Three PhD Funded Positions for the research area of Soil Sciences at The University of Bayreuth in Germany:
1 – PhD position (m/f/d) for the research area of Soil Physics:
Chair of Soil Physics, The Chair of Soil Physics at the Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Geosciences, University of Bayreuth, Germany, offers a PhD position (m/f/d) in Soil Physics
The position starts in October 2023 and is limited until 30.09.2026, and serves to promote a scientific qualification (doctorate). The remuneration is based on salary group 13 TV-L in part-time 65%.
The Chair of Soil Physics aims at the understanding and characterization of mass and energy fluxes in soils, including the non-linear feedbacks between plants, soil ecology and soil chemistry. Research topics include, but not limited to:
- Multiscale experimental quantification of water flow, solute transport, and heat flow in soils,
- Soil structure development and turnover
- Characterizing soil bio-physical properties at the pore and at the continuum scale,
- Multidisciplinary research and modelling of the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum.
The group is part of the Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER) with more than 60 senior researchers and postdocs.
The Project:
Soils are dynamic systems and soil physical properties are constantly changing in time and in space. For example, the temporal variation of soil hydraulic properties affects water dynamics, such as evaporation/transpiration fluxes, groundwater recharge and solute transport and leaching.
However, these changes are not well understood, and they are not included in our theoretical concepts. We hypothesize that incorporating the temporal changes of soil hydraulic properties into state-of-the-art hydrological models will improve prediction of water dynamics, especially in the prospect of a changing climate.
Your job is to conduct laboratory and field experiments on characterizing short- and long-term changes of soil hydraulic properties and how they affect dynamic water flow.
Your profile:
- Master’s degree in environmental science or any related field (geo-ecology, agronomy, hydrology, geology, material science, numerical modelling, etc.)
- Solid background in environmental natural sciences with a focus in soil physics and/or soil hydrology.
- Interest in developing and conducting experimental hands-on work in lab and field conditions.
- Interest in test and develop models
- Ability to work independently and in a structured manner.
- Interest in developing your own research profile.
- Team spirit
- Very good knowledge of English (written and spoken)
What you can expect:
- Experience in modern experimental methods in soil physics
- Possibility to get teaching experience
- Constructive working atmosphere in a friendly, open-minded, interdisciplinary and international team
- Independent research activity for a doctorate in basic and application-oriented research in a socially relevant topic
- Network of exciting national and international scientists and the opportunity for research stays in other groups
- Flexible working hours
- Company health management
- Compatibility of family and career
The University of Bayreuth values the diversity of its employees and is expressly committed to the goal of gender equality. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants with children are very welcome.
The University of Bayreuth is a member of the Best Practice Network “Familie in der Hochschule e.V.”, and has successfully participated in the HRK audit “Internationalization of the University”. Persons with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration if equally qualified.
Please submit your application materials (CV and a 1 A4 page motivation letter) by 14.07.2023 online via the application portal of the University of Bayreuth, stating the password ‘Soil Physics‘.
The documents will be deleted after the position has been filled in accordance with data protection requirements. For questions regarding the advertised position, please contact Prof. Dr. Efstathios Diamantopoulos: efstathios.diamantopoulos@uni-bayreuth.de
2 – PhD position (m/f/d) in Forest Biogeochemistry:
Chair of Soil Ecology, We invite applications for a PhD position (m/f/d) in an interdisciplinary DFG research project at the University of Bayreuth. The position is limited to three years and may begin in April or later in 2023. The salary is in accordance with the German Public Service salary scale (TV-L E13) with 65% of the regular working hours. PhD position (m/f/d) in Forest Biogeochemistry Deadwood as source of humus in forest ecosystems
The project is part of a long-term and large-scale deadwood experiment (BELongDead) within the Biodiversity Exploratories. In this experiment, functions and process rates of lying deadwood of 13 tree species have been studied at 30 forest sites in three regions in Germany for more than 14 years.
This project focusses on the production and traits of humus from decomposing deadwood which is considered as potential source of carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems. It combines field observations, chemical and spectral analyses and microbial processes to assess the quality, stability and functions of tree species specific deadwood humus.
Stable isotopes (13C, 15N, 18O) will be applied to quantify microbial process rates including microbial growth, turnover, carbon use efficiency, respiration and nitrogen fixation. In cooperation with project partners, the relationship between chemical-microbial traits and microbial communities of deadwood humus is being investigated.
