Area of research:
Scientific / postdoctoral posts
Job description:
GFZ is Germany's national centre for solid Earth research. We advance the understanding of dynamic processes to address global challenges, from mitigating the impacts of natural hazards and sustaining our habitat amid global change to responsibly managing georesources. We are part of the Helmholtz Association, the largest German scientific organisation. With around 1,200 employees as well as ca. 500 guest researchers, we contribute to the Helmholtz Research Field Earth and Environment, aligning cutting-edge research with societal relevance and international collaboration. Our work integrates multidisciplinary studies across Earth's system components, leveraging advanced technologies and infrastructure to research solutions and to transfer our knowledge to society. We are doing this according to our vision: “Taking the pulse of our Earth to safeguard a habitable planet”.
For section 4.6 Geomorphology (department “Geosystems”), is offering a: Reference Number 11111
The Geomorphology Section offers a PostDoctoral position focusing on monitoring and analysis of tree responses to climate change in the framework of the project “Trees under stress: Potsdam as a real-world laboratory for climate change impacts (ArboKlim)”
The PostDoc position is one of three in a cluster hire. It is embedded in the Helmholtz long-term environmental observatory network TERENO and the EU-funded regional project ArboKlim, carried out by the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in close collaboration with local partners.
ArboKlim investigates the impacts of climate change on tree vitality, mechanical stability, and associated risks in and around the UNESCO World Heritage landscapes of Potsdam, Germany. To improve the understanding of tree responses to increasing frequency and intensities of weather extremes, the project integrates monitoring of eco-hydrological and seismic signals with physical and chemical signatures preserved in tree rings. The goal of ArboKlim is to develop scientifically robust indicators and practical tools that support risk assessment, vegetation management, and the long-term resilience of culturally and socially important green spaces under climate change.
Your responsibilities:
* Instrumentation of field sites
* Processing of seismological data, including the analysis of ambient seismic vibrations and tree-motion signals, synthesis with tree water status data
* Investigation of wind agitation of trees and transfer of wind energy by trees to ground
* Data management
* Collaboration with project partners in meteorology, dendrochronology and hydrology and especially the other two PostDocs hired in the project
* Communication and discussion of results with stakeholders to integrate the findings in water management and mitigation practices
* Interpretation, publishing and presentation of findings in peer-reviewed journals and at conferences
Your qualifications:
* A Master’s degree (or equivalent) and a PhD degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering, Geosciences, Geophysics, Environmental Sciences, Biogeosciences or Physics
* Strong interest in interdisciplinary research
* Process-oriented thinking, preferably within the atmosphere–tree–soil nexus
* Experience in (environmental) seismology
* Some knowledge of tree physiology is an asset
* Experience in statistics and data analysis of large data sets (including time series analyses and machine learning)
* Good programming skills
* Very good communication and interpersonal skills, team player
* Very good command of English
* Experience in writing scientific publications
* Knowledge of the German language is an asset
* Ability to work in the field, including extended walking and carrying of heavy loads
* Valid driver’s license category B
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
* Workplace within walking distance of Potsdam main train station, or just a short ride on the shuttle bus
Start date: Preferably 15th April 2026
Fixed-term: 2 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: Full-time (currently 39 h/week); The position is generally suitable for part-time work.
Place of work: Potsdam Have we piqued your interest?If so, we look forward to receiving your application by 29th March 2026. Please use our online application form only. Required documents:
* CV (including scientific publication list as well as names and contact information of two referees)
* Letter of motivation
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. We also promote an inclusive working environment in which everyone can fully develop their own talents. 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. In case of further queries regarding gender equality, please do not hesitate to contact our Equal Opportunities Officer.
“Diversity in perspectives” is one of GFZ's core values. As an integral part of supporting diversity at our centre, we actively promote women in science and in leadership positions. We among others do this through our gender equality plan and the cascade model measures which we actively implement to enable sustainable equal opportunities in academic career paths. The GFZ thus committedly strives for gender equality in science, including in leadership positions, and strongly encourages women to apply.
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.
In case of any further queries relating to the field of activity, please contact Dr. Gerhard Helle or Prof. Niels Hovius via email. If you have any general questions about the application process, please contact our recruiting team at our phone number +49 (0) 331-6264-28787.
This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.
Company
The Helmholtz Association contributes to solving major challenges to assure the future of our society. With more than 47.500 people on staff in 18 national Research Centers and an annual budget of more than 6 billion euros, the Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organization. The name Helmholtz stands for concerted research, in which networks form the key principle behind inquiring thought and action.
The profile of the Helmholtz Association
The Helmholtz Association performs cutting-edge research which contributes substantially to solving the grand challenges of science, society and industry. To succeed in meeting these responsibilities, Helmholtz concentrates its work in six research fields: Energy, Earth and Environment, Health, Information, Matter, as well as Aeronautics, Space and Transport. Within each of these fields, research programs are developed by our scientists and regularly evaluated by renowned international experts. Their evaluation forms the basis for the program-oriented funding that is allocated to Helmholtz research. Within the six research fields, Helmholtz scientists cooperate with each other and with external partners – working across disciplinary, organizational and national borders.
Moreover, Helmholtz specializes in large-scale research infrastructures – from accelerator facilities, earth observation satellites, research ships to supercomputers. They form the basis for scientific advances in tackling global societal challenges. Managing national research infrastructure is part of the Helmholtz Association's mission.
Promoting young academics
Helmholtz scientists, a high-performance infrastructure and modern and efficient research management are the ingredients to the Helmholtz Association‘s success and global impact.
Promoting young researchers is a major priority for the Helmholtz Association. Its qualification schemes for young researchers are geared mainly towards PhD students, postdocs and young managers. The Helmholtz Association has set high standards for its talent management. Its strategy begins with targeted recruitment of highly qualified staff at all levels, followed by comprehensive support aimed at further developing their potential. Ensuring equal opportunities is an essential element in all talent management activities undertaken by the Helmholtz Association.
The Helmholtz Graduate Schools and Research Schools at almost all Helmholtz Centers provide doctoral students with the general and specific skills and training they need, as well as ample opportunity to network. The period following a doctorate is decisive in determining the direction and success of a scientific career. For this reason, we established Career Development Centers for postdoctoral researchers in the Helmholtz Centers. This equips young researchers with the skills they need to go on to head a Helmholtz Investigator Group, for example. As an Investigator Group leader, junior scientists can independently set up their own group to conduct research in their specialist field and acquire management skills.
Within its talent management strategy, the Helmholtz Association pays special attention to the increased recruitment of talented female scientists both from Germany and abroad. To this end, there are currently two funding programs supporting this policy: and Helmholtz Distinguished Professorship – Funding for the recruitment of leading international female scientists (W3) .
The increasing complexity of the content, structures and framework conditions of scientific work today requires researchers to organize their projects, their employees and, of course, themselves in a highly professional and effective way. In response to these demands, we have set up the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to provide leaders in science with professional management training. Furthermore, the Helmholtz network provides a platform for the alumni of the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to come together and share their experiences of leadership, career development and lifelong learning.
All of this combined makes the 18 Research Centers of the Helmholtz Association a highly attractive environment for talented researchers from all over the world.
Company info
Telephone
0049-30-206329-0
Location
Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Str. 2
Berlin
Berlin
10178
Germany