The Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences is the national centre for research into the geosphere. With around 1,650 employees, we develop a sound understanding of systems and processes of the solid Earth as well as strategies and options for action to counter global change, understand natural hazards and sustainably secure energy and raw material requirements.
PhD candidate (f_m_x) – Attribution of flood and drought impacts in Central Europe
Reference Number 9841
The Section Hydrology at the GFZ searches for a PhD candidate to work in the Helmholtz funded project “EXTREME-ADAPT - Quantifying the effect of adaptation measures on spatiotemporal changes in flood and drought risk”. The work will be led by Dr. Heidi Kreibich, Section Hydrology, German Research Center for Geosciences, Potsdam.
We seek a PhD candidate with experience in machine learning, statistics and programming and with interest in hydrological extremes and risk research. The PhD candidate is expected to analyse timeseries of flood and drought losses and their potential drivers with a focus on establishing an automatic analyses process.
The successful candidate should have the interest and ability to participate in collaborative and interdisciplinary research activities and discussions in the field of adaptation and risk of hydrological extremes. The candidate is also expected to closely collaborate with partners from other Helmholtz Centres, and present, publish and communicate research results at scientific meetings and in scholarly journals.
Your responsibilities:
- Analyse flood and drought impact data using data-driven approaches
- Establish (semi-)automatic processes for analysing flood and drought impacts including writing well-documented, reusable code (Python or R)
- Collaborate closely with project partners in an interdisciplinary context
- Present, publish and communicate research results at scientific meetings and in scholarly journals
- Undertake a PhD study (e.g. https://www.geographie.hu-berlin.de/de/institut/promotionen_habilitationen/promotionen, at HU-Berlin)
- Deliver according to the project timelines and university/department requirements
Your qualifications:
- Master's degree in Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Geoinformatics or related fields
- Programming skills (Python, R)
- Expertise in machine learning, Bayesian statistics is beneficial
- Capacity for interdisciplinary teamwork and excellent communication skills
- Ability to communicate in English fluently (German language command is helpful but not mandatory)
What we offer:
- Ambitious and varied tasks in a dynamic and international research environment
- State-of-the-art equipment
- Public service benefits
- Extensive training opportunities
- Professional career advice offered by our in-house Career-Centre
- Flexible working hours and conditions
- Support with finding a good work-life balance offered by benefit@work
- Institute day-care centre on site
- Working at the Albert Einstein science park on the Telegrafenberg in Potsdam
Fixed-term: 3 years
Salary: The position is classed as salary group 13 according to “TVöD Bund (Tarifgebiet Ost)”. The salary group is determined on the basis of the Collective Wage Agreement and the respective personal qualifications.
Working hours: Part-time 75% (currently 29.25 h/week)
Place of work: Potsdam
Have we piqued your interest?
Diversity and equal opportunities are integral components of our human resources policy. The GFZ actively promotes diversity and explicitly welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of ethnic and social origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation and identity, religion/belief, age and physical characteristics. Anyone who has been recognised as severely disabled, will be given preferential consideration in the event of equal suitability and qualification in accordance with the provisions of the German Social Code IX. If you have any questions, please contact our Representative Body for Employees with Disabilities at sbv[at]gfz-potsdam.de, who will be happy to assist you in the further application process. In case of further queries regarding gender equality, please do not hesitate to contact our Equal Opportunities Officer at gba[at]gfz-potsdam.de.
Your personal data will be processed for the purpose of conducting the selection procedure on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 b, Art. 88 GDPR in conjunction with Art. 26 of the Data Protection Act for the State of Brandenburg. After completion of the procedure, application documents will be deleted in compliance with data protection regulations.
