The UFZ
The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) with its 1,100 employees has gained an excellent reputation as an international competence centre for environmental sciences. We are part of the largest scientific organisation in Germany, the Helmholtz association. Our mission: Our research seeks to find a balance between social development and the long-term protection of our natural resources.
The job
As part of the upcoming junior research group “[navigate] – water sensitive urban-rural development for resilience in scarcity crises” (2026-2030) we offer three research positions. The junior research group combines excellent inter- and transdisciplinary approaches, including behavioral science, machine learning, and hydro-economic modeling, to understand the conditions under which urban-rural water trade-offs might occur and to identify solutions to enhance resilience. The group develops solutions for the rapidly growing Leipzig-Halle region and its long-distance water supply from Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, learning from the experiences of partner case studies in Santa Cruz in California (Stanford University), Bogotá in Colombia (Universidad de los Andes), and Antony in France (INRAE Paris).
The Research Associate Position (f/m/x) with PhD track on “Adaptive and sustainable water resource management” focuses on resilient and sustainable planning of water supply systems under uncertainty, considering the interactions between urban centers, surrounding regions, and ecosystems. The project combines data analysis, modeling, and participatory approaches to understand and improve decision-making in the face of climate extremes, population growth, and competing water demands. The PhD project includes analyzing current water management practices, exploring future scenarios, and developing strategies for robust and adaptive water supply planning. As part of the project, you will also have the opportunity to complete a research stay at one of our partner institutes.
Your tasks
The successful candidate will:
1. investigate water management practices and decision-making under uncertainty,
2. explore the impacts of extreme weather events on water availability, and
3. develop strategies for sustainable and adaptive water supply planning.
We offer
4. Excellent supervision and optimal professional and interdisciplinary qualification through our HIGRADE graduate programme
5. The freedom to master even the most demanding challenges between basic research and practical application
6. The opportunity to work in interdisciplinary, international teams and benefit from a wide range of perspectives
7. Firstclass integration into national and international research networks to work together on global challenges
8. Excellent research infrastructure and research data management to optimally support your work
9. A wide range of options for balancing care responsibilities and work through our family office
10. Competent support and advice for international colleagues arriving at the UFZ from the ‘International Office’
11. Special annual payment, capital-forming benefits and subsidised Deutschland-Job-Ticket
12. A workplace in a vibrant region with a high life quality and social and cultural diversity
Your profile
13. Master’s degree in environmental or water-related or earth system sciences, computational social sciences, or related fields
14. Strong analytical skills and experience with statistical methods and data handling; familiarity with Python or R is a plus
15. Experience or interest in machine learning, natural language processing, or other data-driven methods is an advantage
16. Curious, proactive, and able to work independently as well as in a multidisciplinary, international team
17. Excellent written and spoken English
18. Interest in research addressing complex societal challenges, sustainability, and resilient water management
Please note that external persons will also be involved in the selection process for this position alongside UFZ employees.