Two PhD students (f_m_x) for paleomagnetism on sediment cores
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 10448
The positions are part of the international ERC Synergy project GERACLE to investigate the atmospheric and climatic effects of geomagnetic field reversals and excursions. The GFZ contribution to the project focuses on providing global data-based reconstructions of past reversals and excursions. The two PhD students will work together with a PostDoc on measuring paleomagnetic sediment records from several locations worldwide. This includes taking samples from sediment cores available from national and international archives, carrying out state-of-the-art paleo- and rock magnetic experiments in the GFZ laboratory for Earth Magnetism in Time and Space, assessing the reliability of the magnetic signals and age-depth models for the cores and interpreting the determined field variations in a global context in collaboration with the entire project group.
Your responsibilities:
- Contribute to the identification of the most suitable available sediment cores in national and international archives
- Sample the selected sediment core material
- Conduct paleo and rock-magnetic experiments in the laboratory
- Evaluate and interpret the results together with the project team
- Assess and improve age-depth models for the records
- Publish results in international journals and at conferences
- Collaborate in the local team and with international partners
Your qualifications:
- A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Geosciences, Geophysics, Geology or a closely related field
- Fluent in English (written and spoken)
- Strong motivation for conducting paleo and rock magnetic laboratory measurements
- Strong motivation for local and international collaboration
- Experience with paleomagnetic methods or sediment properties is advantageous
- Experience in geo- or paleomagnetism is an advantage
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?
Required documents: CV and letter of motivation
Please use our online application form only.
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 Monika Korte 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.