Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/d) in the field of "Effects of climate and management on carbon storage and greenhouse gas emissions from German forests"
Organizational unit
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Job description
The division "Landscape Biogeochemistry" of the Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research / Atmospheric Environmental Research (KIT/IMKIFU) at Campus Alpin in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, invites applications for a postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/d).
The announced position is embedded in the BMFTR-funded collaborative projekt "ForestOvershoot" and will be carried out in close collaboration with project partners from German research organizations, universities and the private sector. Within the project KIT Campus Alpin LandscapeDNDC model will be applied to quantify ecosystem functions of forests, such as climate protection services (sink/source funktion for greenhouse gases) as influenced by nitrogen and water availability. We will assess threats to these services retrospectively, but also by simulating furture developments based on assumptions about forest management as well as climate and atmospheric deposition changes.
The successful candidate will
- Initialize, evaluate and adapt the process-based LandscapeDNDC model (LandscapeDNDC: a regional-scale DNDC-based process model) on selected sites using available measurements.
- Prepare input data for national scale applications and run LandscapeDNDC simulations; retrospectively and as scenario studies.
- Interpet and discuss model results in close collaboration with project partners.
Starting date
01.01.2026
Personal qualification
We seek a highly motivated person experienced in forest and biogeochemical modeling who likes to get to the bottom of things and enjoys working in a team with the following qualifications:
- A successfully completed academic university degree (Master's) with a completed doctorate in environmental sciences, forestry, geoecology, physics, chemistry, or any related field
- Sound programming skills (C/C++, Fortran, SVN, Git, Python, R, Bash)
- Experience in forest ecosystem modeling
- Understanding of biogeochemical carbon and nitrogen cycles in plant-soil systems
- English language proficiency and ability to write scientific publications
- Strong communication and teamwork skills
This is what we offer
Become a member of staff of the only German University of Excellence that conducts large-scale research on the national level. Work under excellent working conditions in an international environment and be active in research and academic education for our future. Benefit from specific training when starting your job and from a wide range of further qualification offers. Use our flexible working time models (flexitime, work from home).
Salary
Salary category 13 TV-L, depending on the fulfillment of professional and personal requirements.
Contract duration
limited to 3 years
Application up to
09.11.2025
Contact person in line-management
For further information, please contact PD Dr. Ralf Kiese (ralf.kiese@kit.edu).
Please apply online using the button below for this vacancy number 430/2025.
Vacancy number: 430/2025
We prefer to balance the number of employees (f/m/d). Therefore we kindly ask female applicants to apply for this job. Recognized severely disabled persons will be preferred if they are equally qualified.Contact
Personnel Support is provided by:
Personalservice (PSE) - Human Resources
Ms Rink
Phone: +49 721 608-25004,