PhD position (m/f/d) | Top-down partitioning of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) on regional scales

The Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry (MPI-BGC) in Jena is dedicated to interdisciplinary fundamental research in the field of Earth system sciences with a focus on climate and ecosystems. The internationally renowned institute, which currently employs around 250 people, celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022. Jena is known for high-tech industry, internationally renowned research institutions and a modern university, but it also has a beautiful natural setting in the green Saale valley with steep limestone slopes. The city of Jena has an active student scene and a diverse cultural life. We are looking to fill a PhD position (m/f/d) – Top-down partitioning of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) on regional scales for 3 years, starting in September 2025 at the earliest.

Background and position description

The Amazon Tall Tower Observatory (ATTO)project is a German-Brazilian research collaboration dedicated to improving our understanding of processes in intact Amazonian forests and their interactions with the atmosphere in the changing Earth system. Building on insights gained from previous and ongoing observational studies at ATTO, this project aims to use atmospheric transport inversion techniques to estimate gross carbon fluxes (photosynthesis – GPP and respiration – TER) at regional scales. Past work has focused on Net Biome Exchange (NBE) using daytime mole fractions, this PhD project will extend this application so nocturnal measurements can be assimilated and thus obtain independent constraints on ecosystem respiration.

We will integrate ATTO Tall Tower measurements into the CarboScope Regional Inversion system, extending previous analyses of net carbon exchange in tropical South America. Key Research Questions addressed by this PhD position are: (i) What drives the seasonal variability of NEE-photosynthesis or respiration-both regionally and within the ATTO footprint? (ii) How does the ATTO footprint contribute to the larger regional carbon balance?

This project is part of the BMBF-funded ATTO-Synthesis project, an international and highly collaborative project. We seek a highly motivated person to work on this project, advised by Dr. Santiago Botía with close collaboration with Dr. Christoph Gerbig of the Atmosphere-biosphere Signal Attribution (BSAT) and Atmospheric measurements and mesoscale modeling (ATM) groups at the Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena. For questions about the project, please do not hesitate to contact the advisors.

Your tasks

• Improve nighttime boundary layer height in an atmospheric transport model using local estimates
• Use the VPRM model to obtain a priori fluxes for the Inversion
• Use and develop further the Jena CarboScope regional inversion system using ATTO data to obtain gross biosphere-atmosphere exchange fluxes
• Compare respiration results with other independent approaches: vegetation models, ¹³C-CO₂ isotope
• Interact with other groups of the ATTO project in Brazil and Germany

Your profile

• Diploma or Master´s degree in geosciences, environmental sciences, physics, atmospheric sciences, or related disciplines
• Comfortable with statistics, mathematics, and knowledge in the carbon cycle
• Curious about the Amazon rainforest and willing to expand her/his knowledge in related disciplines
• Experience with programming (Python, Julia or other languages) and atmospheric transport modeling is beneficial
• Very good written and spoken English

Our offer

The full-time position as a PhD researcher (m/f/d) is to be filled with a start in September 2025 or later. Part-time work is generally possible. The position will be evaluated and graded following the collective agreement according to TVöD Bund. The Max Planck Society (MPS) strives for gender equality and diversity. The MPS aims to increase the proportion of women in areas where they are underrepresented. Women are therefore explicitly encouraged to apply. We welcome applications from all fields. The Max Planck Society has set itself the goal of employing more severely disabled people. Applications from severely disabled persons are expressly encouraged.

Your application

Are you interested? Please send us your application with cover letter, curriculum vitae as well as names and contact information of two references summarised in a PDF file (max. 10 MB) by June 15, 2025, quoting the reference number 11/2025 by e-mail to bewerbung@bgc-jena.mpg.de or to the

Max-Planck-Institut für Biogeochemie
Personalbüro: Kennwort „PhD position 2”
Hans-Knöll-Straße 10
07745 Jena
Germany

We ask that you do not use application folders, but only submit copies, as your documents will be destroyed in accordance with data protection regulations after the application process has been completed. We look forward to receiving your application!