Call for Applications: Research Fellowship at BAM, Germany
Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST), in collaboration with the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Germany, is implementing a project titled “Circular bio-based intelligent organic and oxide engineering ecosystems – From multiple heterogeneous sources to homogeneous high-tech materials supply streams (Circular B-I/O).” The project is funded by the VolkswagenStiftung Foundation.

As part of this collaboration, MUST, together with BAM in Berlin, Germany, is pleased to invite applications for a Three-month Short-Term Research Fellowship. This prestigious opportunity is designed to promote international academic synergy, connect postgraduate researchers with leading experts and specialized research infrastructure. It serves as a platform for cross-border mentorship in cement and concrete science, to ensure that the next generation of researchers and innovators is equipped with a global understanding of the field.

Project Summary
Currently, petrochemical products and industrial residues are used to reduce cement clinker content in concrete. However, these can be more sustainably replaced with underutilized bio-based agricultural and aquacultural by-products. Unlike industrial residues, bio-based residues are widely dispersed across numerous small sources and are subject to seasonal variability. Consequently, many small, heterogeneous material streams must be consolidated into a few homogeneous supply streams suitable for the construction industry.
This project aims to address this challenge by investigating the ecosystems required for the technological conversion of bio-based by-products into high-performance building material constituents, both prior to conversion and during their subsequent use in materials and structures. Artificial intelligence–supported decision-making systems will be developed to evaluate the most technologically and socio-economically sustainable applications and to optimize mineral oxides as cement substitutes.
The concepts developed through the Kenyan pilot will be extrapolated to European frameworks and raw materials. The overarching goal is to produce robust policy recommendations for global application.

The specific project objectives are;
i) To develop and evaluate a framework for waste collection, associated livelihoods, and circular economy potential.
ii) To scale up the three-step conversion process to an industrially relevant level and demonstrate proof of concept.
iii) To assess the feasibility of converting multiple heterogeneous, small-scale supply streams into a limited number of homogeneous supply streams for the construction industry.
iv) To develop training workshops that both raise awareness and generate data to inform the final policy recommendations derived from the research.
v) To produce evidence-based policy advice and recommendations supported by tangible, reliable and scalable data.

Target Academic Programs
1. M.Sc in Cement and Concrete
2. PhD in Chemistry (Cement Chemistry option)

Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for this fellowship, applicants must meet the following stringent requirements:
1. Academic progress: The applicant must have successfully completed all required MSc/PhD coursework.
2. Research readiness: The applicant must have obtained formal approval to collect data or commence field research from the Board of Postgraduate Studies (BPS).
3. Financial standing: The applicant must have fully paid all university fees; evidence in the form of a clear fee statement is required.
4. Relevance: The applicant’s research project must align with the technical capabilities and focus areas of the Institute of Cement and Concrete (ICC) and BAM, Germany.

What the Fellowship Covers
1. Access to state-of-the-art research and analytical equipment at BAM, Berlin.
2. Mentorship from international experts in the field of cement and concrete science.
3. A stipend to cover living expenses for the three-month duration of the fellowship.
4. Round-trip return flight ticket.

Application Documents
Interested and qualified candidates should submit the following:
1. A motivation letter.
2. A scanned copy of the BPS/Research Approval Letter.
3. An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV).
4. A scanned copy of the biographical data page of the travel passport.
5. A brief research proposal (maximum of five pages) outlining the specific experiments or data collection to be conducted at BAM.
6. Proof of University fee payment for the target academic program (a signed and stamped fee statement from the Finance Office).

How to Apply
1. Applicants should email their application documents, addressed to the

Director
Institute of Cement & Concrete
Meru University of Science & Technology
P.O. Box 972–60200
Meru- Kenya
2. Applications must be submitted as a single PDF file via email to: icc@must.ac.ke
3. Closing date: Thursday, 5th March, 2026.
4. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.