The UFZ
The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) with its 1,100
employees has gained an excellent reputation as an international competence
centre for environmental sciences. We are part of the largest scientific
organisation in Germany, the Helmholtz association. Our mission: Our research
seeks to find a balance between social development and the long-term
protection of our natural resources.
The job
The PhD Colleg LISA with 4 Phd positions will be launched in 2023. LISA is
about exploring the multifunctionality of cultural landscapes in Germany and
examining the effects of climate change and land use in a model-based
framework. This position (doctoral student #1) shall investigate the
hydrological system response to changing vegetation. It will improve
accounting for vegetation dynamics within the processes represented within the
mesoscale hydrological model (mHM), especially evapotranspiration, and
implement appropriate scaling procedures to allow seamless coupling with
dynamic vegetation models.
Your tasks
Improving the implementation of the vegetation-related processes within
the mesoscale hydrological model (mHM)
Identification of relevant measurable vegetation and process parameters
suitable for parameter regionalization
Establishing a workflow for spatially distributed calibration and
validation
Large-scale simulation of the effect of spatially distributed dynamic
vegetation on the soil water dynamics, evapotranspiration and discharge
Collaboration among the four doctoral students within the PhD college
(e.g., discussion groups, synthesis paper, joint conference attendance)
on scaling challenges in model-coupling
We offer
Excellent technical facilities which are without parallel
The freedom you need to bridge the difficult gap between basic research
and close to being ready for application
Work in inter-disciplinary, multinational teams
Excellent links with national and international research networks
Excellent support and optimal subject-specific and general training with
our HIGRADE graduate school
Remuneration in accordance with the TVöD public-sector pay grade 13
(65%)
Your profile
An excellent master's degree in a relevant field of research, including
hydrology, soil science, environmental science, environmental physics,
system sciences, mathematics, physics, geography
Expertise in modelling and analyzing complex systems (experience in eco-
hydrological modelling is beneficial)
Proficiency in computer programming or application of script languages
(e.g. Fortran, R, Python)
A deep interest in investigating the interactions between vegetation
dynamics and the water cycle
Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English and ambition to publish
in international journals
High motivation to work in an international and interdisciplinary team