Place of work
Magdeburg, Mobile work possible (20%)
Working time
100%
The job position is available for full-time or part-time employment.
Contract limitations
limited contract / 01.02.2026-31.03.2029
Salary
Remuneration according to the TVöD public-sector up to pay grade 13 including attractive public-sector social security benefits.
Contact
Your contact for any questions you may have about the job:
Dr. Jörg Tittel (joerg.tittel@ufz.de)
Your application
Please submit your application via our online portal with your cover letter, CV (please omit your photo, age, or marital status) and relevant attachments.
Diversity and Inclusion
The UFZ has a strong commitment to diversity and actively supports equal opportunities for all employees regardless of their origin, religion, ideology, disability, age or sexual identity.
We look forward to applications from people who are open-minded and enjoy working in diverse teams.
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
Floodplains are among the most biodiverse landscapes in the temperate zone. Yet many remaining floodplain forests along our rivers are degraded and, in places, at risk. Decades of river straightening and confinement have lowered groundwater tables; in recent years, hotter and drier summers driven by climate change have added further stress. In this project, we will investigate practical options to increase water retention in an Elbe-adjacent floodplain, with the goal of stabilising the currently lowered groundwater table at a sustainably higher level.
At the same time, lake–groundwater interactions remain under-studied—especially in floodplain settings. Our field observatories and monitoring network are designed to help close this gap by capturing coupled surface- and subsurface dynamics at high temporal resolution. This evidence base will inform local restoration decisions while generating insights of broader relevance.
Your tasks
- Plan, install and operate a groundwater & surface-water monitoring network (piezometers/loggers, basic surveying, chemical sampling)
- Run field investigations (e.g., hydrologic connectivity, campaigns during hydrologic events)
- Build and calibrate a practical numerical or statistical groundwater model to evaluate rewetting options and expected water-table responses
- Publish key findings in scientific journals and engage in constructive teamwork with technicians and students.
- Prepare concise technical notes and reports, and present results to partners and authorities
We offer
- The freedom to master even the most demanding challenges between basic research and practical application
- The chance to work in interdisciplinary, international teams and benefit from a variety 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
- Flexible working hours and a wide range of options for balancing work and care responsibilities 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 Germany Job Ticket
- A workplace in a vibrant region with a high life quality and social and cultural diversity
Your profile
- PhD in Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Environmental Engineering or related field; able to work independently and reliably.
- Experience with numerical groundwater modelling and basic parameter estimation/sensitivity
- Solid field skills (logger installation, well development, discharge measurements, level surveying)
- Basic knowledge of floodplain ecohydrology/soils and the willingness to learn what’s missing
- Confident with Python or R and GIS; careful data management
- Clear scientific writing and communication in English; German is an advantage (stakeholder communication)
- Team-oriented, dependable, hands-on; motivated for year-round fieldwork
- Valid driving licence (B)
- Happy to share expertise in other group projects
Application deadline: 30.11.2025
