1) Research Scientist for Global Hydrological Modeling and project coordination
(Postdoc, 100% E13 TV-G-U)
2) Research Scientist for Global Hydrological Modeling
(Ph.D. student, 100% E13 TV-G-U)
Contract terminability is according to “Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz“ and “Hessisches
Hochschulgesetz“. Hiring is contingent on approval of funding. The earliest starting date is 1
March 2018.
The Working Group Hydrology is a worldwide leading research group in the field of global
hydrological modeling. Applying and further developing the global water resources and use
model WaterGAP, a major aim is to achieve an improved assessment of water scarcity and
water-related risks due to climate variability and human impacts, in particular water use and
climate change.
The research scientists will be part of the interdisciplinary DFG research unit GlobalCDA
(Understanding the global freshwater system by combining geodetic and remote sensing
information with modelling using a calibration/data assimilation approach) which is coordinated
at the Chair of Hydrology. Eight other research groups from remote sensing/geodesy and
hydrological modeling are involved in the research unit. The main objective is to develop a
methodology for utilizing multiple types of observational data (river discharge, GRACE gravity
and various other remote sensing data) by means of calibration and data assimilation (C/DA)
of WaterGAP to enable an improved quantification of the dynamics of water fluxes and
storages. During the first phase (three years) of the research unit, the method will be developed
and tested for large river basins. During the envisaged second phase (three years), a globalscale
approach should be implemented. Within the sub-project of Goethe University, the
Postdoc will contribute to the design of C/DA and will characterize uncertainties, generate
WaterGAP model variants, analyze and validate model results and coordinate the research
unit. The Ph.D. student continues the development of a global gradient-based groundwater
model and its implementation into WaterGAP. This is supported by an expert from USA which
is involved in the project as Mercator Fellow. Furthermore, the Ph.D. student will implement an
existing floodplain inundation model into the current WaterGAP version.
For your research, you can count on your colleagues and the working group leader. Specific
activities in the research unit support interdisciplinary knowledge transfer and your professional
development. Further training and support is offered by the graduate academy GRADE of
Goethe University.
A prerequisite for hiring is a very good Ph.D. degree for the Postdoc position, and a Master
degree in hydrology, hydrogeology, meteorology, physical geography, environmental science,
civil engineering, computer science or a similar discipline for the Ph.D. position (minimum
grade of 2.0). Experiences with mathematical modeling, programming and data analysis and
very good analytic skills are essential. Persons who are enthusiastic about research, show
initiative and enjoy working in a team would fit well into our working group.
The Goethe University is an equal opportunity employer and encourages women to apply.
Candidates with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration in case of equal
qualification.
Please send your application until 28 January 2018 per email as a single pdf file containing
the cover letter (including motivation and fit), curriculum vitae, certificates, abstract of
Ph.D./Master thesis and the contact details of two references to Prof. Dr. Petra Döll
(hydrology@em.uni-frankfurt.de, Tel. 069/798-40219, http://www.unifrankfurt.
de/45217668/dl).
