Area of research:
Scientific support staff
Job description: Research Scientist in Polar Observation Systems, Thermometry, and Theoretical/Statistical Modeling (x/f/m/d)BackgroundAs part of the joint Helmholtz Research Programme “Changing Earth – Sustaining our Future”, we advance the integration of instrumental and paleoclimate records to quantitatively constrain and improve predictions of future climate variability and change. You will contribute to the development and implementation of polar monitoring systems that link autonomous observations with paleoclimate records and help detect emerging changes in near real time. An important part of the position is the use and further development of theoretical and statistical methods (including inverse methods and uncertainty quantification) to relate these observations to the paleoclimate information.Your Tasks
* Operate and further develop the thermometry laboratory (facility for high-precision temperature measurement and calibration), including the realization, calibration, and maintenance of reference thermometers (SPRTs) and fixed-point systems (e.g., the triple point of water, mercury, and other ITS-90 standards) to ensure traceable and accurate temperature measurements
* Design, calibrate, and operate high-precision instrumentation for polar observations, including ice-borehole thermometry for recording temperature profiles in polar ice sheets, as well as melt and accumulation sensor networks; implement these systems in the laboratory and deploy and maintain them in polar field environments
* Further develop, analyze, and interpret ice-core and related proxy data, acquire new paleoclimate records from polar regions, and integrate paleoclimate information with modern observations for climate reconstruction and interpretation
* Apply and further develop theoretical and statistical methods, including inverse methods and uncertainty quantification, to relate modern observations to paleoclimate information
* Publish research results in peer-reviewed scientific journals and contribute to international polar research collaborations
* Acquire competitive third-party funding, with the long-term goal of securing at least 50 % of a postdoctoral position
Your Profile
* PhD (or equivalent) in physics, geosciences, environmental sciences, or a related quantitative field
* Hands-on experience with temperature measurement, calibration, or sensor development, ideally including fixed-point and reference systems (e.g., SPRTs, the triple point of water)
* Experience applying, adapting, or working with theoretical/statistical methods relevant to geophysical time series (e.g., inverse approaches, spectral analysis); active interest in further developing such methods is welcome
* Proven experience in environmental or climate data analysis, including statistical and physical interpretation
* Experience in the analysis and interpretation of polar paleoclimate archives (ice cores, borehole thermometry)
* Strong programming and data analysis skills (e.g., R, Python, MATLAB)
* Ability to work independently and collaboratively in interdisciplinary and international teams
* Strong scientific communication, publication, and third-party funding acquisition skills
* Ability and interest to take on supervision and coordination tasks (e.g., supervising students/assistants, lab workflows)
* Demonstrated experience in conducting fieldwork in polar regions
* Very good German and English knowledge (approximately equivalent to CEFR level C1)
Further InformationThe AWI is characterized byThe AWI is characterized by
* Our scientific success - excellent research
* Collaboration and cooperation - intra-institute, national and international, interdisciplinary
* Opportunities to develop – on the job and towards other positions
* An international environment – everyday contact with people from all over the world
* Flexible working hours
* 30 days of vacation (for full-time employees) plus additional days off on December 24th and December 31st
* Health promotion and company fitness with Hansefit and Wellhub
* Support services and a culture of reconciling work and family
* Occupational pension provision (VBL)
AWI values diversity and actively promotes gender parity, as well as an open, inclusive environment that provides equal opportunities. We are convinced that diverse teams and a variety of perspectives enrich our work and our daily collaboration. In a continuous process of learning and reflection, we aim to ensure that all our employees can be themselves and feel a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from qualified people regardless of binary and non-binary genders, race and nationality, ethnic and social background, religion, age, disabilities, neurodivergence, sexual orientation, and other identities.
Applicants with disabilities will be given preference when equal qualifications are present.
AWI fosters work-family compatibility in various ways. And as a new international member of our team, you can be sure that we will help you settle in. Our Family Office and International Office will be glad to support you, even before you start at AWI.
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