Job Information
- Organisation/Company: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Offer Description
Area of research: Scientific / postdoctoral posts
Job description: Postdoc in "Antarctic Sea Ice Observing Systems” (x/d/f/m)
Background
Antarctic sea ice is undergoing rapid and poorly understood changes, with important consequences for the Southern Ocean climate system and ecosystems. At the same time, observations remain unevenly distributed across regions, seasons and platforms. Progress therefore requires both a better scientific understanding of Antarctic sea ice and a coordinated strategy for future observations.
The position is part of SYNCHRONY (Synchronous Southern Ocean Observatory), a Horizon Europe project advancing a coordinated, multidisciplinary and sustainable observing system for the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. SYNCHRONY contributes to Antarctica InSync, a broader international initiative coordinating circumpolar and year-round observations to strengthen our understanding of the Antarctic environment.
You will combine drift trajectories from a wide range of autonomous ice-tethered platforms with satellite-derived sea ice motion and model output, using AI-supported approaches where appropriate, to identify optimal deployment regions, seasons and observing strategies. The resulting recommendations will support the development of a harmonized and sustainable Antarctic sea ice observing system.
To provide the necessary observational basis, you will analyze and harmonize sea ice and snow measurements from autonomous ice-tethered platforms and existing pack-ice datasets. The work will include assessing observational coverage and gaps, developing consistent processing methods for key variables such as sea-ice thickness and snow depth, and deriving time series and climatologies to investigate regional and seasonal patterns.
You are expected to work independently, take responsibility for the relevant research activities and project deliverables, and collaborate closely with partners in SYNCHRONY, Antarctica InSync and the international sea-ice observing community.
The position will be embedded in the Joint Research Group SNOWflAke (“Learning from local snow properties for large-scale Antarctic ice-pack volume”), a collaboration between the Alfred Wegener Institute and the University of Hamburg.
Your Tasks
- Develop consistent processing methods and derive regional and seasonal time series and climatologies of sea ice thickness and snow depth using autonomous platforms, pack-ice, satellite and model data
- Assess links between sea-ice conditions and atmospheric and oceanic forcing, including uncertainties across datasets
- Identify observational gaps and determine suitable regions, seasons and deployment strategies for future sea-ice observations
- Develop recommendations for a harmonized and sustainable Antarctic sea-ice observing system
- Publish results in scientific journals and present them at conferences and project meetings
Your Profile
- PhD or equivalent degree in physics, geophysics, meteorology, or a related field
- Strong experience in scientific programming
- Strong experience in processing and analyzing observational, satellite or model data
- Ability to work independently and take responsibility for research activities and project deliverables
- Very good command of English (approximately equivalent to CEFR level C1)
- Good teamwork abilities
Preferred Qualifications and Skills
- Experience in polar and/or sea ice processes
- Experience with autonomous ice-tethered platforms and/or in-situ observations
- Experience with satellite-derived sea-ice products, trajectory analysis or numerical modelling
- Experience with large geospatial datasets, reproducible workflows and uncertainty analysis
- Experience applying machine-learning or AI methods to environmental data, remote sensing or observing-system design
Further Information
We offer
- Excellent research environment with access to globally unique infrastructure, comprehensive datasets, and international expeditions
- Opportunity to develop and pursue independent scientific ideas and innovative research approaches addressing societally relevant questions
- Close scientific collaboration and interdisciplinary cooperation within the institute as well as with national and international partners
- An international working environment with daily interaction with colleagues from around the world
- Opportunities for professional and personal development
- Flexible working hours
- 30 days of annual leave (full-time), plus additional days off on December 24th and 31st
- Annual special payment in accordance with the German public sector collective agreement (TVöD Bund)
- Occupational health promotion and company fitness programme with Hansefit
- Support services and an established culture promoting work–life balance, e.g. through our family office offering childcare services (e.g. holiday programmes) as well as advice on family and care responsibilities
- Occupational pension scheme (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, disabilities, 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 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.
This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.
Where to apply
E-mail: personal@awi.de
Website: https://recruitingapp-5442.de.umantis.com/Vacancies/2229/Description/2?lang=eng
Additional Information
Website for additional job details: https://recruitingapp-5442.de.umantis.com/Vacancies/2229/Description/2?lang=eng
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available: 1
- Company/Institute: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
- Country: Germany
- City: Bremerhaven
Contact
- City: Bremerhaven
- Website: http://www.awi.de
- Street: Am Handelshafen 12
- Postal Code: 27570
- E-Mail: info@awi.de
- Phone: +49 471 4831-0
- Fax: +49 471 4831-1149