PhD Position in Imaging Subsurface Flow Path Dynamics in High Resolution Using Geophysical Methods

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PhD Position in Imaging Subsurface Flow Path Dynamics in High Resolution Using Geophysical Methods

In the coming decades, climate change and land use change will have a significant impact on the performance of terrestrial ecosystems in terms of their services (food, feed, fiber, energy) and the challenges facing society. At the Institute of Bio- and Geosciences - Agrosphere (IBG-3), we are developing solutions to secure ecosystem services based on an improved understanding of hydrological and biogeochemical processes in terrestrial systems. The focus is on agricultural and forestry systems, which are coming under increasing pressure as a result of global change. Innovative observation technologies are combined with laboratory experiments and modeling to research and predict terrestrial processes across scales (from the pore scale to the field scale to the continental scale), thereby contributing to the sustainable use of natural resources such as water, soil, and the atmosphere.

Institute issuing the offer: IBG-3

Your Job:

The PhD project at the IBG-3 at Forschungszentrum Jülich will be part of the DFG Research Unit Fast and Invisible: Conquering Subsurface Stormflow through an Interdisciplinary Multi-Site Approach ( https://vhrz669.hrz.uni-marburg.de/ssf/ ).

Understanding the mechanisms controlling subsurface flow (SSF) and the conditions under which it occurs remains a major challenge in hydrology and environmental geophysics. This PhD project aims to advance the process-based understanding of SSF by combining state-of-the-art geophysical methods with controlled field experiments and numerical modeling. The doctoral researcher will participate in and help design experimental field campaigns with controlled surface and subsurface inflow at four trenched hillslope research sites in Germany and Austria. These experiments will enable a systematic investigation of SSF dynamics under controlled yet realistic conditions. The PhD project will focus on analyzing SSF patterns across all sites using an integrated geophysical and modeling approach.

High-resolution subsurface characterization will be carried out using electromagnetic induction (EMI), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), and ground penetrating radar (GPR), complemented by soil sensors and borehole data. A particular emphasis will be placed on the combined use of borehole and surface GPR, as well as small-scale EMI measurements in controlled experimental settings. In addition to fieldwork, the PhD candidate will contribute to the development of novel inversion algorithms for EMI and GPR based on full-waveform inversion techniques. These methods aim to enable quantitative, high-resolution, time-lapse monitoring of soil properties and will be implemented using high-performance parallel computing.

This PhD position offers the opportunity to work at the interface of hydrology and geophysics, to gain extensive experience in field experiments, data analysis, numerical modeling, and scientific programming, and to contribute to fundamental advances in the understanding of subsurface flow processes.

You will be part of a dynamic research team applying advanced geophysical methods to study subsurface flow patterns. Your main responsibilities will include:

• Developing and applying high-resolution time-lapse GPR and EMI imaging methods at multiple scales to enhance our understanding of subsurface flow
• Designing and implementing novel inversion algorithms for GPR and EMI data
• Identifying links between non-invasive hydrogeophysical parameters and subsurface flow
• Improving small-scale process understanding of subsurface flow and transferring this knowledge to larger scale hydrological models
• The project offers the unique opportunity to connect novel processing and inversion techniques to experimental data from different regions and link the findings to relevant processes of the critical zone

For further information visit our website http://www.fz-juelich.de/ibg/ibg-3/EN/Home/home_node.html or contact Prof. Dr. Anja Klotzsche.

Your Profile:

• Master’s degree in geophysics, physics, geoscience, computational geoscience, or related natural sciences with an overall grade of at least good
• Experience in programming (e.g., MATLAB, Python, C/C++)
• Advanced knowledge of numerical methods
• Geophysical fieldwork experience, preferably with GPR and EMI
• Strong English writing skills (at least B2 level according to the CEFR: https://go.fzj.de/languagerequirements ), ideally supported by a certificate confirming the language level.
• Since the work involves interdisciplinary cooperation with several researchers and technicians, good communication and organizational skills are essential
• Driver’s license is required (or should be obtained within first 3 months)
• Physical work is required

Our Offer:

We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and are offering you the chance to actively help in shaping the change! We offer ideal conditions for you to complete your doctoral degree:

• Working in an interdisciplinary environment as well as excellent facilities for hydrogeophysical research and numerical simulation and inversion
• Opportunities to being part of the national and international scientific community
• PhD students are encouraged to attend international conferences and a three month research stay abroad with a cooperating partner is possible
• Working in the heart of Europe
• Motivated and diverse working group and work environment
• 30 days of annual leave
• Further development of your personal strengths, e.g. through an extensive range of training courses; a structured program of continuing education and networking opportunities specifically for doctoral researchers via JuDocS, the Jülich Center for Doctoral Researchers and Supervisors: https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/judocs
• Targeted services for international employees, e.g. through our International Advisory Service

The position is for a fixed term of 3 years (starting date 09/2026). Pay is in line with 75% of pay group 13 of the Collective Agreement for the Public Service (TVöD-Bund) including a special payment („Christmas bonus“). All information about the TVöD-Bund collective agreement can be found on the BMI website (pay scale table on page 69 and following of the PDF download): https://go.fzj.de/bmi.tvoed

In addition to exciting tasks and a collegial working environment, we offer you much more: https://go.fzj.de/benefits

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.

The following links provide further information on diversity and equal opportunities: https://go.fzj.de/equality and and on the targeted promotion of women: https://go.fzj.de/womens-job-journey

The job will be advertised until the position has been successfully filled. You should therefore submit your application as soon as possible. We look forward to receiving your application via our
Online-Recruitment-System!

Questions about the vacancy?
Get in touch with us by using our contact form
Please note that for technical reasons we cannot accept applications via email.

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