Postdoctoral position (m/f/d) "Biogeochemistry of seagrass blue carbon" in Kiel, Deutschland

Area of research:

Other

Job description:

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel is a foundation under public law jointly financed by the Federal Republic of Germany (90%) and the State of Schleswig-Holstein (10%). It is one of the internationally leading institutions in the field of marine research.

Through our research and our commitment to the transfer of knowledge and technology, we contribute significantly to the preservation of the function and protection of the ocean for future generations.

The research unit Marine Evolutionary Ecology of the research division Marine Ecology (PI Prof. Thorsten Reusch) is offering a

Postdoctoral position (m/f/d)"Biogeochemistry of seagrass blue carbon"

for 24 months with a desired starting date of 1 March 2027.

Background and Project Description 

As part of the ANK (Action Program for Natural Climate Protection) project ZOBLUC (Seagrass – Zostera marina as a Blue Carbon Store in the Baltic Sea), this postdoctoral position focuses on investigating the storage, stability, and dynamics of organic carbon (Corg) in Baltic seagrass meadows. The main objectives are to quantify and determine the origin of “Blue Carbon”, assess its stability against microbial degradation, and investigate the processes governing its accumulation, transport, and transformation.

The key responsibilities include:

Quantification and source identification of organic carbon (Corg): Investigating organic carbon storage in seagrass meadows at sites with varying degrees of exposure using stable isotope analysis. Appropriate biomarkers will be used to identify and quantify the origin of organic carbon stored in sediment cores, with particular emphasis on the proportion derived from seagrass. In addition, lateral carbon transport to beaches will be investigated in collaboration with the EOM research group at Kiel University.

Experimental investigation of organic carbon dynamics: Conducting controlled experiments in the Kiel outdoor benthocosms to investigate the effects of temperature, the abundance and diversity of benthic fauna, and sediment grain size on carbon storage and turnover. This includes assessing the stability of stored “Blue Carbon” and its microbial degradation.

Biomass export and modelling: Quantifying the export of aboveground seagrass biomass and developing a predictive model to estimate the amount of material washed ashore as a function of season, wind direction, and wind strength. The modelling approaches will be validated through controlled experiments.

Dissolved exudates: Investigating the release and microbial processing of dissolved organic compounds from seagrass plants and epiphytic algae, and assessing the stability of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) released.

The research will be conducted within an interdisciplinary and collaborative team comprising marine biologists, geographers, and experimental scientists. Geographers at Kiel University will survey and map seagrass meadows and quantify the export of biomass washed ashore. Other team members will support the experimental work in the research facilities. Extensive existing datasets on natural organic carbon (Corg) stocks in seagrass meadows in the western Baltic Sea are also available.

Candidate Profile
Requirements for a successful application:

A PhD / doctoral degree in ecology, biological oceanography, biogeochemistry or a related fieldRelevant scientific publications in the areas described aboveExperience in at least one of the following areas is required: Investigating organic carbon stocks and conducting biogeochemical assessments
of material fluxesBiomarker or isotope analysis of sediment coresConducting marine mesocosm experiments Excellent English language skills are required for working within our internationally composed teamWillingness to participate in field expeditions and sampling campaigns

Desirable Qualifications:

Scientific diving certificationKnowledge of seagrass ecosystems or other macrophytesKnowledge of Baltic Sea coastal and marine ecology

At a workplace, directly on the Kiel Fjord with many leisure and recreational opportunities, we offer you:

Good conditions for work-life balance: We offer, among other benefits, the possibility of mobile working and individual working time arrangements, vacation courses for the children of our employees and good support in finding a place in a day-care centre at the Kiel siteSupport services for professional and personal life situationsAn exciting work environment with the opportunity to provide important impetus for the development of sustainable solutionsExciting topics in an international environmentWork in the field of marine and climate research, a forward-looking area with social significance31 vacation days plus additional time off at Christmas and New Year’s EveCorporate Benefits for employeesCompany pension plan and capital-forming benefits

The position is available for a funding period of 24 months. The salary depends on qualification and could be up to the class E13 TVöD-Bund of the German tariff for public employees. This is a full position according to 100% of a full-time equivalent. The position cannot be split as the goals / milestones outlined in the ZOBLUC project proposal have to be fulfilled by January 2029. Flexible working time models are possible.

