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. With around 1,200 employees as well as ca. 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. We are doing this according to our vision: "Taking the pulse of our Earth to safeguard a habitable planet”.

Reference Number 11111

The Geomorphology Section offers a PostDoctoral position focusing on monitoring and analysis of tree responses to climate change in the framework of the project "Trees under stress: Potsdam as a real-world laboratory for climate change impacts (ArboKlim)”

The PostDoc position is one of three in a cluster hire. It is embedded in the Helmholtz long-term environmental observatory network TERENO and the EU-funded regional project ArboKlim, carried out by the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in close collaboration with local partners.

ArboKlim investigates the impacts of climate change on tree vitality, mechanical stability, and associated risks in and around the UNESCO World Heritage landscapes of Potsdam, Germany. To improve the understanding of tree responses to increasing frequency and intensities of weather extremes, the project integrates monitoring of eco-hydrological and seismic signals with physical and chemical signatures preserved in tree rings. The goal of ArboKlim is to develop scientifically robust indicators and practical tools that support risk assessment, vegetation management, and the long-term resilience of culturally and socially important green spaces under climate change.

Your responsibilities:

• Instrumentation of field sites
• Processing of seismological data, including the analysis of ambient seismic vibrations and tree-motion signals, synthesis with tree water status data
• Investigation of wind agitation of trees and transfer of wind energy by trees to ground
• Data management
• Collaboration with project partners in meteorology, dendrochronology and hydrology and especially the other two PostDocs hired in the project
• Communication and discussion of results with stakeholders to integrate the findings in water management and mitigation practices
• Interpretation, publishing and presentation of findings in peer-reviewed journals and at conferences

Your qualifications:

• A Master’s degree (or equivalent) and a PhD degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering, Geosciences, Geophysics, Environmental Sciences, Biogeosciences or Physics
• Strong interest in interdisciplinary research
• Process-oriented thinking, preferably within the atmosphere–tree–soil nexus
• Experience in (environmental) seismology
• Some knowledge of tree physiology is an asset
• Experience in statistics and data analysis of large data sets (including time series analyses and machine learning)
• Good programming skills
• Very good communication and interpersonal skills, team player
• Very good command of English
• Experience in writing scientific publications
• Knowledge of the German language is an asset
• Ability to work in the field, including extended walking and carrying of heavy loads
• Valid driver’s license category B

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

Have we piqued your interest?

• CV (including scientific publication list as well as names and contact information of two referees)
• Letter of motivation