PhD position (f_m_x) – Global gravity-based flood analysis
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”.
Reference Number 10428
The PhD position is embedded in the DFG/SNF project HiGrav: High-resolution gravity fields for better flood forecasting.
HiGrav includes groups of geodesy and hydrology at ETH Zurich, University of Bern, TU Braunschweig and GFZ. The project aims to improve flood forecasts using satellite data from satellite gravimetry missions (GRACE and GRACE-FO). Gravity field solutions with enhanced daily temporal resolution are calculated and spatially downscaled through machine learning in combination with hydrological simulations. A gravity-based wetness index shall serve as an early warning indicator for flood generation and finally be integrated and tested in flood forecasting models. The GFZ contribution to the project activities primarily encompasses the assessment of daily GRACE data for observing and early indicating flood events and for the development and evaluation of a gravity-based wetness index from regional to global scales.
Your responsibilities:
- Preparation and combined analyses of global hydro-meteorological data sets
- Assessment of daily GRACE data for observing flood events at the global scale
- Development of a gravity-based wetness index to indicate flood-prone catchment conditions
- Evaluation of the wetness index for different flood generation mechanisms and environmental conditions
- Assessment of the new GRACE products for flood forecasting applications or measurements
- Active contribution to HiGrav project activities and collaborations
- Present results at international conferences and publish in scientific journals
Your qualifications:
- Master`s degree or equivalent in hydrology, geosciences, geodesy, environmental sciences or a related discipline
- Understanding of hydrological processes and of the water cycle
- Knowledge of flood generation and flood forecasting is an asset
- Knowledge of the characteristics and applications of satellite gravimetry is an asset
- Ability to work with large, global-scale environmental data sets
- Knowledge of explanatory data analysis and/or statistical methods
- Programming skills preferably in Python
- Creative and independent working attitude
- Ability for and willingness to work in a multidisciplinary team and to actively communicate and cooperate with collaborators
- Proficiency in spoken and written English
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.
In case of any further queries relating to the field of activity, please contact Prof. Dr. Andreas Güntner via email. If you have any general questions about the application process, please contact our recruiting team at our phone number +49 (0) 331-6264-28787.