Researcher (PostDoc)

Job posting (PHY 04/2024)

The Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW) has a temporary vacancy (subject to financing) as a

Researcher (PostDoc)

for the period 01.11.2024 – 30.11.2026 and a percentage of 100 % (40 h/week). Remuneration is paid in accordance with the Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst der Länder (TV-L , Public Sector Collective Agreement on Länder ) salary scale at level 13.

The position can also be filled on a flexible part-time with a minimum of 30 hours per week.

Who are we?

The IOW is an independent research institute of the Leibniz Association for which equal opportunities, family friendliness and work-life balance are very important. Our research focus is on the coastal and marginal seas, especially the Baltic Sea. The staff of the four sections Physical Oceanography and Instrumentation, Marine Chemistry, Biological Oceanography and Marine Geology collaborate on an interdisciplinary basis as part of a joint research programme.

What will be your tasks?

Coastal waters around the world are contaminated with munitions left over from world wars. In the German part of the North and Baltic Seas in particular, there are around 1.6 million tons of munitions. The exact distribution and condition of these munitions in German waters are largely unknown. This ammunition poses not only a considerable explosion and safety risk, but also contains cytotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic chemicals associated with conventional explosives, chemical warfare agents and other ammunition components.

The advertised position is part of the BMBF-funded project “Modelling the drift of explosive-typical compounds (STV) in the coastal ocean and investigations of clearance strategies (CONMAR, conmar-munition.eu/de/)”. In cooperation with eight national project partners, clearance strategies are to be investigated and developed.

The aim of the research is to analyse the transport of explosive compounds in coastal waters in order to gain a better understanding of the distribution and ecological effects of these substances. Furthermore, strategies for the safe clearance and monitoring of these hazardous legacies are to be developed.

Tasks:

• Conduct numerical investigations using high-resolution baroclinic setups of the western Baltic Sea and the German Bight that already exist at IOW, with the coastal ocean model GETM (General Estuarine Transport Model, www.getm.eu).
• Investigate and analyse the transport of dissolved STVs.
• Estimate the source strengths of individual dumping areas.
• Investigate the transport of particulate STVs using particle tracking models.
• Improve the scientific understanding of the role, fate and environmental impacts of dumped munitions.
• Develop political solutions for the monitoring and remediation of affected areas in cooperation with stakeholders.
• Publish results in relevant international journals

We are looking for committed and qualified scientists who want to make a significant contribution to the protection of our coastal waters.

What do we expect from you?

The successful candidate will have a PhD in meteorology, oceanography or a related natural or geoscientific discipline with a strong physical-mathematical component. The candidate should have proven skills in independent scientific work and an appropriate number of publications. Since the project duration is relatively short, we also expect proven experience in the application and configuration of coastal ocean models, in particular ROMS (www.myroms.org) or GETM (www.getm.eu), and their use on high-performance computers. If this is not the case, proven experience in the application and development of particle tracking models can also be considered as a qualification. A basic understanding of the physical processes of the Baltic and North Seas would also be an advantage.

For this position, a solid knowledge of high-performance computers, the Linux/Unix operating systems, and the Fortran programming language is required. Experience in the visualization and scientific analysis of large amounts of data using programs such as Python, R, Julia, or Matlab is also expected. The ability to work in a team and a good to very good knowledge of English are essential for international cooperation with partners.

We also explicitly encourage scientists who have recently completed their PhDs with excellent results or are about to complete their PhDs and who fulfill the above requirements to apply. In these cases, the quality of the publications from the doctoral thesis will be evaluated as a criterion for employment.

What does the IOW offer?

IOW offers you a varied workplace in the immediate vicinity of the Baltic Sea (Work at sea) with flexible working arrangements, e.g. the possibility of working from home or remotely and a company health management. A very good infrastructure with modern laboratory and office equipment, including our own research vessel, form the framework for the best working conditions.

How do we promote equal opportunities ?

Our job offers are aimed at all people regardless of their gender. Research benefits from a diverse working environment, which is why we have signed the Diversity Charter.

IOW aims to specifically promote women in areas where they are underrepresented. For this purpose, the institute has given itself a plan to promote equality (plan for the equal opportunities committee at the IOW) and has repeatedly been awarded the Total E-Quality award for its commitment (website TOTAL E-QUALITY e. V.) Female applicants are given preference in the case of equal qualifications and suitability, as the position belongs to a working group in which women are underrepresented.   You can find an overview of our measures for equal opportunities and for improving the compatibility of work and family on our website.

We give preference to applications from disabled persons with equal professional and personal suitability. Please mention the disability or equality in your letter of application and enclose a copy of the relevant certificate.

How to apply?

Please send us your application documents with cover letter, CV, copies of your certificates, description of relevant activities and experiences as well as references, in a single document.

We look forward to receiving your application as one PDF file, quoting the keyword: PHY 04/2024by 31.08.2024 to: bewerbung.physik@io-warnemuende.de

or

Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde

Human Resources Department

Seestraße 15

18119 Rostock

Germany

The interviews will take place online (Zoom). The date is September 26, 2024.

Unfortunately, we cannot cover your application and travel costs.

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Ulf Gräwe (ulf.graewe(at)io-warnemuende.de)

or find out more at www.io-warnemuende.de.