The Helmholtz Centre Potsdam – GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences is the national centre for geosphere research. As a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres we are part of the largest scientific organization in Germany. With approximately 1,500 employees our key mission is to secure a profound understanding of the systems and processes of solid Earth, to develop strategies and options for action in addressing global change and its impacts on a regional level, to understand natural hazards and to minimize associated risks, to ensure the sustainable provision of energy and raw materials for a high-tech society and to evaluate the influence of human activity on system Earth.
For section 4.4 Hydrology (department “Geosystems”), we are looking for a:
Postdoctoral Research Scientist (f_m_x) – Water Quality and Epidemiology
Reference Number 7860
The Section Hydrology at the GFZ searches for a Postdoctoral Researcher to work in the BMBF funded junior research group HI-CliF. You will be a part of the trans-disciplinary junior research group on Health Impacts of Floods, with a specific focus on developing a data-driven mechanistic model combining a contaminant transport model with exposure pathways and susceptibility/impact model on a city-level in Vietnam. You will carry out a unique blend of interdisciplinary research from hydrology and epidemiology to understand the pathways leading to the spread enteric diseases.
The project will be led by Dr. Nivedita Sairam, Section Hydrology, German Research Center for Geosciences, Potsdam and mentored by Dr. rer. biol. hum. Michaela Coenen, Chair for Public Health and Health Services Research, LMU Munich. Case study work in Vietnam will be supported by Professor. Hong Quan Nguyen, Director at Institute for Circular Economy Development (ICED), Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh city.
We seek a post-doctoral researcher with interest and expertise in developing epidemiological models, and flood-related impact models. The postdoc researcher is expected to develop impact models for the spread of enteric diseases in Vietnam and integrate the health impact model into a flood risk model chain.
The successful candidate should have the interest and ability to participate in collaborative and transdisciplinary research activities and discussions in the field of health and risk modelling. The candidate is also expected to closely collaborate with interdisciplinary, external partners, and present, publish and communicate research results at scientific meetings and in Scholarly journals.
Your responsibilities:
- Organise field work campaigns in Vietnam to determine sources of contamination (in collaboration with local partners and laboratories).
- Organise surveys for data collection on the topic flood and health, including development of survey design, questionnaire formulation organizing field work campaigns in Germany and Vietnam.
- Develop and apply health impact model for Vietnam including writing well-documented, reusable code (Python or R)
- Collaborate closely with external partners in a transdisciplinary context.
- Actively participate in organizing international Stakeholder meetings, workshops/summer schools, preparation of project reports.
- Present, publish and communicate research results at scientific meetings and in scholarly journals (including systematic reviews, meta-analysis)
Your qualifications:
- Master`s degree or equivalent, PhD on topics relating to water quality and epidemiology
- Demonstrated relevant expertise in the form of peer-reviewed publications, PhD dissertation and projects
- Ability to work independently, as well as contribute to and lead certain activities of the research group
- Good writing and presentation skills – experience in writing peer-reviewed research articles are mandatory
- Interpersonal skills to engage with international stakeholders for communicating research and obtaining feedback
- Fluent oral and written communication skills in English; German language command is helpful but not mandatory
What we offer:
- The opportunity to work in a dynamic, inter- and transdisciplinary research environment across the fields of flood risk, climate adaptation and public health
- Extensive technical and soft skills training opportunities
- Opportunity to present your research in national and international conferences
- State-of-the-art equipment
- Public service benefits
- 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
Start date: 1st August 2023
Fixed-term: 2 years
Salary: The position is classed as salary group 13 according to “TVöD Bund (Tarifgebiet Ost)”. The salary group is determined on the basis of the Collective Wage Agreement and the respective personal qualifications.
Working hours: Full-time (currently 39 h/week); The position is generally suitable for part-time work.
Place of work: Potsdam
Have we piqued your interest?
If so, we look forward to receiving your application by 18th June 2023. Please use our online application form only.
Diversity and equal opportunities are integral components of our human resources policy. 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. Anyone who has been recognized 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 questions, please contact our representative for the severely disabled at sbv[at]gfz-potsdam.de, who will be happy to assist you in the further application process. In case of further queries regarding gender equality, please do not hesitate to contact our Equal Opportunities Officer at gba[at]gfz-potsdam.de.
Your personal data will be processed for the purpose of conducting the selection procedure on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 b, Art. 88 GDPR in conjunction with Art. 26 of the Data Protection Act for the State of Brandenburg. After completion of the procedure, application documents will be deleted in compliance with data protection regulations.
Members of LMU Munich (Chair for Public Health and Health Services Research) will be involved in the selection procedure. Your personal data will, of course, be treated confidentially and will be communicated to the involved person exclusively for the purpose of evaluating your professional suitability within the framework of this selection procedure. Once the procedure has been completed, the personal data will also be deleted there in compliance with data protection regulations.
In case of any further queries relating to the field of activity, please contact Dr. Nivedita Sairam either via email at nivedita.sairam@gfz-potsdam.de or phone +49 (0)331-288 28786. If you have any general questions about the application process, please contact our recruiting team at our phone number +49 (0) 331-6264-28787.
