Stellendetails zu: Research Scientist / Postdoc (f_m_x) in Hydrology

GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung; Potsdam; Vor Ort; EUR 40.000 - 55.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Ein führendes Forschungszentrum in Potsdam sucht einen Research Scientist/Postdoc in Hydrologie für die Entwicklung von Lösungen für Wasserextreme. Sie übernehmen die Verantwortung für die Implementierung von hydrologischen Modellen und die Simulation verschiedener Szenarien. Der Bewerber sollte über einen PhD in relevanten Fächern sowie Erfahrung in statistischer Datenanalyse und Programmierung verfügen. Die Stelle bietet vielfältige Aufgaben in einem dynamischen internationalen Forschungsteam.

Leistungen

State-of-the-art equipment

Flexible working hours

Institute day-care centre on site

Extensive training opportunities

Qualifikationen

• Abschluss als Master und PhD in Hydrologie oder verwandten Disziplinen.
• Erfahrung mit hydrologischen Modellen für Wasserressourcenforschung.
• Verständnis des terrestrischen Wasserkreislaufs, insbesondere des Hochwasserrisikos.

Aufgaben

• Entwicklung von Handlungsszenarien in Zusammenarbeit mit Stakeholdern.
• Implementierung hydrologischer Modelle für die Zielregionen.
• Präsentation von Forschungsergebnissen in Fachzeitschriften.

Kenntnisse

Beherrschung von hydrologischen und hydrodynamischen Modellen

Statistische Datenanalyse

Maschine Lernen

Entwicklung von Forschungsmethoden

Fließend Englisch

Kommunikationsfähigkeit

Ausbildung

PhD in Hydrologie, Umweltwissenschaften oder verwandten Disziplinen

Master-Abschluss

Tools

Fortran

Python

Git

Jobbeschreibung

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 4.4 Hydrology (department “Geosystems”), we are looking for a:
Research Scientist / Postdoc (f_m_x) in Hydrology
Reference Number 10904
Helmholtz Solution Lab Rur Erft (SLRE)
In the frame of the Helmholtz "Water Safety and Security" campaign, the Solution Lab Rur Erft (SLRE) aims to develop solutions, engineering and nature‑based, for coping with water extremes - both droughts and floods in the Rur and Erft basins. Thus, in the context of too much water, but often not enough, identifying solutions in front of the background of multiple sources of uncertainty represents a key challenge for future water safety and security, as well as climate change adaptation. The SLRE approach is based on developing digital twins used to simulate storylines and explore solution spaces in an interactive solution room, in close collaboration with partners at other Helmholtz Centres and regional stakeholders, through a co‑design and transfer‑by‑design approach.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to an iterative development of storylines in close cooperation with strakeholders
• Implement hydrologic and hydrodynamic models according to the storylines for the focus regions
• Contribute to the implementation of the models within a digital twin
• Engage in simulating various storyline scenarios and explore results with project partners and stakeholders
• Present and publish research results at scientific meetings and peer‑reviewed journals

Qualifications

• A Master's Degree and a PhD (certificate available at the start of the work contract) in Hydrology, Environmental Sciences or related disciplines
• Demonstrated experience in the application of hydrological and hydrodynamic models for water resources research
• Solid understanding of the terrestrial water cycle, particularly of the flood risk system
• Experience in statistical data analysis, machine learning and AI‑based modelling
• Experience in research software development and open‑science workflows (e.g., Fortran, Python, Git)
• Publication record demonstrating independent research ability
• Fluency in English (written and oral)
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Start date: As soon as possible
Fixed‑term: 36 Monate
Salary: Die Stelle ist nach TVöD Bund (Tarifgebiet Ost) mit der Entgeltgruppe 13 bewertet. Die Eingruppierung erfolgt nach den tariflichen Bestimmungen und den entsprechenden persönlichen Voraussetzungen.
Working hours: Vollzeit (derzeit 39 h/Woche); Die Stelle ist grundsätzlich teilzeitgeeignet.
Place of work: Potsdam

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 benefit@work
• 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

Have we piqued your interest?
If so, we look forward to receiving your application by 4th January 2026.
Required documents: CV and letter of motivation
Desirable documents: references, certificates/grades
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 Dr. Sergiy Vorogushyneither via email. If you have any general questions about the application process, please contact our recruiting team at our phone number [phone].