[ES_JOBS_NET] PhD and PostDoc position in paleoclimate data interpretation @AWI Potsdam, Germany

[tlaepple]

Dear friends and colleagues,

We are looking for a PhD student and a Postdoctoral Researcher who would
wish to work with us in the newly established Helmholtz Young
Investigator Group "ECUS" at the Alfred-Wegener-Institute for Polar and
Marine Research, Research Unit Potsdam.
The focus of the research group is the interpretation of paleoclimate
archives and the quantitative reconstruction of past climate variability.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could let me know of any
appropriate candidates, and/ or forward this email to anyone you feel is
relevant.  I apologize if you receive this announcement more than once.

All the best,
Thom

PostDoc position "Paleoclimate data analysis/modeling":

The candidate will test and improve paleoclimate reconstructions from
terrestrial climate archives, mainly from bioindicators as pollen data.
This includes statistical syntheses of existing global datasets and
idealized experiments with climate and vegetation models to validate and
develop reconstruction techniques.



PhD position "Interpretation of ice-core signals":

Based on new ice samples from Antarctica and on published ice-core
data, the successful candidate will improve the understanding of the
temperature signal recorded in the water isotopes of polar ice-cores.
The project involves experimental as well as a theoretical work.




Closing date for both positions July 15th, 2013.
Details of the position and the application process can be found below.


--------------------------------------------------

PostDoc position "Paleoclimate data analysis/modeling":

The Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine
Research (AWI) invites application for a

Postdoc Position on paleoclimate data analysis/modeling

within the newly established Helmholtz Young Investigators Group ECUS
working on the interpretation of paleoclimate proxy data and the
quantitative reconstruction of past climate variability.  The candidate
will focus on investigating the reliability and improving the
interpretation of terrestrial climate archives.

Description

Bio-indicators are probably the most ubiquitous terrestrial archive of
Holocene climate evolution. A number of continental scale and regional
scale pollen based climate reconstructions, complemented by other
bio-indicators as chironomids  form the backbone of model-data
comparisons of the terrestrial Holocene climate evolution.

Using empirical evidence, climate models, as well as statistical tools
the candidate will test and improve climate reconstructions from
bio-indicators. This includes statistical syntheses of existing global
datasets, idealized experiments with climate and vegetation models to
validate and develop reconstruction techniques as well as the
development of a systematic framework of the quantitative analysis of
climate archives. The work will be strongly linked to the other ECUS
group members specialized on ice and sediment based climate archives.
Thereby, the successful candidate will provide modeling support for the
interdisciplinary research group.

The results feed into the ECUS project of reconstructing Holocene
climate variability to provide a unique reference to test and calibrate
climate models.



Requirements:

The successful candidate should have strong analytical skills and hold a
PhD in physics, mathematics, environmental science or a related field.
We expect previous expertise in paleoclimate research, statistical
analysis and climate modeling either using complex or conceptual climate
models.

Excellent English language skills as well as the ability to publish in
international science journals are required. Previous experience with
terrestrial climate proxies is an advantage.
Furthermore, the candidate should have good teamwork skills and the
willingness to actively cooperate with a diverse international working
group including physicists, mathematicians and geologists.


Length of contract:
The starting date is flexible, earliest, starting in September 2013
The position is limited to 2 years with the possibility of extension .
Payment will be in accordance with the German Tarifvertrag für den
öffentlichen Dienst (TvöD 13).

Location:
The job will be based at the AWI in Potsdam. The institute is located on
a historical scientific campus nearby the city centre, which also hosts
the GeoForschungsZentrum and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact
Research
The city of Potsdam (~160,000 inhabitants) is more than 1000 years old
and is located along the banks of the Havel River and the surrounding
lakes. Potsdam is known for its splendid baroque architecture, its
preserved palaces, gardens, and numerous monuments as well as a
scientific environment, which is unparalleled in all of Germany. Potsdam
is only a couple of minutes away from Berlin and its cultural scene.



Application process:

Applications including CV, degree certificates and the names, addresses,
and telephone numbers of at least two references  should be submitted by
July 15th, 2013 under the reference code 61/D/Geo-P to:

Alfred Wegener Institute
Helmholtz-Centre for Polar- and Marine Research
Personnel Department
Postfach 60 01 49
14401 Potsdam
Germany

or via email (all documents merged into one PDF file) to:
Thomas.Laepple(at)awi.de

The AWI aims to increase the number of women in the scientific staff and
therefore encourages women to apply. Handicapped applicants with
comparable qualifications receive preferential status. Please see the
notification on our homepage under job offers/jobs. AWI supports
balanced work-life career development via a variety of schemes.

