PhD_ modeling organic carbon cycle_Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht (Germany)

[wzhang_marum]

Please visit https://www.hzg.de/career/vacancies/019185/index.php.en to apply if you are interested in this 3-yr position.

The Institute of Coastal Systems Analysis and Modelling at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht hosts a number of highly motivated and experienced researchers in the broad field of coastal research. Our research focus lies on numerical modelling of coastal processes with specific expertise in modelling of atmospheric and marine biogeochemistry and interactions between different environmental compartments on regional and coastal scales. At Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht we develop numerical models with the aim to determine the past and current state of the environment and to identify the major drivers for future changes in the system.

The working group for Sediment Transport and Morphodynamics invites applications for a PhD position in the frame of the project APOC focussing on the organic carbon cycle in the North Sea Ecosystem. APOC is a collaborative project with an interdisciplinary team of researchers from several German Marine Research Institutes, which combines Observations and Modelling activities to understand changes in the marine carbon cycle under increasing anthropogenic pressures. The aim of the PhD project is to apply a coupled hydrodynamics-morphodynamics-biogeochemistry model to investigate the path of particulate organic carbon (POC) from source to sink including flocculation and deflocculation between biogenic and lithogenic particles, deposition and resuspension, and POC degradation during transport and sedimentation. In particular, anthropogenic impacts such as resuspension by bottom trawling, altered fluvial POC inputs by damming, channel dredging, sand mining and dumping need be addressed by numerical modeling. The position is limited to 36 months. The place of employment is Geesthacht (near Hamburg).

Your tasks

calibration and validation of a coupled hydrodynamics-morphodynamics-biogeochemistry model for the North Sea with regard to the SPM/POC dynamics
model application to investigate seasonal and annual variability of POC cycling and sequestration in the North Sea sediments
conducting sensitivity experiments and hindcast simulations to quantify the effectiveness of individual management measures
analysis and assessment of model results with respect to POC fluxes between the sediment-water interface and carbon sequestration
implementation and analysis of relevant climate projection scenarios
working as an integrative part of a motivated multidisciplinary team within the institute and external academic partners
writing scientific publications in peer reviewed journals
presentation of results at meetings and international conferences

Your profile

Master in physical oceanography, geosciences, environmental sciences or related disciplines
knowledge on sediment dynamics and marine ecosystem
interest in coastal shelf modelling
experience in scientific programming with FORTRAN and related analysing programming languages (e.g. MATLAB, R, Python) would be an advantage
knowledge of English (written and oral)
good communication skills and ability to work in an interdisciplinary team of various fields of geosciences

We offer you

multinational work environment with over 1,000 colleagues from more than 50 nations
extensive options of vocational training (i. a. expert seminars, language courses or leadership seminars)
flexible working hours and various models to ensure the compatibility of family and career
excellent infrastructure, including a scientific in-house library as well as modern work spaces
remuneration according to the standards of the collective wage agreement TV-AVH including further social benefits

The promotion of equal rights is a matter of course for us. Severely disabled persons and those equaling severely disabled persons who are equally suitable for the position will be considered preferentially within the framework of legal requirements.