PhD student - Climate Change (m/f/d)

Overview

Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon conducts cutting-edge international research. Around 1,000 employees contribute to tackling climate change, the sustainable use of coastal systems, and the enhancement of quality of life. The Institute of Coastal Systems seeks a Ph.D. candidate to develop and investigate riverine matter transport within Earth System Modelling, located in Geesthacht near Hamburg, Germany.

The Cluster of Excellence "Climate, Climatic Change, and Society" (CLICCS) investigates climate dynamics and climate-related social dynamics and their interactions. The envisaged start of the Ph.D. position is April 1, 2026, initially for three years. The position is part of the department Regional Land and Atmosphere Modelling within the Institute of Coastal Systems - System Analysis and Modelling at Hereon. Equal opportunity is an important part of our personnel policy, and we strongly encourage qualified women to apply.

Your tasks

The advertised position is part of the research project M4 - Earth system feedbacks in the land-ocean continuum within the 2nd phase of CLICCS. In CLICCS-M4, we are further developing the ICON-Coast model within the ICON Earth System Modelling Framework. The objective is to incorporate advanced dynamics of land-ocean coupling and extend the Hydrological Discharge (HD) model to include riverine matter transport, erosion and accretion. This will close a significant gap in matter transport representation within Earth system models. The matter loads entering the ocean affect sedimentation and morphological processes in the coastal ocean. The Ph.D. candidate will evaluate and investigate various aspects of current and future riverine matter transport using the developed extension.

For further information about the position, please contact Dr. Stefan Hagemann ( ).

Your profile

• Master's or comparable degree in meteorology, physics, geosciences or related field
• excellent programming skills (preferably in FORTRAN or Python)
• interest in interdisciplinary climate and coastal research

We offer you

• an exciting and varied job in a research centre with around 1,000 employees from more than 60 nations
• a well-connected research campus (public transport) and best networking opportunities, subsidy for the Deutschlandticket if certain conditions are met (job ticket)
• individual opportunities for further training
• social benefits according to the collective agreement of the public service and remuneration up to pay group 13 according to TV EntgO Bund
• an excellent technical infrastructure and modern workplace equipment
• 6 weeks holiday per year; company holidays between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• very good compatibility of private and professional life; offers of mobile and flexible work
• PhD Buddy Program
• family-friendly company policy with childcare facilities, e.g. nursery close to the company
• free assistance program for employees (EAP)
• corporate benefits
• a varied offer in the canteen on campus

Severely disabled persons and those equaling severely disabled persons who are equally suitable for the position will be considered preferentially within the framework of legal requirements.