Project TIPSY: Tipping points in river systems – Uncovering Unknown Risks for Smarter Mitigation
At Freie Universität Berlin, you have the opportunity to become part of an inspiring work environment and actively contribute to the growth and success of the university. Freie Universität Berlin offers its employees numerous career opportunities to develop their skills and achieve their professional goals. You will be part of a dynamic community committed to equal opportunities and recognized for its engagement in climate and environmental protection. We are looking for motivated staff members who are ready to apply their organizational skills and support us in meeting the daily challenges of working life.
We are the “Sedimentary Systems” research group at the Institute of Geological Sciences at Freie Universität Berlin, led by Prof. Anne Bernhardt. At the Geocampus Lankwitz, we are currently developing a state-of-the-art laboratory for conducting analogue experiments to investigate how landscapes adapt to changing environmental conditions. The focus is on the development of river landscapes under rapid climate change. Topographic adjustment and the associated sediment transport along river systems to the sea are recorded using new and innovative instruments.
Job description:
To strengthen our international and interdisciplinary team, we are looking for a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher (m/f/d) for the third-party funded research project TIPSY (fixed term). The TIPSY project investigates whether river systems exhibit critical tipping points and to what extent these can be triggered by ongoing climate change. The aim is to experimentally and conceptually capture non-linear responses, abrupt system state changes, and potential regime shifts in river landscapes.
A central component of the project is analogue laboratory experiments on river landscape evolution. Controlled flume experiments will be conducted to investigate the dynamics of sediment transport, morphodynamics, and self-organization in river systems under varying boundary conditions.
Your responsibilities include in particular:
• Planning, conducting, and further developing flume experiments on river landscape evolution
• Systematic collection, processing, and analysis of experimental raw data
• Generation and preparation of parameter time series from high-resolution measurement data
• Publishing results in international scientific journals and presenting them at conferences
Requirements:
• Completed university degree in geosciences
• Completed PhD in geosciences, physical geography, sedimentology, or a related field
Desirable:
• Proven research achievements in sedimentology, geomorphology, or hydrology, demonstrated through peer-reviewed scientific publications
• Experience in experimental geomorphology, sediment transport, or physical modeling
• Knowledge of data analysis, time series analysis, and ideally nonlinear dynamics
• Programming skills (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or comparable tools)
• independent, structured working style and enthusiasm for interdisciplinary collaboration
• very good written and spoken German and English (B2)