Global land ecosystem modelling at IMK-IFU

Open Positions

Scientific programmer at KIT-Campus Alpin (pdf)

You have knowledge about land ecosystems and advanced IT skills and a keen interest to apply these to help addressing societally and ecologically relevant research challenges? If that’s the case, we can offer you an interesting position, in a friendly and international team and a beautiful location, KIT’s Atmospheric Environmental Research Department located at the ‘Campus Alpin’ in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

Background

The Global Land-Ecosystem Modelling Group (https://lemg.imk-ifu.kit.edu/) seeks an ecosystem modeller to support code development and applications that address interactions of climate change, biodiversity loss and land-use change. This position focuses on the LPJ-GUESS ecosystem model in particular in context of LandSyMM (www.landsymm.earth), to enhance its capacity to model important processes relevant within these interactions.

You will have the opportunity to:

  • Contribute to the development of a full, online coupling of LandSyMM
  • Develop ideas for model applications, simulation set-up and analysis and publications
  • Further develop LPJ-GUESS to investigate the impact of land management on ecosystem properties
  • Conduct literature searches to obtain data for model testing and evaluation
  • Document your code development and performance
  • Collaborate with LEMG team members and partners at other institutions (especially University of Edinburgh and Lund University).

 Requirements

  • A Ph.D. degree in environmental science, ecology, meteorology, or related areas.
  • Demonstrated knowledge in coding languages, ideally C++.
  • Demonstrated proficiency in Python or R.
  • Fluency in English, strong communication skills, team spirit.
  • Practical experience with version control systems like git, and familiarity with software testing and documentation practices.
  • Familiarity with high-performance computing (HPC) systems, parallel data processing, and data formats such as netCDF.
  • Willingness to travel
  • Previous experience in running or developing an ecosystem model is an advantage.

The position is limited to an initial period of 3 years, prolongation may be possible depending on the availability of funds. Salary and benefits will be based on the Collective Agreement for the German Public Service Sector (TV-L). We can’t compete with what industry offers in terms of salary to IT specialists. But we can make up for this by the stunning nature we’re living in, by offering a job with a meaning, and by being lively and likeable colleagues.

If you’re interested please apply by June 6, 2025. Please upload your motivation letter, C.V including a publication list and contact details of two referees, in a single file via this link: https://jobs.pse.kit.edu/en/jobs/168531/scientific-programmer-mfd

Applications not sent via this link, incomplete applications or those that do not fit the profile cannot be considered.

HiWi, Bachelor and Master thesis opportunities

If you are interested in doing your Bachelor- or Masterthesis with us please contact almut.arneth@kit.edu