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.

Within the research group CLEAR we endeavor to understand large scale geological processes that operate deep inside planets. Our approach is to recreate high pressure-temperature conditions in the laboratory and examine various physical properties of geomaterials (minerals, rocks, glasses, and melts) in situ using state-of-the-art spectroscopic techniques. We then use these properties in collaboration with geodynamicists to create numerical models of planets.

Research focus will be on measuring the density of iron-bearing silicate glasses in the diamond anvil cell (DAC) using the novel all-optical method. The results will quantify the effect of iron on the density of multicomponent silicate glasses across the pressure range of the Earth's mantle, and contribute to the universal silicate melt density model. The successful candidate will further develop the all­optical method in the DAC, and collaborate with Prof. Dr. Bjoern Winkler (Goethe University Frankfurt), Dr. llya Veksler (GFZ), and Dr. Sergio Speziale (GFZ) on the synthesis of the glass and to gain deep insights into the composition-structure-property relation in the silicate glass system.

Your responsibilities:

• Synthesis of silicate glasses in the Fe2O3-FeO-SiO2-Al2O3-MgO-CaO-Na2O-system at 1 atm
• All-optical measurements of density of Fe-bearing silicate glasses in the DAC
• Methodological improvements
• Proactive scientific interaction within the research group and with other groups at the GFZ
• Report progress regularly at group meetings, domestic, and international conferences
• Publication of the results in peer-reviewed journals

Your qualifications:

• Master degree or equivalent in Geosciences, Physics, Chemistry, or related disciplines
• Strong interest in glass/melt-physics and challenging experimental work
• Basic knowledge of optical, infrared, and Raman spectroscopies 
• Experience in diamond anvil cell or a related high-pressure technique
• Experience with bench-top optical setups
• Basic programming skills would be beneficial
• Proficiency in written and spoken English