Job description

The project:

Under the action of river, tidal or other currents, sediment can be mobilised, transported and deposited to create undulations of the bed, collectively known as bedforms. Large bedforms are especially present in tidal rivers, estuaries and shallow continental shelves, where they form extensive underwater dune fields, due to the strong hydrodynamics and sandy sediment found there. However, the presence, characteristics and dynamics of tidally-formed dunes is still poorly understood compared to those of river dunes. This is especially true in the German Bight and its estuaries, where bedforms were only systematically characterised in 1972, apart from some spatially-limited studies since then. However, it is essential to identify dune presence, characteristics and dynamics for several fundamental (e.g. roughness computation, sediment transport assessment and prediction) and applied (e.g. channel depth management, offshore construction planning) reasons.

The aim of the project EsTiMaDunes is to identify the presence, characteristics and dynamics of estuarine, tidal and marine dunes in the German Bight and the German tidal estuaries in order to establish relations between bedform characteristics and environmental conditions in tidal environments. For this, the project has three defined objectives: (1) assess the presence, characteristics and migration of bedforms in the Weser Estuary, Elbe Estuary and Jade tidal inlet; (2) provide an up-to-date map of dune presence and size in the German Bight and relate these to hydrodynamics and sedimentological properties and (3) compare the characteristics of estuarine, tidal and marine dunes, define relevant descriptors and develop specific dune predictors. To do so, available bathymetric data from the German Bight and its estuaries will be investigated to derive dune presence, size (height and length), shape (in two and three dimensions) and dynamics. They will be compared to environmental data such as depth, sediment size or current strength.

Your tasks include:

• Development and application of tools to analyse large datasets (e.g. bathymetry and hydrodynamics in the North Sea), possibly using machine learning
• Interpretation of correlations and mapping of results
• Communications with relevant authorities
• Presentation of research results at international conferences and publication in peer-reviewed international scientific journals

Requirements

• MSc degree in geosciences, oceanography, physical geography, environmental or coastal engineering, or a related discipline with experience in geomorphology. Students who are still writing their Master thesis and do not yet have a certificate are also invited to apply. The MSc degree certificate must be issued prior to employment.
• Enjoys working with and analysing large datasets; knowledge of Matlab, Python or similar programming software is a plus.
• Enjoys illustrating geomorphological data; knowledge of ArcGIS, QGIS or a similar GIS software is a plus.
• Willingness to communicate with relevant authorities and develop data processing workflow in a self-organised manner.
• Good spoken and written academic English.
• Ability to work independently and to collaborate with a diverse team.

General Information

Open to unconventional approaches in research and teaching, the University of Bremen has retained its character as a place of short distances for people and ideas since its founding in 1971. With a broad range of subjects, we combine exceptional performance and innovative potential. As an ambitious research university, we stand for research-based learning approaches and a pronounced interdisciplinary orientation. We actively pursue international scientific cooperation in a spirit of global partnership.
Today, around 23,000 people learn, teach, research and work on our international campus. In research and teaching, administration and operations, we are firmly committed to the goals of sustainability, climate justice and climate neutrality. Our Bremen spirit is expressed in the courage to dare new things, in supportive cooperation, in respect and appreciation for each other. With our study and research profile and as part of the European YUFE network, we assume social responsibility in the region, in Europe and in the world.

The university is family-friendly, diverse and sees itself as an international university. We therefore welcome all applicants regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion/belief, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity.

As the University of Bremen intends to increase the proportion of female employees in science, women are particularly encouraged to apply. Disabled applicants will be given priority if their professional and personal qualifications are essentially the same.

MARUM (https://www.marum.de/en/) is a research Faculty of the University of Bremen and an internationally recognised centre for marine research with a geoscientific focus. Doctoral researchers at MARUM are expected to be part of the graduate school GLOMAR. They are supervised by a team of experienced scientists, and benefit from a large network of fellow doctoral researchers from all over the world. GLOMAR offers a training programme with expert courses that account for the diversity of fields in marine sciences, and soft skills training to complement the education of doctoral researchers. MARUM and the University of Bremen are strongly committed to equal opportunity and offer several measures to support their staff:

• Annual special payment ("Christmas bonus"), regular automatic salary increases in line with collective agreements and additional public service pension scheme (VBL)
• A crisis-proof, interesting and varied job in a cosmopolitan university
• 30 days holiday per calendar year
• The opportunity for further education and training (e.g. free German courses)
• Compatibility of family and career through flexible working hours (flexitime), part-time and the possibility of mobile working (taking into account the general conditions)
• Free social and family counselling services
• Active company health management, including the option of discounts at local sports clubs, gyms and swimming pools (EGYM WELLPASS)
• The option of using a job ticket (Bremen Tramway)
• Numerous sports and cultural programmes
• Varied catering options in the student union canteens

If you have any questions about the position, please contact alefebvreprotect me ?!marumprotect me ?!.de.

Your application should include in one PDF document: academic CV (including publication list if applicable), copies of BSc and MSc university transcripts and work references if applicable, the contact addresses for 2 references, and a letter of motivation (maximum 2 pages) explaining what exactly motivated you to apply for this position, why you are particularly interested in the proposed topic, and what skills and experience qualify you for the position.

Please send your application documents with reference to job advertisement number A135-25 until 08.04.2025 as a single PDF file by e-mail to bewerbung-a13525protect me ?!marumprotect me ?!.de
or by post to:

University of Bremen
MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences
Alice Lefebvre
Kennziffer: A135-25
Leobener Str. 8
28359 Bremen

We kindly ask you to send us only copies of your application documents as we cannot return them. They will be destroyed after the selection process has been completed. Application costs cannot be reimbursed.