The Faculty of Chemistry and Earth Sciences plans to establish the Earth system as a comprehensive interdisciplinary topic in Geography and Earth Sciences within the overarching research field “Earth System Research.” It strives to raise the university's profile both nationally and internationally and to make a distinct contribution to its profile “Light, Life, Liberty” by strengthening the topic “Energy and Environment”. A new master's degree program is planned under the guiding theme of Earth system sciences as an English-language program provisionally named „Earth 4D.”
To establish this focus, the Faculty of Chemistry and Earth Sciences is seeking to fill the following positions:
W3 or W2 with tenure track to W3 professorship in General Geophysics
The professorship is to be filled starting in the winter semester of 2027/2028. The applicant should have a proven track record in internationally recognized research and projects at the national and international level in the field of General Geophysics and should represent the subject in its entirety in research and teaching. In terms of research, we are looking for a personality who will complement existing expertise at the Institute of Geosciences through excellent scientific work on geological natural hazards and the utilization of subsurface environments. Methodologically, we are looking to strengthen our expertise in geophysical measurement methods, experimental and numerical simulations, and machine learning/big data. Our future colleague is expected to significantly contribute to establishing the new interdisciplinary focus on Earth System Sciences, have leadership skills, demonstrate active third-party funding acquisition, cooperate across disciplines, and contribute their knowledge to the dialogue with society.
The successful candidate will direct the Geophysical Observatory Moxa ( where geophysical long-term monitoring is conducted.
The candidate is expected to participate in the design and teaching of Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in (Bio-)Geosciences as well as the Master's degree program in Environmental and Georessource Management (UGM). They should have experience in teaching Geophysics and in academic self-administration.
Requirements for appointment include a successfully completed doctorate, habilitation, or comparable achievements, as well as pedagogical aptitude. Appointment as a W3 professor is a permanent civil service position, provided that the legal requirements are met. In the case of a first-time appointment to a professorship, the position will initially be filled as a W2 professorship for a limited term of six years. After six years at the latest, based on a positive tenure evaluation, the transition to a W3 professorship will take place without a new call for applications.
If you have any questions about the position and the procedure, please contact Prof. Dr. Falko Langenhorst at falko.langenhorst@uni-jena.de .
W2 professorship in Geographical Remote Sensing/Earth Observation
The professorship is to be filled starting in the winter semester of 2026/2027. We are looking for a distinguished, integrative, and team-oriented individual who represents a modern field of research in Geographical Remote Sensing/Earth Observation and teaches innovative course content. The successful candidate will represent the field of geographical remote sensing in its breadth, with a focus on environmental change and related social transformations (e.g., natural hazards, environmental risks, anthropogenic damage events) while further developing innovative methodological approaches (machine learning, artificial intelligence, data fusion). Applicants must have an excellent academic track record and be able to engage with both human geography and physical geography. Leadership skills and experience in successfully acquiring third-party funding are expected. Advantageous are strong academic networks and international collaborations. Our future colleague will make a significant contribution to establishing our new interdisciplinary focus on Earth system science and strengthening the existing focus areas in geography and the university's profile, will cooperate across disciplines, and will contribute their expertise to the dialogue with society.
Requirements for appointment include a completed degree (preferably in geography), a relevant doctorate in geography or a closely related subject, habilitation or equivalent achievements, and proven pedagogical aptitude. The appointment will be unlimited as a civil servant, provided that the legal requirements are met.
If you have any questions about the position and the procedure, please contact Prof. Dr. Alexander Brenning at alexander.brenning@uni-jena.de .
The following applies to both professorships:
The Friedrich Schiller University aims to increase the proportion of women in research and teaching and therefore strongly encourages applications from suitably qualified female scientists. Severely disabled persons will be given preferential consideration in case of equal qualification.
Applications including a letter of motivation, curriculum vitae, copies of certificates and diplomas, list of publications, teaching activities and evaluations, speaking engagements and third-party funding activities, teaching concept and 1-2 pages outline of the intended research activities are to be submitted electronically via the appointment portal of the University of Jena until 04.12.2025 at
Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry and Earth Sciences
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Humboldtstr. 11
D-07743 Jena
Email: dekanatchemgeo@uni-jena.de