PhD position (f_m_x) on “Mineralizing processes in the Rammelsberg Zn deposit”
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 10472
We seek a highly motivated PhD candidate to investigate mineralizing processes in sediment hosted mineral deposits. This project aims to resolve the mineralogy and paragenesis of sulfur-bearing phases in samples from the Rammelsberg Zn deposit (Germany) using in situ isotopic methods. This project is fully funded and will be supervised by Dr. Joseph Magnall (GFZ) and Prof. Philipp Weis.
Your responsibilities:
- Evaluate the mineralogy and paragenesis of samples using petrographic techniques (including reflected light microscopy, EMPA, SEM)
- Prepare grain mounts containing major sulphur bearing phases (barite, pyrite, sphalerite) and analyse isotopic composition (δ34S and δ18O values) using SIMS
- Perform in situ analyses of trace elements (LA-ICP-MS) in sulfide and gangue mineral phases to constrain trace element associations
- Report regularly to the collaborators, publish in international peer-reviewed journals, open access datasets and present research results at scientific meetings and workshops
- Actively engage and contribute to the basin hosted mineral systems research group, Section 3.1, and the GFZ community
Your qualifications:
- Applicants should hold a MSc degree (or equivalent) in a discipline of geosciences
- Background knowledge in aspects of the following: sedimentary basins, isotope geochemistry, diagenesis, hydrothermal ore deposits, hydrothermal fluid geochemistry
- Experience in standard petrographic techniques (transmitted and reflected light)
- Familiarity with interpreting different types of geochemical data (LA-ICP-MS, stable isotopic data, geochemical data) and laboratory experience is advantageous
- Demonstrated ability to work both independently and in a team, keep to deadlines and engage in interdisciplinary work
- Candidates are expected to write their thesis in English and knowledge of German 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?
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 Dr. Joseph Magnall 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.