Background
The Sea Ice Geophysics Section of AWI studies the role of sea ice in the climate and eco system by means of in-situ, airborne, and satellite observations and modeling. Improving the predictive capabilities for the development of Arctic sea ice cover highly depends on a better understanding of the ice-albedo feedback mechanism, which is strongly influenced by meltwater ponds. How strong the impact of ponds is depends particularly on their areal fraction, their 3D-geometry and their albedo. Within the project, these physical characteristics of melt ponds (especially depth) will be retrieved from airborne data gathered by AWI using airplanes and helicopters. Resulting data sets will be used to investigate the spatial variability of pond properties in the Arctic and their dependence on sea ice roughness and sea ice thickness.
Your Tasks
You will
- process aerial images, laser scanner and short-wave solar radiation measurements obtained by airplanes and helicopters in past years and during the current project,
- derive melt pond characteristics (e.g., areal fraction, size distribution, depth, albedo),
- analyse the spatial variability of pond characteristics (especially depth),
- analyse the dependency of pond depth on sea ice roughness and sea ice thickness,
- present your work at national and international meetings,
- publish data sets and write up the results for peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Your Profile
- Master’s degree in Geophysics, Meteorology, Environmental physics, Physics or related field
- Good programming skills in at least one high-level programming language (preferably Python)
- Good working knowledge of the English language, fluently both spoken and written
- Willingness to participate in research expeditions to the Arctic
Preferred Qualifications and Skills
- Knowledge in atmosphere-ice-ocean interactions or sea ice physics would be of advantage.
- A background in processing of airborne or satellite imagery and in image classification or in processing airborne data of short-wave solar radiation would be considered advantageous.
Further Information
For any questions you may have, you are very welcome to get in touch with Dr Gerit Birnbaum (Gerit.Birnbaum@awi.de; +49(471)4831-1795).
This position is limited to 3 years. The salary will be paid in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Service of the Federation (Tarifvertrag des öffentlichen Dienstes, TVöD Bund), up to salary level 13 (66%). The place of employment will be Bremerhaven.
All doctoral candidates will be members of AWI’s postgraduate program POLMAR or another graduate school and thus benefit from a comprehensive training program and extensive support measures. Postdocs have to register with AWI’s postdoc office PROCEED, thereby gaining access to a set of tailor-made career development tools.
The AWI is characterized by
- our scientific success – excellent research
- collaboration and cooperation – intra-institute, national and international, interdisciplinary
- opportunities to develop – on the job and towards other positions
- an international environment – everyday contact with people from all over the world
- flexible working hours and the possibility of mobile working up to 50% of regular working hours
- health promotion and company fitness with Hansefit and Wellhub
- support services and a culture of reconciling work and family
- occupational pension provision (VBL)
AWI values diversity and actively promotes gender parity, as well as an open, inclusive environment that provides equal opportunities. We are convinced that diverse teams and a variety of perspectives enrich our work and our daily collaboration. In a continuous process of learning and reflection, we aim to ensure that all our employees can be themselves and feel a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from qualified people regardless of binary and non-binary genders, race and nationality, ethnic and social background, religion, age, physical abilities, neurodivergence, sexual orientation, and other identities.
Applicants with disabilities will be given preference when equal qualifications are present.
AWI fosters work-family compatibility in various ways and has received several awards as a result of this commitment. And as a new international member of our team, you can be sure that we will help you settle in. Our Family Office and International Office will be glad to support you, even before you start at AWI.
We look forward to your application!
Please submit your application by November 19th 2024, exclusively online.
Reference number: 24/176/G/Kli-b
More information about this opportunity can be found here.