The IMPRS-gBGC located in Jena, Germany, offers fellowships to outstanding students interested in research on biogeochemical cycles in the Earth system. The school provides excellent research possibilities for students to obtain a PhD degree in a 3-years graduate program.

Successful applicants will be part of the International Max Planck Research School for Global Biogeochemical Cycles. Research at the school focuses on the distribution of elements essential to life and the climate among the components of the Earth system and the interaction between biosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere, land and oceans.

Besides doing research for their PhD project, PhD candidates also benefit from a three-month external research visit, specialized courses in e.g. statistics, Earth observation, modeling and analytical techniques, as well as in soft skills. The school is thus an excellent starting platform for a successful career in a field related to global biogeochemical cycles and Earth System Science.

• Elucidation of the microbial N-cycle in the subsurface – key microbial players and processes (advisors: Kirsten Küsel, Susan Trumbore, Martina Herrmann) Investigation of Multi-scale Retrieval Effects using Local to Regional Synergistic Earth Observation Data as a Contribution to REDD+ and the Ecosystem
• Service “Carbon Sequestration” along an Environmental Transect from Savanna to Tropical Land Cover (advised by Christiane Schmullius)
• Regional scale greenhouse gas budgets of high-latitude terrestrial ecosystems and adjacent coastal shelf areas (advisors: Martin Heimann, Mathias Goeckede)
• Understanding the shape of root water uptake profiles (advisor: Anke Hildebrandt)

We welcome applications from well-motivated and highly-qualified students from all countries. Applicants hold (or are about to receive) a Master of Science, German 'Diplom' or equivalent degree in natural sciences.

Proficiency in English is required since English is the o cial language of the program. Handicapped persons with comparable qualifications receive preferential status. The Max Planck Society seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply.

Application deadline for these fully funded PhD positions is October 06, 2013. Top candidates will be invited to take part in our selection symposium (December 03-04, 2013).

>> Find out more and apply online: www.imprs-gbgc.de

coordinator: Anna Görner
Hans-Knöll-Str. 10
07745 Jena
Germany
+49 3641 576260
www.imprs-gbgc.de
www.facebook.com/imprs.gbgc
imprs-gbgc@bgc-jena.mpg.de