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel seeks to increase the proportion of female scientists and explicitly encourages qualified female academics to apply. GEOMAR is an equal opportunity employer and encourages scientists with disabilities to apply. Qualified disabled applicants will receive preference in the application process.

Please send your complete application for this post  not later than 15 November 2026  under the following link: 

Online application

As soon as the selection procedure has finished, all your application data will be removed according to data protection regulation.

For further informal inquiries, regarding the position and research unit please contact Prof. Thorsten Reusch (treusch(at)geomar.de).

For all other questions, send us an e-mail to bewerbung(at)geomar.de. In doing so, please refer to the keyword “ ZOBLUC ”.

For further information on GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel or the Helmholtz Association, please visit  or 

GEOMAR is committed to an objective and non-discriminatory personnel selection. Our job advertisements address all people. We expressly renounce the submission of application photos.

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.

Company

The Helmholtz Association contributes to solving major challenges to assure the future of our society. With more than 47.500 people on staff in 18 national Research Centers and an annual budget of more than 6 billion euros, the Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organization. The name Helmholtz stands for concerted research, in which networks form the key principle behind inquiring thought and action.

The profile of the Helmholtz Association

The Helmholtz Association performs cutting-edge research which contributes substantially to solving the grand challenges of science, society and industry. To succeed in meeting these responsibilities, Helmholtz concentrates its work in six research fields: Energy, Earth and Environment, Health, Information, Matter, as well as Aeronautics, Space and Transport. Within each of these fields, research programs are developed by our scientists and regularly evaluated by renowned international experts. Their evaluation forms the basis for the program-oriented funding that is allocated to Helmholtz research. Within the six research fields, Helmholtz scientists cooperate with each other and with external partners – working across disciplinary, organizational and national borders.

Moreover, Helmholtz specializes in large-scale research infrastructures – from accelerator facilities, earth observation satellites, research ships to supercomputers. They form the basis for scientific advances in tackling global societal challenges. Managing national research infrastructure is part of the Helmholtz Association's mission.

Promoting young academics

Helmholtz scientists, a high-performance infrastructure and modern and efficient research management are the ingredients to the Helmholtz Association‘s success and global impact.
Promoting young researchers is a major priority for the Helmholtz Association. Its qualification schemes for young researchers are geared mainly towards PhD students, postdocs and young managers. The Helmholtz Association has set high standards for its talent management. Its strategy begins with targeted recruitment of highly qualified staff at all levels, followed by comprehensive support aimed at further developing their potential. Ensuring equal opportunities is an essential element in all talent management activities undertaken by the Helmholtz Association.

The Helmholtz Graduate Schools and Research Schools at almost all Helmholtz Centers provide doctoral students with the general and specific skills and training they need, as well as ample opportunity to network. The period following a doctorate is decisive in determining the direction and success of a scientific career. For this reason, we established Career Development Centers for postdoctoral researchers in the Helmholtz Centers. This equips young researchers with the skills they need to go on to head a  Helmholtz Investigator Group , for example. As an Investigator Group leader, junior scientists can independently set up their own group to conduct research in their specialist field and acquire management skills.

Within its talent management strategy, the Helmholtz Association pays special attention to the increased recruitment of talented female scientists both from Germany and abroad. To this end, there are currently two funding programs supporting this policy:  and  Helmholtz Distinguished Professorship – Funding for the recruitment of leading international female scientists (W3) .

The increasing complexity of the content, structures and framework conditions of scientific work today requires researchers to organize their projects, their employees and, of course, themselves in a highly professional and effective way. In response to these demands, we have set up the  Helmholtz Leadership Academy to provide leaders in science with professional management training. Furthermore, the Helmholtz network provides a platform for the alumni of the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to come together and share their experiences of leadership, career development and lifelong learning.

All of this combined makes the 18 Research Centers of the Helmholtz Association a highly attractive environment for talented researchers from all over the world.

Company info

Telephone

0049-30-206329-0

Location

Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Str. 2
Berlin
Berlin
10178
Germany