Area of research: Scientific / postdoctoral posts
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. 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. For section 1.4 Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics (department “Geodesy”), we are looking for a: Reference Number 11018 We are seeking a highly motivated scientist for the EU-funded collaborative project “Investigating Methane for Climate Action (IM4CA)”. IM4CA unites the expertise of 27 European partners to enhance the quantification and understanding of natural and anthropogenic methane emissions and sinks, providing the EU with measurements and modelling capacity to assess its progress towards the 30% emission reduction target of the Global Methane Pledge. In close collaboration with another postdoctoral researcher working with this system, you will contribute to the full system characterisation, developing the processing pipeline, and linking airborne EC measurements to surface characteristics derived from airborne hyperspectral and LiDAR remote sensing.
Contribute to a comprehensive data quality and uncertainty characterisation of the system
Post-process and qa/qc all UAS EC data following Fluxnet/community standards
Develop original/novel research questions and hypotheses, quantitative analyses, and peer-reviewed publications
Lead and advance the research topic through close collaboration within and beyond GFZ’s Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics Section
A Master's degree in physics, atmospheric/environmental science, meteorology, geoecology, or related field
Excellent coding and quantitative analytical skills, preferably in R, Matlab, or Python
Creative & critical thinking, and the ability to publish shown by a track record of original and innovative research
Strong motivation and excellent oral and written communication skills
Fluency in English (written and spoken)
Ambitious and varied tasks in a dynamic and international research environment
Public service benefits
Extensive training opportunities
Support with finding a good work-life balance offered by benefit@work
Working at the Albert Einstein science park on the Telegrafenberg in Potsdam
Work place within walking distance of Potsdam main train station, or just a short ride on the shuttle bus
Salary: The position is classed as salary group 13 according to “TVöD Bund (Tarifgebiet Ost)”. Full-time (currently 39 h/week); The position is generally suitable for part-time work.
A letter of motivation that must be specifically tailored to this position and demonstrate your motivation and expertise, a CV, and contact information for one or two referencesPlease use our online application form only. 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. As an integral part of supporting diversity at our centre, we actively promote women in science and in leadership positions. 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. 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.
This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. 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 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: 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.
Helmholtz scientists, a high-performance infrastructure and modern and efficient research management are the ingredients to the Helmholtz Association‘s success and global impact.
Its qualification schemes for young researchers are geared mainly towards PhD students, postdocs and young managers. Its strategy begins with targeted recruitment of highly qualified staff at all levels, followed by comprehensive support aimed at further developing their potential. 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. For this reason, we established Career Development Centers for postdoctoral researchers in the Helmholtz Centers. 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.
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. 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.