The climate needs bright minds. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) addresses crucial scientific questions in the fields of global change, climate impacts and sustainable development. It is one of the world's leading research institutions in its field and offers natural and social scientists from around the world an inspiring environment for excellent interdisciplinary research.

For the working group "Past and Future Earth” (PATH) within the Research Department "Earth System Analysis”, PIK is offering an

Early Career Researcher position (PhD or postdoctoral level) (m/f/d)

(Position number: 13-2026 ECR PATH)

in the field of paleoclimate modelling, starting as soon as possible .

The position will be filled either at PhD or postdoctoral level, depending on qualifications. As a postdoctoral position, it is funded for up to 24 months, as a PhD position for 36 months. Remuneration is in accordance with the German public tariff scheme (TV-L Brandenburg), salary group E 13 (75% PhD position, 100% postdoctoral level). This is a full-time position with a weekly working time of 40 hours per week. The position can be filled on a part-time basis.

The position is funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and related to the major multi-national initiative "GOE-DEEP” supported by the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) and aiming to study the climate at the time of the first rise of oxygen and Earth’s first global glaciation about 2.4 billion years ago.

Key responsibilities:

• design, run, and analyse equilibrium and transient simulations with a coupled Earth-system model of intermediate complexity to investigate the climate of the Paleoproterozoic,
• interact with colleagues in the GOE-DEEP science team working on biogeochemical modelling to design and tests different scenarios of the sequence of events around the time of the Great Oxidation Event,
• Link model results to proxy data, in particular from the GOE-DEEP cores,
• present the results at international conferences and publish them in scientific journals,

Requirements:

• a master’s degree or PhD in physics, meteorology, geosciences or related fields relevant for Earth-system science,
• experience in climate/Earth-system modelling is recommended,
• practical experience with Linux/Unix, High Performance Computing, and scientific programming is recommended or the willingness to learn these skills,
• basic expertise with scientific data analysis,
• good skills in scientific writing,

We expect:

• the ability to work independently and on your own initiative
• a methodical and systematic approach
• structured and goal-oriented thinking
• capacity to familiarise yourself quickly with new topics
• creativity and openness to new approaches
• a high level of competence in oral and written German and English
• reliability, engagement, and a high level of motivation
• capacity for teamwork

We offer:

• the opportunity to complete a high-quality dissertation within an excellent, collab-orative, and transdisciplinary research environment
• a lively community of PhD students on the campus, offering the chance to engage and connect—our PhD Representatives offer information and advise when needed
• the chance to be part of an engaged, interdisciplinary team
• a stimulating working environment in an internationally recognised research insti-tute on Potsdam's beautiful, historic Telegrafenberg campus, a short commuting distance from Berlin
• company KITA/kids day nursery "Geolino” directly in the science park on Telegrafenberg, within walking distance of PIK
• flexi-time and mobile working (up to 50% of your hours),
• a collective pay scheme and associated benefits as well as a subsidized travel card or Deutschland-Ticket Job
• free charging stations for e-bikes on Telegrafenberg campus

PIK values equality and diversity. We encourage applications without photos. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of ethnic and social origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, care responsibilities, or age. PIK seeks to increase the share of women in scientific positions and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply. In cases of equal qualification and within the given legal scope, women will be given preference. PIK also encourages applications by parents returning from parental leave.

Please apply by 21.05.2026 directly via our application form below this job advertisement on our website. The application process remains open until the position is filled.

If you hold an international higher education qualification, please also submit a certificate evaluation from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) with your application. If you do not yet have a transcript evaluation, please note that you may have to request one if your application is successful. For further information, please visit the website: https://www.kmk.org/zab/central-office-for-foreign-education.html

For further information or to discuss the position please contact Prof. Dr. Georg Feulner .