Doctoral researcher position | Long-term urban-environment interactions in Germany

Overview

The Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology (MPI-GEA) was founded in the summer of 2022; it is a dynamically growing, highly interdisciplinary, and international research institution. The research focuses on modeling and analyzing the interrelationships between biophysical and human-made systems, looking from the deep past to the future to examine how humanity has driven the emergence of the Anthropocene – the period in which human activities began significantly impacting our planet’s climate and ecosystems – and identifying potential intervention points towards a more sustainable future.

We are seeking a committed young researcher for a Doctoral position (f/m/d) in long-term urban-environment interactions within the Department of Co-evolution of Land use and Urbanization in close collaboration with the Institute of Geosciences, Friedrich Schiller Universität. The general topic of the dissertation project shall regard urban palaeoenvironment work on lakes in Berlin, including biomarkers, isotopes, chronological analysis of sediment core, and statistical analysis/modelling of changes through time.

The successful candidate will become a member of the International Max Planck Research School for Modeling the Anthropocene (IMPRS ModA) to ensure the best support for the professional development regarding scientific knowledge and personal skills. They will also attend Core Research Theme meetings of the wider Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, as well as the Department of Geosciences at FSU, for academic, interdisciplinary exchange with colleagues from different disciplines.

The position offers a unique opportunity to work with leading scientists in Geoanthropology using state-of-the-art research infrastructure and developing one's own portfolio of skills for a later career.

Responsibilities

• palaeoenvironmental fieldwork within the urban contexts of Berlin and Jena, sampling appropriate water bodies for long-term sedimentary records.
• coordination and undertaking of multidisciplinary analysis of the resulting sedimentary records in the laboratories of MPI-GEA and FSU, including chronometric sampling, sediment descriptions, microfossil sampling, isotope and biomarker analyses, microplastic analyses, and ostracod analyses.
• statistical analysis of the resulting age models and changes in different parameters through time.
• leading and contributing to department outputs (e.g., publications, datasets, outreach activities).
• development of new multidisciplinary research directions.

Qualifications

Required

• Master's degree in palaeoenvironmental science, geosciences, or geology.
• Experience collecting and working on sediment cores from different terrestrial contexts.
• Expertise in varied chronometric, biomolecular, archaeobotanical, and microfaunal analyses of sediment records.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, which can be shown in a bachelor's degree, master's thesis and, if applicable, in publications and outreach activities.
• Excellent English skills.

Advantageous

• Experience with studying urban environmental change and records of pollution.
• Organizational skills, e.g., for outreach activities.
• Evidence of outreach with local communities and stakeholders.

Offer

We offer you a full-time position for three years, starting at the latest on September 1st, 2026. Renumeration will follow the standard PhD salaries given in the Max Planck Society, which correspond to 65% of EG 13 TvöD (Bund). You are entitled to a 30 days' holiday. We also offer attractive and family-friendly flexitime and remote working arrangements. An employer subsidy for a job ticket, the opportunity for further training within the framework of the Max Planck Society and our graduate school IMPRS ModA, and language and health courses round off our offer.

The Max Planck Society is committed to the compatibility of family and career and is certified according to the "berufundfamilie" audit. The Max Planck Society has set itself to employ more people with disabilities. Applications from people with disabilities are expressly encouraged.

We are committed to promoting diversity and actively combating prejudice based on gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, and other components of identity. The MPI-GEA received the TOTAL E-QUALITY award for this commitment to diversity and equality.

Application and Contact

Please submit your application by April 12th, 2026. It should include:

• A cover letter
• A CV of no more than 3 pages
• A short, maximum 3-page proposal (excluding references) of your ideas for a dissertation topic linked to the above themes
• If applicable, a list of at most 10 publications
• A copy of the last thesis (bachelor's or master's thesis)
• Any relevant certificates

You are also required to ask two referees to submit letters of recommendation, which are also due by April 12th, 2026.

Referees should independently submit their letters as a pdf file to the mail address by the same deadline.

Contact For More Information

Prof. Dr. Patrick Roberts

Email: