PhD candidate (f_m_x) – Monitoring Ionospheric TEC Responses Induced by Earthquakes

GFZ is Germany's national centre for solid Earth research. We advance the understanding of dynamic processes to address global challenges, from mitigating the impacts of natural hazards and sustaining our habitat amid global change to responsibly managing georesources. We are part of the Helmholtz Association, the largest German scientific organisation. With around 1,200 employees as well as ca. 500 guest researchers, we contribute to the Helmholtz Research Field Earth and Environment, aligning cutting-edge research with societal relevance and international collaboration. Our work integrates multidisciplinary studies across Earth's system components, leveraging advanced technologies and infrastructure to research solutions and to transfer our knowledge to society. We are doing this in line with our vision: “Taking the pulse of our Earth to safeguard a habitable planet”.

For section Space Physics and Space Weather (department "Geodesy"), we are looking for a:

PhD candidate (f_m_x) - Monitoring Ionospheric TEC responses induced by Earthquakes

Reference Number 11391

Our section is working on understanding the dynamical evolution of the hazardous space radiation environment and developing tools for the prediction of the adverse effects of the space environment utilising satellite observations, physics-based numerical models, machine learning, and data assimilation. Our research will help safely design and operate satellites and maintain ground networks. We try to bridge our theoretical studies with high-performance tools that can be used in science, predictions, and applications.

We are looking for one PhD student to join our team! The successful candidate should have strong experience in data analysis, scientific programming, and statistical or signal processing methods. Job responsibilities will include a variety of tasks related to ionospheric research, scientific programming, and data science, including but not limited to:

Your responsibilities:

• Process, validate, and analyse large-scale GNSS-TEC time series, including advanced data cleaning, simulation of observational errors, and the integration of auxiliary data (e.g., global earthquake catalogues, GNSS metadata, and solar/geomagnetic indices)
• Investigate ionospheric TEC anomalies to robustly distinguish coseismic disturbances from natural variability, utilising statistical analysis, spectral methods, and function approximation techniques to quantify coseismic acoustic wave parameters
• Develop scientific visualisations of the results
• Conduct scientific research in the field of space physics
• Attend scientific meetings, including international conferences, and present results
• Write and submit scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals

About You:

Essential Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in physics, computer science, mathematics or related natural sciences
• Very good programming skills, preferably in Python or Matlab
• Excellent communication skills
• Fluency in English (written and oral)

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience in data analysis and scientific programming
• Knowledge of space physics or space weather

Start date: As soon as possible
Fixed-term: 36 Monate
Salary: Die Stelle ist nach TVöD Bund mit der Entgeltgruppe 13 bewertet. Die Eingruppierung erfolgt nach den tariflichen Bestimmungen und den entsprechenden persönlichen Voraussetzungen.
Working hours: Teilzeit 75% (derzeit 29,25 h/Woche)
Place of work: Potsdam

What we offer:

• Ambitious and varied tasks in a dynamic and international research environment
• State-of-the-art equipment
• Public service benefits
• Extensive training opportunities
• Professional career advice offered by our in-house Career-Centre
• Flexible working hours and conditions
• Support with finding a good work-life balance offered by benefit@work
• Institute day-care centre on site
• Working at the Albert Einstein Science Park on the Telegrafenberg in Potsdam
• Workplace within walking distance of Potsdam main train station, or just a short ride on the shuttle bus

Have we piqued your interest?

If so, we look forward to receiving your application by 6th September 2026. Please use our online application form only.

Required documents:

• CV, including list of computer skills and programming languages as well as level of experience
• letter of motivation
• grades
• transcripts and certificates for your master's degree

Important Technical Note: Currently, email addresses associated with domains such as @hotmail.com, @outlook.com, or @live.de may experience occasional delays or restrictions in receiving messages. To ensure smooth communication during the application process, we recommend using an alternative email address and providing an additional contact method (e.g., a phone number).

The GFZ actively promotes diversity and explicitly welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of ethnic and social origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation and identity, religion/belief, age and physical characteristics. We also promote an inclusive working environment in which everyone can fully develop their own talents. Anyone who has been recognised as severely disabled will be given preferential consideration in the event of equal suitability and qualification in accordance with the provisions of the German Social Code IX. If you have any further queries regarding gender equality, please do not hesitate to contact our Equal Opportunities Officer.

“Diversity in perspectives” is one of GFZ's core values. As an integral part of supporting diversity at our centre, we actively promote women in science and in leadership positions. We, among others, do this through our gender equality plan and the cascade modelmeasures, which we actively implement to enable sustainable equal opportunities in academic career paths. The GFZ thus committedly strives for gender equality in science, including in leadership positions, and strongly encourages women to apply.

Data protection information for applicants

In case of any further queries regarding the field of activity, please contact Dr. Nicole Burdanowitz or Prof. Dr. Yuri Shprits via email. If you have any general questions about the application process, please contact our recruiting team at our phone number +49 (0) 331-6264-28787.