We are looking to recruit a PhD Position – Multi-scale high resolution near surface geophysics to image the soil-root zone of agricultural plants
The IBG-3 conducts research to improve our understanding of hydrological and biogeochemical processes in terrestrial systems. Our research contributes to the sustainable and resource-conserving use of soils and water. In the IBG-3, advanced modelling and inversion algorithms are developed and applied for a wide range of hydrogeophysical studies using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) systems. To meet the challenges of an increasing population in a changing climate, it is highly important to develop innovative and sustainable management strategies for agricultural cropping systems.
Such management strategies concern the organization of the soil-root system as well as the availability of water and nutrients. It is therefore crucial to develop methods that allow for a quantification of roots, water, and nutrients in the soil with high spatial and temporal resolution. Geophysical methods such as GPR are often used to investigate the soil-plant system to link physical soil properties to relevant hydrological and biochemical properties and processes of the soil-plant-atmosphere system.
Your Job:
The successful candidate will deal with the development and application of high resolution time-lapse GPR imaging methods (e.g., full-waveform inversion) at multiple scales to enhance the understanding of the soil-root system, The aim is to find links between non-invasive geophysical monitoring, 3D root-soil modelling and the availability of N in the soil, By investigating different scales from the root-system scale up to the field scale, the goal is to improve the small-scale process understanding controlling soil-plant interactions and to extend the gained understanding to the large scale to be used in precision agricultural management.
A significant part of the position consists of applying and analyzing GPR at the different scales ranging from soil column to horizontal boreholes at the plot-scale and field-scale, The project offers the unique opportunity to connect novel processing and inversion techniques to real data from different scales and link the findings to relevant processes of the soil-plant system.
Your Profile:
- University degree (Master) in geophysics, physics, geoscience, computational geoscience, or related natural sciences with an overall grade of at least “good
- Experience in programming (e.g., matlab, phyton, C/C++) and parallel computing
- Advanced knowledge of numerical methods
- Geophysical fieldwork experience, preferably with GPR
- Strong English writing skills
- Since the work involves interdisciplinary cooperation with several researchers and technicians, good communication and organizational skills are essential
Our Offer:
- Working in an interdisciplinary environment as well as excellent facilities for hydrogeophysical research and numerical simulation and inversion studies,
- Opportunities to being part of the national and international scientific community
- PhD students are encouraged to attend international conferences and a three months research stay abroad with a cooperating partner is planned
- A large research campus with green spaces, offering the best possible means for networking with colleagues and pursuing sports alongside work. Targeted services for international employees, e.g. through our International Advisory Service
The employment of doctoral researchers at Jülich is governed by a doctoral contract, which usually has a term of three years. Pay is in line with 75% of pay group 13 of the Collective Agreement for the Public Service (TVöD-Bund) and additionally 60 % of a monthly salary as special payment („Christmas bonus“).
We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.
We look forward to receiving your application. The job will be advertised until the position has been successfully filled. You should therefore submit your application as soon as possible.