Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research (IOW), Warnemünde

Job posting (PHY 07/2025)

The Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW) has a temporary vacancy starting 01.01.2026 for a

in the Department of Physical Oceanography for three years (until 31.12.2028) and a percentage of 75% (30h/week), subject to the funding of the project.

Remuneration is paid in accordance with the Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst der Länder (TV-L, Public Sector Collective Agreement on Länder) salary scale at level 13.

About the project

This position is embedded in the RIVIERADE project (IMPROVING MODELLING METHODS TO PRODUCE CLIMATE SERVICES FOR RESILIENT EUROPEAN SEAS AND COASTS IN A DECADAL TO MULTI-DECADAL HORIZON), an EU funded project with 9 partners from 7 European countries under the call HORIZON-CL6-2024-CLIMATE-01.

RIVIERADE aims to develop and implement a pre-operational and replicable multi-model framework and protocols to produce, downscale, assess and deliver state-of-the-art decadal predictions and multi-decadal projections of climate change and related impacts on marine ecosystems, covering the basin scale and the coastal areas, up to, and including, development and demonstration of climate services.

RIVIERADE will target three European Seas (Baltic, Black, Mediterranean), to produce data and information for ocean health, sustainable blue economy, and coastal climate risks, downstreaming the data flow from climate ensembles to coastal areas at different spatial resolutions and for selected areas, in a circular process based on users and stakeholders engagement, co-design and assessment of innovative climate services. The proposed methodology will employ high resolution regional Earth Systems, ocean, marine ecosystem, and impact models of different complexity and will include both traditional and new ocean modelling approaches with the final objective of delivering: (i) coordinated and harmonized multi-model datasets of high-resolution decadal and multi-decadal scenario simulations for the three European target seas, and (ii) demonstrators of climate services at European Sea basin, coastal and local scales.

The IOW will contribute to this interdisciplinary project by investigating both regional climate predictions and projections for the coupled physical-biogeochemical Baltic Sea system.

Who are we?

The IOW is an independent research institute of the Leibniz Association for which equal opportunities, family friendliness and work-life balance are very important. Our research focus is on the coastal and marginal seas, especially the Baltic Sea. The staff of the five sections Physical Oceanography, Marine Chemistry, Biological Oceanography, Marine Geosciences, and Marine Observations works interdisciplinary within a joint research program.

What will be your tasks?

The successful candidate will work closely with scientists, postdoctoral researchers, and doctoral students within the department, as well as external researchers, focusing on regional ocean climate predictions and projections.

The primary objective of this doctoral student position is to disentangle natural climate variability and projected anthropogenic climate changes by analyzing large ensembles of climate model simulations for the Baltic Sea, Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea region. These projections comprise changes in physical variables such as water temperature, salinity, currents, sea level, etc. and changes in biogeochemical variables such as nutrients and oxygen concentrations as well as primary production.

Your primary responsibilities will include:

• Analysing large ensembles of multi-decadal climate simulations for past and future climates with focus on the Baltic Sea, Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea
• Assessing the climate change impact on the three target seas‘ physics and biogeochemistry
• Estimating changes in extremes such as marine heat waves, high water levels and hypoxia (oxygen deficiencies)
• Assessing uncertainties of projections

What do we expect from you?

We seek a scientifically curious doctoral student who is eager to study climate variability and the marine environment. You should hold a master's degree (or equivalent diploma) in meteorology, oceanography, or a related natural or geoscientific discipline with significant physical and mathematical components. It is essential that you demonstrate enthusiasm for collaborating in a team and for contributing to the innovative IOW research program (2024–2033), see https://www.io-warnemuende.de/research-programme-2024-2033.html. Your primary involvement will focus on Research Area 2 (Coastal seas in transition).

Required qualifications:

• Familiarity with the climate of the Earth system and, in particular, the climate of the Baltic Sea region
• Familiarity with physical processes of semi-enclosed coastal seas such as the Baltic Sea
• Competency in visualizing and analyzing large-scale datasets using software tools like Python
• Familiarity with operating systems such as Linux/Unix
• Good programming skills, preferably in Fortran and/or Python
• Good command of written and spoken English
• Willingness to actively engage in interdisciplinary and international collaborations

What does the IOW offer?

The IOW offers you a varied workplace in the immediate vicinity of the Baltic Sea with flexible working arrangements, e.g. the possibility of working from home or remotely, and qualification opportunities for the English/German language. A very good infrastructure with modern laboratory and office equipment, including our own research vessel, form the framework for the best working conditions.

How do we promote equal opportunities?

Our job offers are aimed at all people regardless of their gender. Research benefits from a diverse working environment, which is why we have signed the Diversity Charter.

IOW aims to specifically promote women in areas where they are underrepresented. For this purpose, the institute has given itself a plan to promote equality (plan for the equal opportunities committee at the IOW) and has repeatedly been awarded the Total E-Quality award for its commitment (website TOTAL E-QUALITY e. V.) Female applicants are given preference in the case of equal qualifications and suitability, as the position belongs to a working group in which women are underrepresented. You can find an overview of our measures for equal opportunities and for improving the compatibility of work and family on ourwebsite.

We give preference to applications from disabled persons with equal professional and personal suitability. Please mention the disability or equality in your letter of application and enclose a copy of the relevant certificate.

How to apply?

Please submit your complete application, including a cover letter describing your motivation and qualifications and a current CV highlighting relevant experience and publications. Combine all application documents into a single PDF file and send them to IOW until August 31^st, 2025, quoting the keyword: PHY 07/2025 to:

Human Resources Department

The interviews are expected to take place online (via Zoom) on October 10^th, 2025.

Unfortunately, we cannot cover your application and travel costs.

For further information please contact:

Prof. Dr. Markus Meier, markus.meier(at)io-warnemuende.de or visit our website:www.io-warnemuende.de.