Selected candidates will be invited for job interviews. The interviews
for the Postdoctoral position are scheduled to take place on the 7/8th
August 2013.

Contact:
For further information please contact Dr. Thomas Laepple
(Thomas.Laepple at awi.de); Information about the ECUS project can be found
at
http://www.awi.de/en/research/young_investigators/helmholtz_university_young_investigators_groups/ECUS/


------


PhD position "Interpretation of ice-core signals"

The Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine
Research (AWI), Research Unit Potsdam, invites application for a
PhD Position on the interpretation of ice-core signals within the newly
established Helmholtz Young Investigators Group ECUS dealing with the
reliability of paleo-proxy records and the quantitative reconstruction
of past climate variability.

Description:
Polar ice-cores are a key climate archive, providing information about
the temperature and the evolution of greenhouse gases over the last
800,000 years. Based on new ice samples from Antarctica and on published
ice-core data, the successful candidate will improve the understanding
of the temperature signal recorded in the water isotopes of polar
ice-cores. The results will be used to estimate the natural climate
variability of the present warm period (Holocene) from a global
collection of ice-cores.

The work consists of experimental and theoretical components. The
experimental component involves new measurements of oxygen and hydrogen
isotopes in ice core samples. In the theoretical part, the statistical
analysis of the new and the existing isotopic data, complemented by
climate model simulations, will be used to develop a quantitative
understanding of the isotopic ice-core signal.

The work will be strongly linked to the other ECUS group members
specialized on terrestrial and sediment based climate archives. They
feed into the ECUS project of reconstructing Holocene climate
variability to provide a unique reference to test and calibrate climate
models.

Requirements:
The candidate should have strong analytical skills and hold a master or
equivalent title in physics, mathematics, environmental science or a
related field. He/she should be interested in laboratory work, as well
as in the statistical analysis of data. Proficiency in a programming
language and good English language skills are required.
Previous experience with climate research or ice-cores is an advantage.
Furthermore, the candidate should have good teamwork skills and the
willingness to actively cooperate with a diverse international working
group including physicists, mathematicians and geologists and to
participate in expeditions.

Length of contract:
The starting date is flexible, earliest, starting in August 2013. The
position is funded the basis of a fixed term contract for 36 months (3
years). This advantageous timeframe is typical for PhDs in Germany. The
PhD students are given the opportunity to participate at the Helmholtz
Graduate School POLMAR (http://polmar.awi.de)

Salary:
Payment will be in accordance with the German Tarifvertrag für den
öffentlichen Dienst (66% TVöD 13,
http://oeffentlicher-dienst.info/tvoed/bund/). Cost-of-life is
relatively cheap in the Berlin region and makes the salary attractive

Location:
The job will be based at the AWI in Potsdam. The institute is located on
a historical scientific campus nearby the city centre, which also hosts
the GeoForschungsZentrum and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact
Research
The city of Potsdam (~160,000 inhabitants) is more than 1000 years old
and is located along the banks of the Havel River and the surrounding
lakes. Potsdam is known for its splendid baroque architecture, its
preserved palaces, gardens, as well as a scientific environment, which
is unparalleled in all of Germany. Potsdam is only a couple of minutes
away from Berlin and its cultural scene.


Application process:

Applications including CV and degree certificates should be submitted by
July 15th, 2013 under the reference code 60/D/Geo-P to:

Alfred Wegener Institute
Helmholtz-Centre for Polar- and Marine Research
Personnel Department
Postfach 60 01 49
14401 Potsdam
Germany

or via email (all documents merged into one PDF file) to:
Thomas.Laepple(at)awi.de

The AWI aims to increase the number of women in the scientific staff and
therefore encourages women to apply. Handicapped applicants with
comparable qualifications receive preferential status. Please see the
notification on our homepage under job offers/jobs. AWI supports
balanced work-life career development via a variety of schemes.

Selected candidates will be invited for job interviews. The interviews
for the Phd position are scheduled to take place on the 25/26th of July.

Contact:
For further information please contact Dr. Thomas Laepple
(Thomas.Laepple at awi.de); Information about the ECUS project can be found
at
http://www.awi.de/en/research/young_investigators/helmholtz_university_young_investigators_groups/ECUS/





-- 
Thomas Laepple

Alfred-Wegener-Institut
Helmholtz Young Investigators Group ECUS
Telegrafenberg A46-3
D-14473 Potsdam
Germany
Tel +49 (331) 288-2119
thomas.laepple at awi.de
http://www.awi.de/People/show?tlaepple