Research Scientist (f_m_x) [english] in Potsdam bei Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ

Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum - GFZ

The Helmholtz Centre Potsdam – GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences is the national centre for geosphere research. As a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres we are part of the largest scientific organization in Germany. With approximately 1,500 employees our key mission is to secure a profound understanding of the systems and processes of solid Earth, to develop strategies and options for action in addressing global change and its impacts on a regional level, to understand natural hazards and to minimize associated risks, to ensure the sustainable provision of energy and raw materials for a high-tech society and to evaluate the influence of human activity on system Earth.

As a partner in Geo.X, the GFZ has access to an excellent network of other geoscience institutions in Potsdam and Berlin. This largest regional concentration of geoscientific competence in Europe offers first-class cooperation and development opportunities.

The section 1.4 Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics (department “Geodesy”), offers a position as a:

Research Scientist (f_m_x)

Reference Number 7335

within the Earth-Atmosphere Interactions Group to investigate methane release from various water bodies in an Arctic permafrost environment.

The collaborative, federally funded MOMENT project aims to fill the remaining gaps in the process understanding of carbon cycling and greenhouse gas formation in northern latitudes using lab-based simulations, multi-scale greenhouse gas flux observations and modelling. The overall goal is to reduce the current uncertainties in greenhouse gas projections of Arctic tundra environments. The project consortium is led by the University of Hamburg and includes further collaborators at the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, the Leibniz University Hannover, the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, and the University of Cologne.

The successful applicant for this 34-month position is encouraged to develop her/his project. You are expected to establish field measurements of in-situ water column methane concentrations and freshwater methane emissions in a heterogeneous landscape on Disko Island, West Greenland, and develop analyses and process understanding in close collaboration with colleagues doing complementary work on terrestrial landscape elements as well as earth system model developers. The position will require extended periods of fieldwork in the summer potentially lasting into the winter season.

We look for candidates with documented prior experience in GHG flux measurements and an interest in actively developing their scientific careers.

Your responsibilities:

Implement field measurements of freshwater GHG concentration and fluxes
Analyze spatial patterns and controls of freshwater GHG dynamics on the ecosystem scale
Apply quantitative analytical methods
Generate and test hypotheses
Work as part of a multi-institutional team
Present results at scientific meetings and publish results in scientific journals

Your qualifications:

Master`s degree or equivalent, Doctoral degree in atmospheric/environmental science, meteorology, physics, geoecology, or related field
In-depth knowledge of freshwater biogeochemistry, surface-atmosphere exchange, and relevant measurement techniques
Excellent coding and quantitative analytical skills, preferably in R, Matlab, or Python
Creative & critical thinking and ability to publish shown by a track record of original and innovative research
Intention to actively develop your research career
Strong motivation and excellent oral and written communication skills
Motivation & experience to act as a multiplier (e.g. recruit & supervise students, apply for follow-up projects)
Ability to work both independently and in an integrated team environment
Collaboration with researchers at both national and international institutes
Fluency in English (written and spoken), German is beneficial but not required