PhD position (m/f/d)

The climate needs bright minds. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) addresses crucial scientific questions in the fields of global change, climate impacts and sustainable development. It is one of the world's leading research institutions in its field and offers natural and social scientists from around the world an inspiring environment for excellent interdisciplinary research.

For the working group “Past and Future Earth” (PATH) within the Research Department “Earth System Analysis”, PIK is offering a

PhD position (m/f/d)

(Position number: 21-2025 PhD PATH)

in the field of paleoclimate modelling, starting as soon as possible.

The position is funded for 36 months. Remuneration is in accordance with the German public tariff scheme (TV-L Brandenburg), salary group E 13. This is a part-time position with a weekly working time of 30 hours per week (75%).

The PhD position is funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and related to the major multi-national initiative “Deep Dust” supported by the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) and aiming to study the icehouse–hothouse transition during the Permian (299–252 million years ago) and extreme continental climate states.

Key responsibilities:

• To carry out and complete your own research towards a doctoral degree.
• Design, run, and analyse equilibrium simulations with a coupled Earth-system model of intermediate complexity to investigate the climate evolution through the Permian.
• Design, run, and analyse transient model simulations to study variations on orbital timescales for Permian icehouse and hothouse stages.
• Investigate extreme continental climate states using Earth-system model simulations
• Link model results to proxy data, in particular from the Deep Dust core
• Present the results at international conferences and publish them in scientific journals

Requirements:

• A master’s degree in physics, meteorology, geosciences or related fields relevant for Earth-system science.
• Experience in climate/Earth-system modelling is recommended.
• Practical experience with Linux/Unix, High Performance Computing, and scientific programming is recommended.
• Basic expertise with scientific data analysis.
• Good skills in scientific writing.

We expect:

• The ability to work independently and on your own initiative,
• a methodical and systematic approach ,
• structured and goal-oriented thinking,
• capacity to familiarise yourself quickly with new topics,
• creativity and openness to new approaches,
• a high level of competence in oral and written German and English,
• reliability, engagement, and a high level of motivation, and
• capacity for teamwork.

We offer:

• The opportunity to complete a high-quality dissertation within an excellent, collaborative, and transdisciplinary research environment
• a lively community of PhD students on the campus, offering the chance to engage and connect  - our PhD Representatives offer information and advice when needed
• the chance to be part of an engaged, interdisciplinary team,
• a stimulating working environment in an internationally recognised research institute on Potsdam's beautiful, historic Telegrafenberg campus, a short commuting distance from Berlin,
• company KITA/kids day nursery “Geolino” directly in the science park on Telegrafenberg, within walking distance of PIK
• flexi-time and mobile working (up to 50% of your hours),
• a collective pay scheme and associated benefits as well as a subsidized travel card or Deutschland-Ticket Job.

PIK values equality and diversity. We encourage applications without photo. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of ethnic and social origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, care responsibilities, or age. PIK seeks to increase the share of women in scientific positions and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply. In cases of equal qualification and within the given legal scope, women will be given preference. PIK also encourages applications by parents returning from parental leave.

Please apply by 02.07.2025 directly via our application form below this job advertisement on our website. Note that as long as the position has not been filled, this job ad will stay online and all applications will be considered, whenever they are submitted.

If you hold an international higher education qualification, please also submit a certificate evaluation from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) with your application. If you do not yet have a transcript evaluation, please note that you may have to request one if your application is successful. For further information, please visit the website: https://www.kmk.org/zab/central-office-for-foreign-education.html

For further information or to discuss the position please contact Prof. Dr. Georg Feulner.