Postdoc position in physical oceanography (m/d/x/f)

Image 1: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung Image 2: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung Image 3: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung Image 4: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung

The Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) is a member of the Helmholtz Association (HGF) and funded by federal and state government. AWI focuses on polar and marine research in a variety of disciplines such as biology, oceanography, geology, geochemistry and geophysics thus allowing multidisciplinary approaches to scientific goals.

Postdoc position in physical oceanography (m/d/x/f)

Background

The Greenland Ice Sheet is losing mass at an accelerating rate, contributing strongly to global sea level rise. Most of the mass loss occurs at the interface where glaciers meet the ocean. Despite its importance, Greenland glacier retreat and its interaction with the ocean are poorly represented in climate models, leading to significant uncertainties about Greenland’s future contribution to sea level rise. The aim of the GLOW project is to address critical knowledge gaps in our understanding of retreating and accelerating marine-terminating glaciers and their interaction with the ocean around Greenland.

Your Tasks

You will:

work on glacier–fjord systems in East and North Greenland within the GLOW project
simulate ocean–ice sheet interactions using the unstructured mesh ocean–sea ice–ice shelf model FESOM2
improve the representation of freshwater input from Greenland glaciers in the model
set up, run and analyze high-resolution ocean simulations
collaborate with project partners to couple ice-sheet and ocean models
publish and present the research results in scientific outlets

Your Profile

PhD in physical oceanography, climate physics, or a related discipline
Strong background in physics, especially (geophysical) fluid dynamics
Very good programming skills (Fortran, Matlab or Python)
Experience with unstructured mesh ocean models is an asset
Very good communication skills and strong publication record including first-authorships
Very good English knowledege (approximately equivalent to CEFR level C1)

Further Information

Contact in day-to-day work: collaboration mainly with up to 5 people
Communication: almost equal share (internal/external)

in the following ways

By telephone: frequently (daily or several times a week)
E-mail: frequently (daily or several times a week)
Video conferencing (e. g. Webex): frequently (daily or several times a week)
Personal contact in presence: frequently (daily or several times a week)

**Movement around the workplace:**regularly within the building (e.g. between departments or floors)
**Business trips:**occasional (several times a year)
Expeditions: do not occur

Please note that the general conditions listed serve as a guide and may vary depending on the specific area of application.

For further information on the specific position, please reach out to Dr Claudia Wekerle(Claudia.Wekerle@awi.de;+49(471)4831-1813).

If you have any general questions about the application process, our Recruiting team will be glad to support you – please contact Sarah Palme (bewerbungsmanagement@awi.de; +49(471)4831-1853).

In this overview you will find further contact persons for various matters.

This is a full-time position limited to May 31 st, 2029.It is also suitable for part-time employment. 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. The place of employment will be Bremerhaven.

All postdocs will register with AWI's postdoc office PROCEED and thus gain 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
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, 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. As a new international member of our team, you can be sure that we will help you settle in. Our**Family OfficeandInternational Office**will be glad to support you, even before you start at AWI.

We look forward to your application!

Please submit your application online only by March 8 th, 2026. We kindly ask you to apply in English. No photo is required – we value your qualifications and experience.

Reference number:26/6/D/Kli-b

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Postdoc-Position in physikalischer Ozeanographie (m/d/x/f)

Postdoc-Position in physikalischer Ozeanographie (m/d/x/f)