The climate needs bright minds. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) addresses crucial scientific questions in the fields of global change, climate impacts and sustainable development. It is one of the world's leading research institutions in its field and offers natural and social scientists from around the world an inspiring environment for excellent interdisciplinary research.
PIK is offering a
Postdoctoral Position as an Earth Resilience Analyst (m/f/d)
(Position number: 27-2025 Postdoc ERSU)
for the Earth Resilience Science Unit, starting on 01.09.2025.
The position is funded until June 2027. Remuneration is in accordance with the German public tariff scheme (TV-L Brandenburg), salary group E 13. This is a full-time position with a working time of 40 hours per week. The position can be filled on a part-time basis with a minimum of 25 hours per week.
The Earth Resilience Science Unit serves as a bridge group between PIK and the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology (MPI-GEA), and aims to develop a framework to characterize the resilience of the Earth System in the Anthropocene, exploring stability landscapes of the whole planetary system and its critical geophysical, ecological and societal components, which are only fragmentarily known so far. This includes the identification of critical conditions and tipping points for these subsystems, their capacity to resist to and recover from disruptions, as well as the risk of cascading interactions between them.
Key responsibilities:
- analysis of the planetary-scale resilience and stability of the Earth system (its capacity to absorb and recover from human perturbations such as greenhouse gas emissions and land-use changes) based on principles of climate physics and (non-equilibrium) thermodynamics of the whole planet, including consideration of energy (im)balance, radiative transport, entropy budgets and material cycles (of water, carbon etc.)
- development of Earth resilience metrics based on these principles to quantify planetary resilience and its change over time in the past (based on Earth observation data), present and future (based on Earth system model simulations for different future scenarios, e.g. using the CMIP6 ensemble and own simulations)
- identification of critical biogeophysical Earth system processes and feedbacks that shape planetary resilience
- coordination with the other scientists in the PB-TIP project, within the ERSU and the Planetary Boundary Initiative (PBI)
- analysis of model outputs and Earth observation data and publication of results in high-ranked, peer-reviewed, international scientific journals
- presentation of key results at international scientific meetings and conferences as well as annual project meetings
- contribute to the drafting of project documentation and reports (interim and final project reports)
- support of e.g., interns, students, doctoral candidates in the processing, evaluation and interpretation of data and in the conception and implementation of research projects
Requirements:
- completed scientific higher education degree (PhD) in the field(s) of Earth system science, physics, climate physics, geosciences, mathematics, computer science or a comparable field
- demonstrated experience performing simulations with computational models of the Earth system on different levels of complexity
- scientific publication records appropriate for the experience level
- experience in scientific software development
- knowledge of the state-of-the-art in climate physics and Earth system modeling and data analysis techniques
- programming skills e.g. in C, BASH, Python, Latex
- software user knowledge: MS or LibreOffice, Linux
- proficient in dealing with operating systems and high-performance computing facilities
We expect:
- the ability to work independently and on your own initiative
- a methodical and systematic approach
- structured and goal-oriented thinking
- capacity to familiarise yourself quickly with new topics
- creativity and openness to new approaches
- a high level of competence in oral and written English
- reliability, engagement, and a high level of motivation
- capacity for teamwork
We offer:
- the chance to be part of an engaged, interdisciplinary team
- a stimulating working environment in an internationally recognised research institute on Potsdam's beautiful, historic Telegrafenberg campus, a short commuting distance from Berlin
- company KITA/kids day nursery “Geolino” directly in the science park on Telegrafenberg, within walking distance of PIK
- flexi-time and mobile working (up to 50 % of your hours)
- a collective pay scheme and associated benefits, as well as a subsidized travel card or Deutschland-Ticket Job.
PIK values equality and diversity. We encourage applications without photo. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of ethnic and social origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, care responsibilities, or age. PIK seeks to increase the share of women in scientific positions, and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply. In cases of equal qualification and within the given legal scope, women will be given preference. PIK also encourages applications by parents returning from parental leave.
Please apply by 20.07.2025 directly using our application form below this job advertisement on our website. The application process remains open until the position is filled.
If you hold an international higher education qualification, please also submit a certificate evaluation from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) with your application. If you do not yet have a transcript evaluation, please note that you may have to request one if your application is successful. For further information, please visit the website: https://www.kmk.org/zab/central-office-for-foreign-education.html
For further information or to discuss the position, please contact Julia Zinn.
