The Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) in Potsdam, Germany—the national research center for solid Earth sciences—is recruiting doctoral candidates for four fully funded PhD positions across geochemistry, paleoclimatology, and environmental Earth sciences.
Iso-Orbi Project & Paleoclimate Geochemistry
One of the primary featured positions (Ref. 11412) is within the Iso-Orbi Project in the Section of Organic and Earth Surface Geochemistry. This project utilizes high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry to simultaneously analyze multi-element stable isotope signatures in organic molecules extracted from lake and marine sediment cores. Key research focus areas across the four doctoral projects include:
- Developing high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry methods for compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA).
- Reconstructing paleoclimate transitions and organic carbon preservation in marine and lacustrine sediment archives.
- Investigating rock physics, volcano deformation hazards, and subsurface geochemistry for environmental risk assessment.
Funding & Research Environment
- Employment Duration: 3 years (36 months full-time contract).
- Location: GFZ Campus, Potsdam, Germany (near Berlin).
- Salary Grade: Fully funded according to the German public sector collective agreement (TVöD-Bund E13 scale).
- Infrastructure: Access to state-of-the-art mass spectrometry facilities, high-performance computing, and international marine expedition networks.
Candidate Requirements
- M.Sc. degree in Geochemistry, Earth Sciences, Marine Geology, Environmental Chemistry, Geophysics, or related physical sciences.
- Experience or strong interest in analytical laboratory work, chromatography, mass spectrometry, or R/Python data processing.
- High motivation for interdisciplinary Earth system science and fluency in English.
Application Deadline & How to Apply
Candidates must submit their application documents online via the GFZ Potsdam job portal. Application deadlines range by sub-project, with the Iso-Orbi organic isotope geochemistry project accepting applications until 19 August 2026.