced by email and here.
Important information:
- Please note that the interim report is not intended as a presentation of the dissertation project at the beginning of the process. It is regarded as a kind of trial dissertation defense: reviewers are asked to evaluate the progress of the doctoral project and to assess whether the plans for the remaining time until the dissertation is submitted are convincing.
- If you intend to present your research outline, please inform graduateschool(at)tha.de together with your primary supervisor and let us know the names of the two reviewers who have already agreed to participate.
Dates:
1st colloquium of the NITRO doctoral center
- September 29, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | TH Augsburg
- Deadline for registering to present the interim report: July 1, 2026
- Deadline for submitting the research outline: August 4, 2026
2nd Colloquium of the NITRO Doctoral Center
- 21 October 2026 | 09:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | online
- Deadline for registration for the presentation of the interim report: 23 July 2026 (already fully booked)
- Deadline for submission of the research outline: 26 August 2026
3rd Colloquium of the NITRO Doctoral Center
- 17 June 2027 | TH Deggendorf
- Deadline for registration for the presentation of the interim report: 25 March 2027 (already fully booked)
- Deadline for submission of the research outline: 22 April 2027
Participation in academic qualification courses (in accordance with § 13 (3) No. 3 PromO):
The courses can be completed during the entire duration of the doctoral program. The corresponding certificates must be submitted at the start of the doctoral program. The courses can generally be attended at any of the three partner universities. The following courses are available:
- Summer semester: Good scientific practice and avoidance of scientific misconduct, ethics, and data protection
- Winter semester: Research data management, university didactics
The four courses can be completed as part of the university certificate program "Research and Dissertation Competence."
- Summer semester: Good scientific practice and compliance, ethics and data protection in science, university teaching and legal aspects / didactics and digital teaching
- Winter semester: Research data management
Offer varies
Dates, times, format (in-person, online, hybrid), and course language (German, English) can be found on the respective homepage.
Courses that have already been taken can also be credited, provided that the number of ECTS credits is identical and the content is comparable.
You are responsible for completing the relevant courses during your doctoral studies and submitting the relevant documentation. The documentation will only be checked when the doctoral procedure is initiated.
Teaching (in accordance with Section 13 (3) No. 4 PromO):
Your confirmations of the SWS (semester hours per week) you have completed must be submitted when you begin the doctoral procedure (see below for the template). Please note that a total of 4 SWS are required, not per semester.
You are responsible for teaching the corresponding course and submitting the relevant documentation. The documentation will only be checked when the doctoral procedure is initiated.
Handout
Professors with the authority to grant doctoral degrees
Currently, 25 professors from the Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg, Deggendorf University of Applied Sciences, and Landshut University of Applied Sciences are members of the NITRO Doctoral Center.
These professors are available to supervise and evaluate doctoral projects. Please refer to German part of the website for profiles.
Committees
The doctoral committee decides four times a year on admission to doctoral studies and acceptance into the NITRO doctoral center. It initiates the doctoral procedure, appoints the supervising professors, and establishes the examination board.
Consisting of
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Braunreuther | Sub. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Lenz (THA)
Prof. Dr. Helge Thieß | Sub. Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Gerald Fütterer (THD)
Prof. Diana Hehenberger-Risse, PhD | Sub. Prof. Holger Saage, PhD (HaW Landshut)
Bernhard Jahn | Sub. Christian Merz (doctoral representative)
The steering committee is responsible for the strategic orientation and scientific quality assurance of the doctoral program. It also decides on the admission of new professors to the NITRO doctoral center.
Consisting of
Prof. André Baeten, PhD | Sub. Prof. Neven Majić, PhD (THA)
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Jens Ebbecke | Sub. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernd Kuhn (THD)
Prof. Alexander Kleimaier, PhD | Sub. Prof. Otto Huber, PhD (HaW Landshut)
Prof. Dr. habil. Eva Lermer | Sub. Dr. Dennis Wortmann (Scientific Director, THA Graduate School)
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Günther Benstetter | Sub. Prof. Dr. Kristina Wanieck (Ombudspersonen of the THD)
Luisa Grameier | Sub. Florian Mader (Doctoral Student Representative)
Christian Merz | Sub. Marcel Öfele (Doctoral Student Representative)
Contact
Address:
THA Graduate School
Am Silbermannpark 2
Postal address: An der Hochschule 1
86161 Augsburg
Contact
Scientific Director of the THA Graduate School: Prof. Dr. habil. Eva Lermer
Head of the THA Graduate School Office: Dr. Dennis Wortmann
Coordinator for the THA Graduate School: Nina Pitzl, M.Sc.