Postdoctoral Ecohydrologist in tracer-aided, ecohydrological modeling
Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, IGB, Berlin, Germany
We offer an interesting position in an international and dynamic scientific environment. We foster flat hierarchies and active participation. We allow maximum individual freedom, enabling everyone to develop and use their creativity to the best of their abilities. We foster your career development by providing qualification and training opportunities. We actively support the reconciliation of work and family life.
The IGB is committed to diversity. We welcome every qualified application, regardless of sex and gender, origin, nationality, religion, belief, health and disabilities, age or sexual orientation. Disabled applicants with equal qualification and aptitude will be given preferential consideration.
Hydrological Sciences (HS)
The research group “Landscape Ecohydrology”, led by Prof Doerthe Tetzlaff, in the Department of Ecohydrology & Biogeochemistry of IGB (Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries) in Berlin is inviting applications for the position of a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (24 months, with the possibility of extension, fulltime with less % possible) starting from 1.4.2025. The project is part of a major project funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) “WETSCAPES2.0: Sinks, links and legacies of novel ecosystems in rewetted fen landscapes”. WETSCAPES2.0 combines expertise from University of Greifswald, University of Rostock, the IGB Berlin, GFZ Potsdam, LUM München, the MPI for Biogeochemistry Jena and the Humboldt-University Berlin. Focus of WETSCAPES2.0 is the functional understanding of rewetted fens, including coastal peatlands. The rewetting of previously drained and often agriculturally used fens results in the development of novel ecosystems that differ from natural peatlands and are largely unexplored. The planned monitoring, experimental and modeling research emphasizes biogeochemical, hydrological and biological processes, focusing on water and matter fluxes within and beyond the peat body and their associated microbiological and biological drivers. In addition to site-level studies, the role of rewetted fens in the broader landscape is investigated. For more details about the overarching research questions, specific topics, training program and contact persons please visit http://www.uni-greifswald.de/wetscapes2.
This project aims to advance and test the capacity of process-based, tracer-aided, ecohydrological modeling frameworks and investigate the hydrological functioning of rewetted fens from the plot scale up to the landscape scale in terms of spatial patterns and temporal dynamics of water storage, pathways and release. For this, we will integrate tracer approaches of stable water isotopes (deuterium, oxygen) and water chemistry linked within advanced tracer-aided models. We seek a dynamic, motivated and ambitious young scientist to join an existing interdisciplinary science and modelling team on Landscape Ecohydrology to support the evolution and growth of tracer-aided ecohydrological modelling in peatlands. It is expected that the modelling will utilise existing data sets from instrumented peatland research sites in Mecklenburg- Vorpommern and Brandenburg, Germany. The successful candidate will have experience in the development and application of numerical models for different purposes, across various scales and environmental science contexts. The successful candidate should be experienced in combining process-based (hydrological) understanding with strong numerical / computational skills. Experience with programming is essential. Expertise in remote sensing & data assimilation and / or incorporation of tracers into hydrological models would be advantageous. Access to high-performance computer clusters is available to facilitate use and development of “state of the art” research models.
Your role
- Integrated analysis of stable water isotopes and other tracers (water chemistry)
- Applying a tracer-aided modelling framework to assess and quantify dynamics in water storage and different ecohydrological fluxes
- Assessing the effects of land use and climatic variability on the ecohydrology of peatland landscapes
Your profile
- A PhD or equivalent (or being close to receiving a PhD) in hydrology, geoecology or a related field of environmental science or environmental engineering
- Excellent programming and numerical skills
- Experience in the development and application of numerical models at various scales and different environmental science contexts
- A strong publication record in internationally leading journals (commensurate with career stage)
- Strong English language skills both in oral and written communication
- Ability to work in a team environment
We look forward to receiving your application with the usual documents (cover letter, CV, at least 2 reference letters or contact details for 2 referees) by 17.1.2025. Please state the job reference number [filled out by the HR office] and apply exclusively via our recruitment platform at www.igb-berlin.de/en/jobs.
Questions can be directed to Professor Dörthe Tetzlaff by e-mail (doerthe.tetzlaff@igb-berlin.de).