Field Data Geoscientist (f_m_x)

Area of research:

Scientific / postdoctoral posts

Job description:

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

Referential Number 11023.

The GFZ hosts the Operational Support Group (OSG) of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) in its Section 4.2 ‘Geomechanics and Scientific Drilling’. The OSG serves the scientific community through operational and financial support for high‑profile international scientific drilling projects. ICDP projects contribute significantly to major advances in understanding Earth’s environment and life, sustainable georesources, and natural disasters.

A key aspect of OSG support is data and information management, ensuring efficient scientific data acquisition across ICDP projects in the field, laboratories, and core repositories. The Field Data Geoscientist will play a central role in supporting these efforts by fostering collaboration between external project scientists and ICDP. This will be accomplished through continuous communication, adherence to established protocols and standards, and oversight of the publication of project reports and scientific datasets.

Your responsibilities:

• Project data acquisition and training of ICDP project scientists on the mobile Drilling Information System (mDIS)
• Training and support in data and sample management workflows and on‑site core handling procedures
• Utilisation of associated drill site instruments, such as e.g., optical Core Scanner, Multi‑Sensor Core Logger, and Online Gas Analysis
• Development of sophisticated means for quality control in the acquisition, documentation, and archiving of scientific drilling data
• Integration of the HiPerCoRig drilling system into the OSG portfolio
• Development and implementation of an ICDP field laboratory
• Support in organisational and logistical tasks such as the preparation and hosting of workshops and shipment of equipment and sample material
• Editing and publishing operational reports in co‑operation with the principal investigators and science team
• Presentation of results at international conferences and publication in peer‑reviewed journals

Your qualifications:

• A Master’s degree (or equivalent) and preferably a PhD in Earth Science or related fields
• Strong geoscientific background, preferably in drilling projects
• Expertise in drilling data management and processing
• Experience in coordinating team processes
• Practical skills in database tasks and general programming
• Expertise in the use of analytical instruments
• Willingness to travel internationally and to serve on projects in remote areas
• Proven ability to communicate efficiently in English

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
• 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

Start date: As soon as possible

Fixed‑term: (with an option of extension)

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: Full‑time (currently 39 h/week); The position is generally suitable for part‑time work.

Place of work: Potsdam

Have we piqued your interest? If so, we look forward to receiving your application by 1st February 2026.

Requested documents: CV, letter of motivation, grades/certificates. 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 Thomas Wiersberg via email. If you have any general questions about the application process, please contact our recruiting team at our phone number +49 (0) .

Research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.