PhD_morphodynamic modeling_Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht

[wzhang_marum]

PhD Position (m/f)
in numerical modelling of coastal and shelf morphodynamics
The place of employment is Geesthacht.

The Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht in Geesthacht, near Hamburg, and in Teltow, near Berlin, conducts materials and coastal research. You can find more information at http://www.hzg.de.

The Institute of Coastal Research at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht investigates coastal and shelf processes including interaction between land, sea and human being. As a means to identify the potential for change, sustainability and adaptation, scientists at the institute provide the tools, assessments and scenarios for managing the vulnerable coastal and shelf landscape. Coastal and shelf mud deposits represent the proximal sink for continent-derived material during modern sea level conditions. They serve as habitat for benthic life and store large quantities of carbon, nutrients, and contaminants. Most of them initiated to develop during mid- to late Holocene. Despite of their important role in the global source-to-sink transport and ecosystem functioning, their growth dynamics and the particular natural as well as anthropogenic drivers that shape their morphology remain largely unknown.
The objective of the position is to investigate the basic driving mechanisms for morphogenesis and morphological development of large-scale (10-100 km in length) shelf mud depocenters, with particular emphasis on the impact of extreme/energetic events (e.g. storms, floods, energetic internal waves and submesoscale eddies) as well as intensive human activity (bottom trawling).
The duration of the position is 36 months.
Your tasks include:
- analysis of existing datasets from hydrographic monitoring and sediment cores
- applying and modifying existing numerical models to simulate sediment transport and morphodynamics of shelf mud depocenters
- work as an integrative part of a motivated multidisciplinary team within the institute and external academic partners
- scientific publication and presentation
Job requirements:
- a strong background in physical oceanography, fluid mechanics, geosciences, or related disciplines
- good scientific programming skills with FORTRAN
- good knowledge of English (written and oral)
- high degree of creativity and flexibility; ability to work under pressure
- ability and willingness to participate in sea-going research
- good communication skills and ability to work in an interdisciplinary team with sedimentologists, climatologists and physical oceanographers
The following qualifications would be desirable:
- experience in using Unix/Linux
- research experience on sediment transport
- an academic publication record
For further questions please contact Dr. Wenyan Zhang (wenyan.zhang@hzg.de).
We offer an appropriate salary related to TV-AVH as well as the usual public sector social benefits. The advancement of equality at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht goes without saying; in particular, we are striving to increase the percentage of women in the science sector. Severely disabled persons with equal qualifications will be considered preferentially within the framework of legal requirements.
Please send your application (in English) indicating job offer code-no. 2017/KS 7 including a short letter of motivation, description of research experience, CV together with a list of publications and copies of relevant certificates preferably by e-mail in one file not larger than 10 MB to personal@hzg.de.
Closing date for applications is July, 14th, 2017.