The UFZ
The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) with its 1,100 employees has gained an excellent reputation as an international competence centre for environmental sciences. We are part of the largest scientific organisation in Germany, the Helmholtz association. Our mission: Our research seeks to find a balance between social development and the long-term protection of our natural resources.
The job
We are looking for a PhD candidate for the interdisciplinary PhD Cohort SEESAW (Societal and environmental impacts of complex extremes in a changing world). The cohort aims to understand the impacts of hydroclimatic extremes with a focus on droughts and transitions from drought to floods by combining unique large-scale datasets of hydrometeorological observations, remote sensing, climate simulations and newspaper-based impacts.
Your tasks
For this, the candidate will use Germany-wide hydrometeorological observations and process-based data-driven approaches to identify river catchments particularly prone to the rapid transitions between extremes. The candidate will particularly investigate catchment controls of fast onset and slow recovery of streamflow and groundwater droughts, identify catchments susceptible to unprecedented floods and examine changes in drought to flood transitions in last decades.
The candidate is also expected to interact with other PhD candidates of the SEESAW cohort to select extreme events and link hazard and impact perspectives together to improve our preparedness for complex hydroclimatic extremes in a changing climate.
We offer
- Excellent supervision and optimal professional and interdisciplinary qualification through our HIGRADE graduate programme
- The freedom to master even the most demanding challenges between basic research and practical application
- The opportunity to work in interdisciplinary, international teams and benefit from a wide range of perspectives
- Firstclass integration into national and international research networks to work together on global challenges
- Excellent research infrastructure and research data management to optimally support your work
- A wide range of options for balancing care responsibilities and work through our family office
- Competent support and advice for international colleagues arriving at the UFZ from the ‘International Office’
- Special annual payment, capital-forming benefits and subsidised Deutschland-Job-Ticket
- A workplace in a vibrant region with a high life quality and social and cultural diversity
Your profile
- Master’s degree in Hydrology and Water Resources, Earth System and Climate Sciences, Environmental Science and Engineering or similar
- Strong programming skills (Python, R, Matlab, Julia or alternatives) or willingness to learn
- Proficient English skills
- Experience with large datasets is an advantage
- Strong mathematical and statistical skills is a plus
- Curiosity, self-motivation, and enthusiasm for innovative research
- Motivation to work in a closely integrated international and interdisciplinary team
Application deadline: 31.01.2025
