The GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences is the national centre for research into the geosphere. With around 1,650 employees, we develop a sound understanding of systems and processes of the solid Earth as well as strategies and options for action to counter global change, understand natural hazards and sustainably secure energy and raw material requirements.

For section 4.4: Hydrology (Department 4: Geosystems), we are looking for a:

PhD candidate (f_m_x) - Data-driven flood impact modelling

Reference Number 10033

The section Hydrology at the GFZ is searching for a PhD candidate to work on the BMBF-funded project “HI-CliF - Health Impacts under future Climate and socio-economic drivers of the Flood Risk System”. The work will be led by Dr. Nivedita Sairam, Section Hydrology, German Research Center for Geosciences, Potsdam.

We seek a PhD candidate with experience in machine learning, statistics and programming and with interest in climate extremes and public health research. The PhD candidate is expected to analyse multi-sector flood impacts and their potential drivers with a focus health and well-being of the affected populations.

The successful candidate should have the interest and ability to participate in collaborative and interdisciplinary research activities and discussions in the field of adaptation and risk of hydrological extremes. The candidate is also expected to closely collaborate with partners from other Helmholtz Centres, and present, publish and communicate research results at scientific meetings and in scholarly journals.

Your responsibilities:

• Analyse flood impact datasets using data-driven approaches
• Utilize open datasets for assessing flood risk, with a particular emphasis on health-related risks, while ensuring that the code (in Python or R) is well-documented and reusable
• Collaborate closely with project partners in an interdisciplinary context
• Present, publish and communicate research results at scientific meetings and in scholarly journals
• Undertake a PhD study (e.g., https://www.geographie.hu-berlin.de/de/institut/promotionen_habilitationen/promotionen, at HU-Berlin)
• Deliver according to the project timelines and university/department requirements

Your qualifications:

• Master's degree in Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Geoinformatics or related fields
• Programming skills (Python, R)
• Expertise in machine learning, Bayesian statistics is beneficial
• Capacity for interdisciplinary teamwork and excellent communication skills
• Ability to communicate in English fluently (German language command is helpful but not mandatory)

Start date: 15th February 2025
Fixed-term: 3 Jahre
Salary: Die Stelle ist nach TVöD Bund (Tarifgebiet Ost) mit der Entgeltgruppe 13 bewertet. Die Eingruppierung erfolgt nach den tariflichen Bestimmungen und den entsprechenden persönlichen Voraussetzungen.
Working hours: Teilzeit 75% (derzeit 29,25 h/Woche)
Place of work: Potsdam

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
• Work place within walking distance of Potsdam main train station, or just a short ride on the shuttle bus
  

Have we piqued your interest?

If so, we look forward to receiving your application (incl. CV, cover letter and certificates) by 26th January 2025. Please use our online application form only.

Diversity and equal opportunities are integral components of our human resources policy. 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. 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. If you have any questions, please contact our Representative Body for Employees with Disabilities at sbv[at]gfz-potsdam.de, who will be happy to assist you in the further application process. In case of further queries regarding gender equality, please do not hesitate to contact our Equal Opportunities Officer at gba[at]gfz-potsdam.de.

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.

The Helmholtz Centres named above in this job advert, will be involved in the selection procedure. Your personal data will, of course, be treated confidentially and will be communicated to the persons involved in the other Helmholtz Centres exclusively for the purpose of evaluating your professional suitability within the framework of this selection procedure. Once the procedure has been completed, the personal data will also be deleted there in compliance with data protection regulations.

In case of any further queries relating to the field of activity, please contact Dr. Nivedita Sairam via email or phone +49 (0)331-6264 28786. If you have any general questions about the application process, please contact our recruiting team at our phone number +49 (0) 331-6264-28787.