Founded in 1409, Leipzig University is one of Germany’s largest universities and a leader in research and medical training. With around 30,000 students and more than 5000 members of staff across 14 faculties, it is at the heart of the vibrant and outward-looking city of Leipzig. Leipzig University offers an innovative and international working environment as well as an exciting range of career opportunities in research, teaching, knowledge and technology transfer, infrastructure and administration.
The Institute for Geography at the Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences seeks to fill the above position at the earliest opportunity.
The research assistant position is embedded in the research project “Local pathways to the Fluvial Anthroposphere at Echaz (Rhine) and Eger (Danube). A comparative analysis from c. AD 1100 to 1800” in the context of the newly established Priority Programme 2361 “On the Way to the Fluvial Anthroposphere”. The position will be funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) for a total period of 36 months and involves a PhD project. Floodplains in Central Europe are subject to massive human influences, which already led to significant ecological changes in the pre-industrial era. The main goal of the doctoral project is a comparative reconstruction of the impact of urban craft and waste disposal on pre-industrial floodplain pollution. For this purpose, fluvial geomorphological field surveys will be conducted and granulometric, geochemical, environmental and geochronological parameters and provenance tracers from fluvial sediment archives are to be analysed, evaluated and published within an interdisciplinary and international team.
About the position
• Fixed term of 3 years
• 65 % of a full-time position
• Planned remuneration: salary group 13 TV-L
Duties
• Participation in geophysical and geomorphological field work and in the floodplain drilling programmes within the Echaz and Eger river systems of southern Germany
• Sediment sampling, physicochemical, and geochronological analyses
• Interpretation of geophysical and drilling transects, the building up of floodplain chronostratigraphies and of the geochemical pollution footprint in both study regions
• Data management, data storage and data processing
• Uni-, bi- and multivariate statistical analyses
• Conducting multi-proxy analyses
• Publication and presentation of data
• Working within an international research team
• Project management and organisation
Requirements
• Scientific higher education (e.g. master’s degree) in one of the following disciplines: physical geography, geosciences, soil science, geoarchaeology, palaeogeography or a related discipline
• Knowledge of physicochemical soil/sediment analysis (field and laboratory)
• Knowledge of multi-proxy approaches and multivariate statistics
• Knowledge of GIS applications
• Knowledge and interest in ecotoxicological and isotopic (Nd, Sr and Pb) parameters would be an advantage
• Knowledge of geomorphological and geoarchaeological field methods and geochronological analyses would be an advantage
• Willingness to work in an interdisciplinary research team
• Very good English skills, German would be an advantage
• Driving licence
What we offer
• A modern workplace and attractive working conditions (mobile working)
• Flexible working hours and work-life balance
• Goal-oriented staff development throughout your working life, with opportunities for continuing professional development
• Pension plan
• Commuter pass for the MDV network
Please send your application with the usual documents (CV with certificates and description of your qualifications), quoting reference number 98/2023, to: Leipzig University, Dean of the Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, Professor Marius Grundmann, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany by 21 April 2023. You are also welcome to email your application as a single PDF file to dekan@physik.uni-leipzig.de. Please note that it is not possible to guarantee confidentiality and rule out unauthorised access by third parties when communicating by unencrypted email.
We kindly request that you submit copies only, as we are unable to return application documents. Interview expenses will not be reimbursed.
Leipzig University aims to increase the proportion of women in positions of responsibility and therefore expressly invites qualified women to apply. Severely disabled persons – or persons deemed legally equal to them under Book IX of the German Social Code – are encouraged to apply and will be given preference in the case of equal suitability.
Please contact the project leader Professor Christoph Zielhofer (zielhofer@uni-leipzig.de) with any questions regarding the position.
More Information here: Geographie_PhD_position_Echaz_Eger_eng