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Physical Geography at the Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences

Research Assistant (m/f/d) in Physical Geography

Vacancy from Job ID: 213/2022

Founded in 1409, Leipzig University is one of Germany’s largest universities and a leader in research and medical training. With around 30,000 students and more than 5000 members of staff across 14 faculties, it is at the heart of the vibrant and outward-looking city of Leipzig. Leipzig University offers an innovative and international working environment as well as an exciting range of career opportunities in research, teaching, knowledge and technology transfer, infrastructure and administration.

The Chair of Physical Geography at the Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences seeks to fill the above position from 1 October 2022 or at the earliest opportunity.

The position of a PhD student (E13 TV-L, 60%) is embedded in the research project “Geomorphological and environmental responses to rapid hydrological changes in the Atlas Mountains (Morocco) during the last 30,000 years” and will be funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) over a total period of 36 months. The North African desert margin is a hotspot of global warming that is likely to experience increased heat stress, reduced precipitation and more frequent occurrence of droughts. The major aim of the PhD project is to develop the understanding of environmental sensitivities and responses to climatic variability in the zone of the Western Mediterranean-Saharan transition during the Holocene and the Late Glacial.

About the position

  • Fixed term of 36 months
  • 60% of a full-time position
  • Planned remuneration: salary group 13 TV-L

Duties

  • Participation in the geomorphological field work and in the palaeolimnological lake drilling programme within the Middle and High Atlas in Morocco
  • Sediment sampling and physicochemical, isotopic and palynological analyses
  • Data management, data storage and data processing
  • Uni-, bi- and multivariate statistical analyses
  • Conducting of multi-proxy approaches
  • Publication and presentation of data
  • Working within an international research team
  • Project management and organisation.

Requirements

  • MSc in one of the following disciplines: physical geography, geosciences, soil science, geoarchaeology, palaeogeography or related disciplines
  • Knowledge of soil/sediment analysis (field and laboratory)
  • Knowledge of palaeogeographical multi-proxy approaches
  • Knowledge of palynological analysis would be a great advantage
  • Knowledge of GIS applications
  • Willingness to work in an interdisciplinary research team
  • Excellent English; German would be an advantage
  • Driving licence.

What we offer

  • A modern workplace and attractive working conditions
  • Flexible working hours
  • Goal-oriented staff development throughout your working life, with opportunities for continuing professional development.

Please send your application with the usual documents (CV with certificates and description of your qualifications), quoting reference number 213/2022, to Leipzig University, Chair of Physical Geography, Professor Christoph Zielhofer, Johannisallee 19a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany by 1 September 2022. You are highly welcome to email your application as a single PDF file E-Mail. Please note that it is not possible to guarantee confidentiality and rule out unauthorised access by third parties when communicating by unencrypted email. We kindly request that you submit copies only, as we are unable to return application documents. Interview expenses will not be reimbursed.
Leipzig University aims to increase the proportion of women in positions of responsibility and therefore expressly invites qualified women to apply. Severely disabled persons – or persons deemed legally equal to them under Book IX of the German Social Code – are encouraged to apply and will be given preference in the case of equal suitability.

Closing date:

Privacy information

If you choose to apply and send us your documents, you do so voluntarily. Any personal data contained within your application documents, or obtained during an interview, will be processed by Leipzig University – as the advertiser of the position – exclusively for the purposes of the selection process for the position advertised. It will not be passed on to third parties without your consent in the individual case. The legal basis for such data processing is Sect. 11(1) of the Saxon Data Protection Implementation Act (SächsDSDG) in conjunction with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The controller for the application process within the meaning of the GDPR is the addressee of the application, specified in the advertisement.

Your personal data will be stored for six months after the end of the recruitment process and then erased or destroyed in accordance with data protection regulations. You may refuse or withdraw your consent with effect for the future without giving reasons. In these cases, Leipzig University will not or no longer be able to process and consider your application. Under the GDPR, subject to the relevant statutory requirements you have the following rights vis-à-vis the addressee of the application with regard to your personal data: right of access (Art. 15 GDPR); right to rectification of inaccurate personal data (Art. 16 GDPR); right to erasure (Art. 17 GDPR); right to restriction of processing (Art. 18 GDPR); and right to object to processing (Art. 21 GDPR). If you have any questions, please contact the Data Protection Officer at Leipzig University (office: Augustusplatz 10, 04109 Leipzig). You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Saxon Commissioner for Data Protection.