Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ

The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) with its 1,100 employees has gained an excellent reputation as an international competence centre for environmental sciences. We are part of the largest scientific organisation in Germany, the Helmholtz association. Our mission: Our research seeks to find a balance between social development and the long-term protection of our natural resources

Homepage: https://www.ufz.de/

The job

Are you passionate about bringing engineering perspective and fundamental science together? Do you want to contribute to solving complex challenges in flow and transport modelling using advanced computational techniques and to have a direct impact on society? If so, we invite you to apply for a fully funded PostDoc position in our dynamic research team!

Being part of the APaRat project, this position aims to define conservative yet realistic scenarios in radionuclide transport on the host-rock scale defining the benchmarks to be computed for safety analysis of the geological barrier of deep geological repositories (DGRs). To this end, models should be set up for clay-, crystalline- and salt-rock featuring specific unfavorable geological assumptions within the uncertainty bands of the temporal evolution of DGRs for quantifying nuclide release under such conditions. Relevant couplings of multi-physical processes affecting transport should be identified as well as the key geochemical parameters affecting radionuclide mobility. Furthermore, the effects of reducing dimensionality should be evaluated. Finally, relevant scenarios and corner cases should be identified, modelled and evaluated, which are the result of sensitivity analysis and an evaluation of parametric uncertainty embedded in Python-based workflows.

The candidate will join the department of Environmental Informatics and is tasked, after a basic research phase, to implement the defined models using the OpenGeoSys software environment (www.opengeosys.org). While extensions of the source code of OpenGeoSys are not part of the advertised position, the candidate should enhance and build on existing workflows implemented in Python and the Python-based ecosystem around the OpenGeoSys-core.

Your tasks

• Identify most relevant literature for the parameterization of the models to be developed
• Define the benchmark setups for radionuclide release under unfavorable conditions on the host-rock scale
• Build on existing workflows to automatize your modelling
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of environmental- and geoscientists, hydrogeologists, engineers, physicists, and computer scientists.
• Publish your findings in high-impact journals and present at international conferences.

We offer

• The freedom to master even the most demanding challenges between basic research and practical application
• The chance to work in interdisciplinary, international teams and benefit from a variety of perspectives
• Firstclass integration into national and international research networks to work together on global challenges
• Excellent research infrastructure and research data management to optimally support your work
• Flexible working hours and a wide range of options for balancing work and care responsibilities through our family office
• Competent support and advice for international colleagues arriving at the UFZ from the 'International Office'
• Special annual payment, capital-forming benefits and subsidised Germany Job Ticket
• A workplace in a vibrant region with a high life quality and social and cultural diversity

Your profile

• A highly motivated candidate with a Master and a PhD degree in Environmental Sciences or Geosciences, Geophysics, Geohydrology, Environmental or Civil Engineering, Applied Physics or a related field.
• Experience in numerical modelling of flow and transport in geological media
• Strong programming skills in a scripting language, preferably in Python
• A profound background in reactive transport modelling, quantitative hydrogeology, coupled physical modelling, or geochemistry is a plus
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Good track record in scientific publications according to scientific age

The advertisement runs preliminarily until the 17th of November 2025. However, the application deadline may get extended.

Please apply via the link given our webpage: https://recruitingapp-5128.de.umantis.com/Vacancies/3282/Description/2