-Logo
Jobs Employers Career Advice
Bookmarked Jobs
Jobs Employers Career Advice Bookmarked Jobs

The functionality of our website is currently limited - reload the page if this message is still displayed after a few seconds.

Reload

GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung - Logo

PhD candidates (f_m_x) in Seismology
GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung

Temporary
Full Time
Apply by: 2025-12-15
Published: 2025-11-11
Potsdam
GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung - Logo
PhD candidates (f_m_x) in Seismology
GFZ is Germany's national centre for solid Earth research. We advance the understanding of dynamic processes to address global challenges, from mitigating the impacts of natural hazards and sustaining our habitat amid global change to responsibly managing georesources. We are part of the Helmholtz Association, the largest German scientific organisation. With around 1,200 employees as well as ca. 500 guest researchers, we contribute to the Helmholtz Research Field Earth and Environment, aligning cutting-edge research with societal relevance and international collaboration. Our work integrates multidisciplinary studies across Earth's system components, leveraging advanced technologies and infrastructure to research solutions and to transfer our knowledge to society. We are doing this according to our vision: “Taking the pulse of our Earth to safeguard a habitable planet”.
For section (department 2: ), we are looking for two:

PhD candidates (f_m_x) in Seismology

Reference Number 10900

The Priority Program of the German Research Foundation is funding multi-disciplinary research into the Adriatic Plate and its plate boundaries. The project represents the German contribution to the international , a seismic array encompassing ~1500 seismic stations with 64 contributing institutions. Within this project, we are also operating a high-density seismic array (“Large-N array”) in western Greece and southern Albania encompassing nearly 800 sites, straddling the boundary between continental and oceanic subduction. This region carries the signature of a vibrant geodynamic history and shows different deformation styles in close vicinity.
The section for seismology at GFZ offers two PhD projects within this programme:
Project 1: Seismological imaging of attenuation and scattering in the circum-Adriatic region
We investigate the attenuation and scattering properties of the crust in the wider Adriatic region. You will employ scattering theory to separate the effects of wave scattering and anelastic attenuation on seismic wave propagation. You will use state-of-the-art inversion techniques to image the spatial distribution of subsurface heterogeneity to illuminate the imprint of past and present deformation.
Project 2: Generation and analysis of a high-quality seismic catalogue in Greece and Albania with Deep Learning
We leverage the data from the Large-N seismic array as well as an offshore fibre-optic cable, which is being interrogated with Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), to derive a catalogue of the seismicity in the area at unprecedented resolution. Leveraging and improving state-of-the-art machine learning techniques, template matching and other techniques, you will derive a high precision catalogue of seismic activity down to very small magnitudes and analyse statistical patterns in order to understand how large-scale deformation is resolved onto faults in a region of diffuse deformation.
Your responsibilities:
Both projects:
  • Study of relevant scientific literature
  • Analysis of seismological data from earthquakes and/or ambient seismic noise
  • Interpretation of your results in terms of geodynamic implications
  • Present at international conferences and interdisciplinary workshops within the SPP DEFORM and the AdriaArray project
  • Publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals
  • Participate in seismological fieldwork (optional)
Project 1:
  • Adapt and implement numerical simulation codes for seismic energy propagation in heterogeneous media using radiative transfer theory
  • Generate regional models of attenuation and heterogeneity using advanced seismic imaging
  • Interact with project partners to integrate observations into the known deformation history
Project 2:
  • Adapt and apply machine learning techniques for the detection and location of earthquakes of different sizes in Greece
  • Interact with geologists and geodesists to understand the deformation budget and how it interacts with structural controls
  • Improve the methodological approaches to the requirements of the data set
Your qualifications:
  • (at start of employment): MSc in geophysics, physics or computer science/mathematics or related disciplines
  • Experience in the analysis of seismological data
  • Programming in Python
  • Project 2: (preferred) Knowledge of machine learning, or experience in processing large datasets or experience with the analysis of local seismicity
  • Fluency in English, both oral and written

What we offer:

  • Ambitious and varied tasks in a dynamic and international research environment
  • Public service benefits
  • Professional career advice offered by our in-house Career-Centre
  • Flexible working hours and conditions
  • Institute day-care centre on site
  • Workplace within walking distance of Potsdam central train station, or just a short ride on the shuttle bus
Start date:
1st March 2026
Fixed term:
3 years
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:
Part-time 75% (currently 29.25 h/week)
Place of work:
Potsdam

Have we piqued your interest?

If so, we look forward to receiving your application by 15th December 2025.
Required documents: Curriculum vitae (including contact details of at least two references), cover letter and certificates
Please state in your cover letter whether you wish to be considered for both projects, or only one of them.
Please use our online application form only.
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. We also promote an inclusive working environment in which everyone can fully develop their own talents. 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. In case of further queries regarding gender equality, please do not hesitate to contact our .
“Diversity in perspectives” is one of GFZ's core values. As an integral part of supporting diversity at our centre, we actively promote women in science and in leadership positions. We among others do this through our measures which we actively implement to enable sustainable equal opportunities in academic career paths.
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 Dr. Sens-Schönfelder and/or Prof. Tilmann via email. If you have any general questions about the application process, please contact our recruiting team at our phone number +49 (0) 331-6264-28787.
Job location

Additional actions

Receive similar jobs by e-mail?

Subscribe to our job mail!

Similar Jobs

Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) - Logo
Top Job
Fully-funded PhD positions in Astronomy, Biology, Computer Science, Chemistry & Materials, Data Science & Scientific Computing, Earth Science, Mathematics, Neuroscience, and Physics

Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA)

Klosterneuburg
2025-10-29
GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung - Logo
PhD Position (f_m_x): Hydrological model development for geodetic applications

GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung

Potsdam
2025-11-18
GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung - Logo
Doctoral Student (f_m_x) - Geochemical processes in repository-relevant claystones

GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung

Potsdam
2025-11-13
Geosciences Jobs PhD Student Jobs Science, Research and Higher Education Jobs Brandenburg Jobs

Please refer to the job advertisement for application details.

 -Logo

About us Contact Legal notice Terms of use Privacy policy

Cookies

Accessibility Partners FAQ

Jobs

Jobs Professor Jobs PhD Jobs Public Administration Jobs Postdoc Jobs Berlin Jobs Hamburg

Career Advice

Career Advice Working in Germany Career Advice Salaries in Germany Career Advice Applications in Germany Career Advice Professorship Germany Career Advice Postdoc in Germany Career Advice PhD in Germany Professor Salary Germany Taxes in Germany Health Insurance Germany Professor titles in Germany

For Employers

Terms and conditions

About us Contact Legal notice Terms of use Privacy policy

Cookies

Accessibility Partners FAQ

Jobs

Jobs Professor Jobs PhD Jobs Public Administration Jobs Postdoc Jobs Berlin Jobs Hamburg

Career Advice

Career Advice Working in Germany Career Advice Salaries in Germany Career Advice Applications in Germany Career Advice Professorship Germany Career Advice Postdoc in Germany Career Advice PhD in Germany Professor Salary Germany Taxes in Germany Health Insurance Germany Professor titles in Germany

For Employers

Terms and conditions

In cooperation with