PhD Position - Climate Stress Impacts on the Chemistry of Forest-Derived Organic Aerosols - Chamber and Airborne Measurements

With a starting date from October 2026 we are offering

PhD Position - Climate Stress Impacts on the Chemistry of Forest-Derived Organic Aerosols - Chamber and Airborne Measurements

Are you excited about understanding how climate change affects forests, atmospheric chemistry and air quality? Do you enjoy experimental work, data analysis and international collaboration? As a PhD candidate you will be part of the Helmholtz Investigator Group “ClimStress - Climate stress impacts on forest emissions and aerosol pollution” led by Jun.-Prof. Dr. Eva Pfannerstill at the Institute for Climate and Energy Systems (ICE-3) within Forschungszentrum Jülich. Forests emit more than 80% of global volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These reactive trace gases drive atmospheric chemistry and are precursors to secondary organic aerosol (SOA), which affects climate through interactions with radiation and clouds. Climate change, in turn, stresses forest ecosystems and alters their VOC emissions, thereby influencing SOA formation and feeding back on climate and air quality. This PhD project aims to improve our understanding of how climate stress modifies SOA formation from biogenic VOCs, using a combination of controlled chamber experiments and airborne observations.

Institute issuing the offer: ICE-3

Your Job:

As a PhD candidate you will

• Use state-of-the-art methods to conduct gas- and aerosol-phase measurements, including the characterization and operation of an NH4+/H3O+ chemical ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer for measuring volatile organic compounds and organic aerosol composition
• Investigate photooxidation processes and aerosol formation of representative biogenic VOC (BVOC) mixtures under various atmospheric conditions in the large atmospheric oxidation chamber SAPHIR
• Conduct airborne aerosol measurements onboard a Zeppelin airship
• Apply advanced data analysis methods, including statistical tools and programming, to large multidimensional datasets from chamber and airborne experiments
• Present your results at international conferences and publish them in peer-reviewed journals

Your Profile:

• A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in chemistry, physics, meteorology, atmospheric sciences, environmental sciences, or related fields
• Strong interest in experimental atmospheric research, field campaigns and data analysis
• Very good experimental skills; experience in mass spectrometry and/or aerosol measurements is an advantage
• Experience with, or strong motivation to learn, programming (Python) and advanced data analysis methods
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• Ability to communicate results clearly in presentations and in writing
• Self-motivated and well-structured working style
• Strong cooperation and teamwork skills in an international, interdisciplinary environment

Our Offer:

We work on pressing scientific questions that are highly relevant for society and offer you the opportunity to actively contribute to shaping change. We provide ideal conditions for you to successfully complete your doctoral degree:

• Team & environment: A dynamic, international and motivated team at one of the largest research institutions in Europe
• Research & infrastructure: Access to excellent scientific and technical facilities, including state-of-the-art atmospheric simulation chambers (e.g. SAPHIR) and advanced instrumentation
• Networking & exchange: Participation in (international) conferences, enabling you to build and expand your scientific network
• Personal development: Opportunity to join the HITEC graduate school, offering additional scientific and professional training, as well as options for international research stays
• Support for international employees: Our International Advisory Service supports you with all questions related to starting work and living in Germany
• Work-life balance: 30 days annual leave and flexible working arrangements (including remote work) are generally possible by agreement and in line with tasks and on-site requirements

The position is initially limited to 3 years. Depending on your qualifications and assigned responsibilities, you will be classified according to pay group 13 (67.5%) of the TVöD-Bund. Additionally, you will receive a special payment (“Christmas bonus”) amounting to 60% of one month’s salary. All information about the TVöD-Bund collective agreement can be found on the BMI website (pay scale table on page 69 and following of the PDF download): https://go.fzj.de/bmi.tvoed

In addition to exciting tasks and a collegial working environment, we offer you much more: https://go.fzj.de/benefits

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.

The following links provide further information on diversity and equal opportunities: https://go.fzj.de/equality and on the targeted promotion of women: https://go.fzj.de/womens-job-journey