Qualifications
- Successfully completed Master’s degree in geoecology, soil science, biology, ecological microbiology, environmental sciences or similar
- Experience in lab and field work
- Experience in working with stable isotope techniques, wood chemistry, microbiology, statistical analyses is desirable
- Proficiency in English and very good writing skills
The doctoral researcher will benefit from interdisciplinary cooperation with the project partners from the consortium of the BELongDead experiment as well as the DFG Priority Programme ‘Biodiversity-exploratories‘.
The University of Bayreuth is an equal opportunities employer and places particular emphasis on fostering career opportunities for women. Qualified women are therefore strongly encouraged to apply as they are underrepresented in this field. Disabled persons with equivalent aptitude will be favored.
Please apply online with all relevant documents (application letter, CV, copies of records of your BSc and MSc, documents showing research experience if applicable, references) using the keyword „BELongDead“ via our Application Portal Uni Bayreuth. Review of applications will start on February 15, 2023, and will continue until the position is filled.
The documents will be deleted after the position has been filled in accordance with data protection requirements. If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Dr. Werner Borken (werner.borken@uni-bayreuth.de)
3 – PhD Position (m/f/d) for the simulation of microplastic transport in soils:
The DFG-funded Collaborative Research Centre 1357 Microplastics and the Theoretical Physics VI
The University of Bayreuth is a research-oriented university with internationally and interdisciplinary profile areas in research and teaching. The DFG-funded Collaborative Research Centre 1357 Microplastics and the Theoretical Physics VI group has a vacancy for a PhD Position (m/f/d) for the simulation of microplastic transport in soils
The position is initially limited until the end of the project 31.12.2026 and serves to promote a scientific qualification (doctorate). The remuneration is based on salary group 13 TV-L in part-time.
The CRC 1357 Microplastics:
The DFG-funded Collaborative Research Centre Microplastics links the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics and Earth Sciences at the University of Bayreuth. In its second funding period (2023-2026), the CRC 1357 investigates the biological effects of microplastics on various organisms, the transport of microplastics in and between air, water and soil, the formation and aging of microplastics and new approaches to solutions in the field of environmentally friendly plastics.
A PhD within the CRC 1357 Microplastics means participating in an interdisciplinary team, working in an application-oriented research field and making a significant contribution to answering fundamental questions.
PhD students can receive a structured professional and interdisciplinary qualification through the University of Bayreuth Graduate School and the BayNAT – PhD Program Interdisciplinary Microplastics Sciences and network intensively with PhD students from all participating disciplines.
Your task:
Within the theoretical project B06 “Behaviour and transport of microplastics in disturbed and undisturbed soils” you will investigate the transport of microplastic particles in natural soils. The goal of the project is to understand the physical mechanics which drive or hinder infiltration and transport through the porous soil matrix.
You will heavily use methods of computational fluid dynamics such as Lattice-Boltzmann, Immersed-Boundary and Volume-of-Fluid. Due to the large separation of length scales, the project is very challenging from a numerical point of view.
For roughly one third of the project you will be concerned with developing an appropriate simulation code in C++/OpenCL. In the remaining two thirds, you will carry out large-scale simulations on local, national and European supercomputer facilities. You will collaborate closely with our experimental partners in Bayreuth and Cologne.
Your profile:
- Successfully completed university degree (master’s, diploma or equivalent degree) in theoretical physics, computational mathematics/engineering, geosciences or a similar discipline
- Good programming skills are required
- A background in fluid mechanics is desirable, but not explicitly required
- Ability to work independently and in a structured manner
- Commitment, high flexibility, team spirit
- Very good knowledge of English (written and spoken)
What you can expect:
- Constructive working atmosphere in a friendly, open-minded, interdisciplinary and international team
- Independent research activity for a doctorate in basic and application-oriented research in a socially relevant topic
- Doctorate in the structured doctoral program “Interdisciplinary Microplastics Science” with opportunities for further individual and interdisciplinary qualification
- Network of exciting national and international scientists and the opportunity for research stays in other groups
- Flexible working hours with option for extended home-office and remote work
- Company health management
- Compatibility of family and career
The University of Bayreuth values the diversity of its employees as an enrichment and is explicitly committed to the goal of equal opportunities for men and women. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants with children are very welcome.
The University of Bayreuth is a member of the Best Practice Club “Familie in der Hochschule e.V.”, and has successfully participated in the HRK audit “Internationalization of the University”. Persons with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration if they are equally qualified.
Please apply online with meaningful application documents (letter of motivation, CV and references) via our Application Portal Uni Bayreuth. Call identifier: SFB1357-B06
The documents will be deleted after filling the position according to the requirements of data protection. Contact person for inquiries is Prof. Dr. Stephan Gekle: stephan.gekle@uni-bayreuth.de, Phone +49 921 55-4462