The Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences is the national centre for research into the geosphere. With around 1,650 employees, we develop a sound understanding of systems and processes of the solid Earth as well as strategies and options for action to counter global change, understand natural hazards and sustainably secure energy and raw material requirements.

This position is part of the EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network „Climate-Tectonics Interactions using Big Data informed Models“ (INITIATE, www.initiate-dn.eu/). We are seeking for a candidate to build a Digital Twin of the subsurface of North Central Europe as a base for 3D simulations of coupled thermo-hydraulic-mechanical (THM) processes considering different climate scenarios. The objective is to assess the influence of present and past climate changes on the THM configuration as relevant for availability and preservation of groundwater resources, heat and energy storage, geothermal energy production and deposition of nuclear waste. 

The PhD position is subject to approval by third-party funders.

Your responsibilities:

• Integration of geological and geophysical data into a 3D structural model resolving first-order heterogeneities (sediments, crust and lithosphere mantle) 
• Identification, compilation and analysis of available data describing groundwater conditions and present and past climatic conditions 
• 3D forward simulations of coupled THM processes under different climate scenarios 
• Construction of surrogate model for ensemble simulations - global parameter and uncertainty quantification
• Quantification of future (climate) scenarios 
• Interpretation and publication of results in peer-reviewed journals

Your qualifications:

• Master degree or diploma in Physics, Mathematics or Geosciences is mandatory 
• Knowledge of thermal-hydraulic-mechanical physical processes 
• Knowledge in 3D structural modeling and numerical methods
• Programming skills are an advantage 
• Good English language skills

Eligibility:

• Researchers recruited in a Doctoral Network must be Early Stage Researchers and not been awarded a doctoral degree 
• At the time of recruitment researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years prior to the reference date (EU mobility rule)