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 project „Meteorological Drivers of Mass and Energy Exchange between Inland Waters and the Atmosphere (MEDIWA)”, which is funded by the German research Foundation, tries to unravel the mechanisms of CO2 and CH4 emissions from reservoirs by investigating in detail the feedbacks and interferences between limnologic and atmospheric parameters. The project is a co-operation between the UFZ Department of Lake Research and the Technical University of Dresden, Chair of Meteorology. We will study how atmospheric conditions and water stratification affect greenhouse gas emissions in the eutrophic Bautzen Reservoir. To investigate the “water side” of the project, we are looking for an enthusiastic person to fill the following position, starting on 01.12.2020:

PhD position (m/f/x) on greenhouse gas emissions from reservoirs

Working time: 75% (29.25 hours per week), limited to 3 years

Your tasks:

  • Measurement of greenhouse gas emissions in the field with floating chambers and bubble traps.
  • Continuous measurement of the CO2 and CH4 concentrations and emissions with automatic probes.
  • Analysis of high frequency data to understand the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under fluctuating atmospheric conditions.
  • Development of new in-situ methods to measure surface gradients and quantify process rates in the surface film of lakes and reservoirs.
  • Communication of the findings as presentations and manuscripts for international journals

Your profile:

  • University degree in geo-ecology, biology/limnology or related subjects.
  • Experience in handling large datasets, GIS, and statistics.
  • You enjoy fieldwork and working with complex technical instrumentation and physics.
  • Motivation to work in an interdisciplinary team.
  • Very good English skills and car driving license.

We offer:

  • Top level interdisciplinary research at a research centre which enjoys an excellent reputation within Germany as well as internationally
  • Excellent technical facilities
  • Work in inter-disciplinary and multinational teams
  • Excellent links to national and international research networks
  • Support and optimal training courses by our graduate school (HIGRADE)
  • Remuneration in accordance with the TVöD public-sector pay grade 13 (75%)
Apply By: 15 September 2020