PhD position (f_m_x) - QUAKEHUNTER
GFZ is Germany's national centre for solid Earth research. We advance the understanding of dynamic processes to address global challenges, from mitigating the impacts of natural hazards and sustaining our habitat amid global change to responsibly managing georesources. We are part of the Helmholtz Association, the largest German scientific organisation. With around 1,200 employees as well as ca. 500 guest researchers, we contribute to the Helmholtz Research Field Earth and Environment, aligning cutting-edge research with societal relevance and international collaboration. Our work integrates multidisciplinary studies across Earth's system components, leveraging advanced technologies and infrastructure to research solutions and to transfer our knowledge to society. We are doing this according to our vision: “Taking the pulse of our Earth to safeguard a habitable planet”.
For section 4.2 “Geomechanics and Scientific Drilling” (Department "Geosystems") we invite applications for a
Reference Number 10349
The central research topic of Section 4.2 aims at understanding the physical processes that control dynamics and mechanical properties in the Earth's crust and mantle lithosphere. This covers the entire spectrum of topics ranging from geomechanics and rock physics to the rheology of crust and uppermost mantle, ranging over the entire spatial bandwidth from the laboratory through mine and reservoir scale to the deformation of tectonic plate boundaries.
At the field scale, we investigate seismic and aseismic deformation processes and aim at identifying slip transients covering the entire frequency band of seismic signals. The ERC research project QUAKEHUNTER (Real-time monitoring of earthquake nucleation for faults near urban areas) aims to (1) determine the most effective approaches to detect fault-related transients preceding moderate to large earthquakes, and (2) to explore the best fault conditions and monitoring and methodological approaches under which earthquake nucleation processes emerge.
This PhD project focuses on creating deep-learning micro-seismicity and focal mechanisms catalogues using classical and AI-based techniques in the broader Sea of Marmara region including the Istanbul megacity area. The main goal will be to explore the foreshock to mainshock evolution and stress level using seismic and DAS data.
Your responsibilities:
- Development of next-generation seismicity and focal mechanism catalogues for the study region
- Analyses of the seismic events kinematics and stress of each region
- Analysis of local non-tectonic forcing promoting earthquake triggering (e.g. seasonal fluctuations, tidal movements, or the occurrence of large teleseismic earthquakes)
- Characterizing the frequency-magnitude distribution of earthquakes in space and time (b-value) for selected spatio-temporal domains
- Publish your results as scientific papers in ISI peer-review journals
- Present and disseminate your research results at scientific meetings
- Willingness to participate in field campaigns on the North Anatolian Fault
Your qualifications:
- Master in geophysics or equivalent
- Solid background in the field of seismology
- Programming skills (AI/ML programming frameworks, e.g. pytorch or tensorflow, Python, MATLAB, SQL).
- Fluency in English (written/oral)
- Willingness to work in an interdisciplinary and international environment
Start date: 1st September 2025
Fixed-term: 3 years
Salary: The position is classed as salary group 13 according to “TVöD Bund (Tarifgebiet Ost)”. The salary group is determined on the basis of the Collective Wage Agreement and the respective personal qualifications.
Working hours: Part-time 75% (currently 29.25 h/week)
Place of work: Potsdam
What we offer:
- Ambitious and varied tasks in a dynamic and international research environment
- State-of-the-art equipment
- Public service benefits
- Extensive training opportunities
- Professional career advice offered by our in-house Career-Centre
- Flexible working hours and conditions
- Support with finding a good work-life balance offered by benefit@work
- Institute day-care centre on site
- Working at the Albert Einstein science park on the Telegrafenberg in Potsdam
- Work place within walking distance of Potsdam main train station, or just a short ride on the shuttle bus
Have we piqued your interest?
The GFZ actively promotes diversity and explicitly welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of ethnic and social origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation and identity, religion/belief, age and physical characteristics. We also promote an inclusive working environment in which everyone can fully develop their own talents. Anyone who has been recognised as severely disabled, will be given preferential consideration in the event of equal suitability and qualification in accordance with the provisions of the German Social Code IX. In case of further queries regarding gender equality, please do not hesitate to contact our Equal Opportunities Officer.
“Diversity in perspectives” is one of GFZ's core values. As an integral part of supporting diversity at our centre, we actively promote women in science and in leadership positions. We among others do this through our gender equality plan and the cascade model measures which we actively implement to enable sustainable equal opportunities in academic career paths. The GFZ thus committedly strives for gender equality in science, including in leadership positions, and strongly encourages women to apply.
Your personal data will be processed for the purpose of conducting the selection procedure on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 b, Art. 88 GDPR in conjunction with Art. 26 of the Data Protection Act for the State of Brandenburg. After completion of the procedure, application documents will be deleted in compliance with data protection regulations.
If you have specific questions regarding the job content, please contact Patricia Martínez-Garzón via E-Mail. If you have any general questions about the application process, please contact our recruiting team at our phone number +49 (0) 331-6264-28787.