Climate Bridge

The official job portal of Helmholtz-Centrum Hereon will soon publish the position outlined below.

This position is funded through a collaborative project involving the Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS), a scientific entity of Helmholtz-Centrum Hereon, and the Research Unit Sustainability and Climate Risks at the University of Hamburg.

PhD Position: Model-based assessment of climate impacts on land use systems

Employer: Helmholtz-Centrum Hereon, Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS)

Location: Hamburg, Germany

Workplace: Research Unit Sustainability and Climate Risks, University of Hamburg

Start Date: April/May 2025

Funding Duration: 3 years

Application Deadline: to be announced soon

Link to official announcement: coming soon

Position Overview:

The Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS), a scientific entity of Helmholtz-Centrum Hereon, in collaboration with the University of Hamburg's Research Unit Sustainability and Climate Risks, is seeking an exceptional PhD candidate for an exciting new research opportunity. This 3-year position, part of the Helmholtz Institute for Climate Service Science (HICSS) ClimateBridge project cluster, focuses on developing innovative climate services for landowners in Harburg County and the Brazilian Amazon.

The successful candidate will work on the ClimateConnect project, a key component of the HICSS ClimateBridge cluster, which aims to generate practical climate solutions for landowners in these regions.

This project aims to:

1. Simulate climate impacts on agro-environmental systems using a state-of-the-art biophysical process model
2. Assess adaptation opportunities for land users under changing climate conditions
3. Assess land use change, including wetland restoration in the Hamburg-Harburg region
4. Contribute model output to a user-friendly dissemination tool to provide actionable climate information directly to farmers

This research will enhance farm resilience and sustainability in the face of climate change by bridging the gap between complex climate data and practical agricultural applications.

Key Responsibilities:

• Climate Adaptation and Land Use Change Research
  • Explore land use change and climate adaptation options for agricultural systems in the two focus regions (Hamburg-Harburg County and Brazilian Amazon)
  • Co-construct with stakeholders and literature review the basis for informing adaptation strategies
• Model Proficiency and Application
  • Learn the biophysical crop simulation model EPIC or an equivalent alternative
  • Apply the model to simulate existing land management systems and land use change
• Data Collection and Management
  • Gather and organize biophysical and social data from data providers, scientific literature, and stakeholder communications
• Scenario Analysis
  • Conduct a comprehensive analysis of land management options under various climate scenarios
  • Employ biophysical process models to assess outcomes in both focus regions
• Database Development
  • Create and maintain a model input and output database accessible to farm information devices
• Collaboration and Communication
  • Actively collaborate and exchange information with project team members
  • Participate in interdisciplinary research activities
  • Participation in stakeholder co-design processes, i.e., with regional authorities, nature conservation organizations, farmers
• Reporting and Publication
  • Prepare regular progress reports on research findings
  • Contribute to scientific publications and conference presentations

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Agricultural Science, Environmental Sciences, Agroecology, Geoecology, or a related field
• Experience in quantitative assessments, including statistics and/or crop modeling
• Proficiency in programming languages for data processing and analysis
• Strong commitment to inter- and transdisciplinary research approaches
• Excellent communication skills in German and English (written and verbal)
• Knowledge of Spanish or Portuguese would be an advantage

We Offer:

• A 3-year PhD position at HEREON under the supervision of a professor from the Hamburg University
• Exciting research opportunities in an interdisciplinary team
• Individual professional development opportunities
• Opportunities for conference attendance and networking
• Salary up to pay group 13 (75% position) according to the German public sector collective agreement
• A modern work environment in the vibrant city of Hamburg

To Apply:

Please submit your application materials (cover letter, CV, academic records, etc.) following the instructions in the official advertisement.

For content-related questions, please contact Prof. Uwe Schneider (uwe.schneider"AT"uni.hamburg.de) and Dr. María Máñez Costa (maria.manez"AT"hereon.de).