Postdoc Researcher (f_m_x) in Organic Geochemistry (FT-ICR-MS)
- Employer
- Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres
- Location
- Potsdam
- Closing date
- 1 Sep 2024
Job Details
Scientific / postdoctoral posts
Job description:
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.
For section Section 3.2 Organic Geochemistry (department “Geochemistry”), we are looking for a: Reference Number 9731Exploring ecological and environmental change throughout Earth history with high-resolution mass spectrometry
Section 3.2 at GFZ Potsdam studies organic molecules across Earth history to improve our understanding of the global carbon cycle, lipid biosynthesis, climate change, and evolutionary geobiology. The organic inventory in living organisms, environments, sediments, and ancient sedimentary rocks is typically complex, with thousands of molecules, but only a few are routinely used in organic geochemistry. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS, such as FT-ICR-MS and Orbitrap-MS) allows for the simultaneous detection of the entire suite of organic molecules. Furthermore, HRMS techniques enable the study of functionalized organic molecules in sedimentary rocks (containing N, S, or O), which are usually overlooked due to the technical difficulties in their detection and identification with other methods. We are looking for a person to study systematic trends in the HRMS fingerprints of organic molecules in sedimentary rocks through time. The candidate will work on a large set of rock samples using GC-MS and FT-ICR-MS techniques, with the goal of gaining new insights into the utility of FT-ICR-MS data to trace ecological and environmental change.
Your responsibilities:- Work up rock samples to extract chemically bound organic molecules
- Analyze the distribution of organic molecules using GC-MS and FT-ICR-MS
- Statistically evaluate data in a geological context
- Present results at conferences and publish them in the peer-reviewed literature
- PhD in natural sciences
- Laboratory experience in organic chemistry or organic geochemistry
- Preferably, experience with mass spectrometry
- Experience with statistical analysis
- Demonstrated creativity and out-of-the-box thinking
- High agility and receptiveness
- Background in geosciences is an advantage
- Fluent English skills
Fixed-term: 21 months
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 What we offer:
- Ambitious and varied tasks in a dynamic and international research environment
- State-of-the-art equipment
- Public service benefits
- Extensive training opportunities
- 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
- Work place within walking distance of Potsdam main train station, or just a short ride on the shuttle bus
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 recognised 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 Body for Employees with Disabilities 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.
In case of any further queries relating to the field of activity, please contact Christian Hallmann either via email at Christian.Hallmann@gfz-potsdam.de or phone +49 (0)331-6264-1733. If you have any general questions about the application process, please contact our recruiting team at our phone number +49 (0) 331-6264-28787.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.
Company
The Helmholtz Association contributes to solving major challenges to assure the future of our society. With more than 39,000 people on staff in 18 national research centres, the Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organization. The name Helmholtz stands for concerted research in which networks form the key principle behind inquiring thought and action. Concerted research is efficient and flexible.
The profile of the Helmholtz Association
The Helmholtz Association performs cutting-edge research which contributes substantially to solving the grand challenges of science, society and industry. To succeed in meeting these responsibilities, Helmholtz concentrates its work in six research fields: Energy, Earth and Environment, Health, Key Technologies, Matter, as well as Aeronautics, Space and Transport. Within each of these fields, research programs are developed by our scientists and regularly evaluated by renowned international experts. Their evaluation forms the basis for the programme-oriented funding that is allocated to Helmholtz research. Within the six research fields, Helmholtz scientists cooperate with each other and with external partners – working across disciplinary, organizational and national borders.
Promoting young academics
Helmholtz scientists, a high-performance infrastructure and modern and efficient research management are the ingredients to the Helmholtz Association‘s success and global impact.
Promoting young researchers is a major priority for the Helmholtz Association. Its qualification schemes for young researchers are geared mainly towards PhD students, postdocs and young managers. The Helmholtz Association has set high standards for its talent management. Its strategy begins with targeted recruitment of highly qualified staff at all levels, followed by comprehensive support aimed at further developing their potential. Ensuring equal opportunities is an essential element in all talent management activities undertaken by the Helmholtz Association.
The Helmholtz Graduate Schools and Research Schools at almost all Helmholtz Centres provide doctoral students with the general and specific skills and training they need, as well as ample opportunity to network with other working groups. The period following a doctorate is decisive in determining the direction and success of a scientific career. For this reason, we are about to establish Career Centers for postdoctoral researchers in the Helmholtz centres and a mentoring programme for especially gifted PostDocs in order to foster career orientation. This equips young researchers with the skills they need to go on to head a Helmholtz Young Investigators Group, for example. As a Young Investigator Group leader, junior scientists can independently set up their own group to conduct research in their specialist field.
Within its talent management strategy, the Helmholtz Association pays special attention to the increased recruitment of talented female scientists both from Germany and abroad. To this end, there are currently two funding programs supporting this policy ‘Funding of first-time appointments of excellent women scientists (W2/W3)’ and ‘Funding to recruit top-level international women scientists (W3)’.
The increasing complexity of the content, structures and framework conditions of scientific work today requires researchers to organise their projects, their employees and, of course, themselves in a highly professional and effective way. In response to these demands, we have set up the Helmholtz Management Academy to provide junior leaders in science with professional management training. Furthermore, the Helmholtz network provides a platform for the alumni of the Helmholtz Management Academy and Mentoring programme to come together and share their experiences of leadership, career development and lifelong learning.
- Location
-
Berlin
Berlin
10178
DE
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