From Catchments as Organised Systems to Models based on Dynamic Functional Units

The Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences is the national research centre for Earth sciences in Germany. With approx. 1170 employees, the GFZ is conducting interdisciplinary research on the “System Earth” and the influence of humans on the planet. As a member of the Helmholtz Association, it is part of Germany’s largest science organization.

Within the DFG funded highly interdisciplinary German-Austrian-Luxembourgian Research Unit CAOS (FOR 1598): “From Catchments as Organised Systems to Models based on Dynamic Functional Units” the Section 5.4 “Hydrology” of the GFZ invites applications for a
PhD position (m/f)
Reference No. 12/54/15 D

The position is part of the project: Hydrological connectivity and its control on hillslope and catchment scale streamflow generation. This project will be carried out in close cooperation with the Chair of Hydrology at the University of Freiburg, Germany.

In the framework of the research unit, a novel and extensive monitoring network has been established in the last three years in several headwater catchments in Luxemburg with the purpose of exploring the spatial organization of hydrological processes. The objective of this subproject is to systematically assess hillslope‐stream connectivity under various conditions and to distinguish between channeled and diffuse, surface and subsurface connectivity and their respective controls.

Tasks:
The PhD student will focus on water temperatures as an indicator of connectivity, flow contributions and advective heat transport. The student will focus on the installation of the catchment scale stream temperature monitoring network, which will provide an important stepping stone for the extrapolation of stream-reach scale connectivity mechanisms to the larger scale. A catchment scale stream temperature model will be implemented and will serve as a tool to interpret the temperature data sets, detect patterns and extrapolate local understanding to the larger scale. This will involve a strong collaboration and joint field campaigns with the other two PhD students of the project as much of the data generated during their field work will be used to interpret the stream temperature signals.

We offer an interdisciplinary, international work environment. An intensive collaboration and joint field campaigns of the 4 PhD students based in Freiburg and Potsdam as well as the technician are envisioned.

Weitere Informationen

Unternehmen

Helmholtz Gemeinschaft

Bereich/Abteilung

Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences

Abschlussart

Dissertation

Branche

Energie und Umweltwirtschaft

Schlagwörter

Hydrology Umweltwissenschaft Ingenieurwesen Physik

Anforderungen

We invite applications from dedicated and enthusiastic individuals with
• Master’s degree in hydrology, physics, engineering, environmental sciences or similar
• experience in field work
• strong skills in quantitative data analysis, GIS and modeling
• writings skills
• willingness and enthusiasm to work in the field (a number of field campaigns of several weeks are to be expected)
• motivation to work in a multi-disciplinary team
• good command of English language, French/German is an asset
• driver’s license

Zusatzinformationen

You can expect a very diverse and challenging job in an international work environment that is characterized by exciting research proj ects. The compatibility of work and family life is of particular concern to the GFZ. Therefore, it offers the opportunity for flexible working time and workplaces. Moreover, there is a kindergarten located on the research campus.

The GFZ is a partner with Geo.X (www.geo-x.net), and as such it is well connected with other geoscience institutions in Potsdam und Berlin. Geo.X forms the largest regional cluster of geoscientific expertise in Europe and offers excellent opportunities for cooperation and development.

Please submit your application by 18. February 2015 quoting the reference no. 12/54/15 D via email to applications@gfz-potsdam.de. Please combine your application documents into a single PDF file with a size of up to 3 megabytes.

Equal opportunity is an inherent part of our personnel policy. Therefore we are particularly welcoming applications from qualified women. Severely disabled persons will be given preferential treatment in the case of equal qualification.
We will retain your application documents for at least three months, even if the application is not successful. They will not be returned.

If you have any questions regarding this job offer, please feel free to call

Ms Voellmann
at +49 (0) 331-288-28878.