Doctoral Researcher in the assessment of changing trace metal fluxes, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany

With around 16,000 students and 3,800 employees, the Technische Universität Braunschweig (Technical University of Braunschweig) is one of Germany’s leading institutes of technology. It stands for strategic and performance-oriented thinking and acting, relevant research, committed teaching, and the successful transfer of knowledge and technologies to the economy and society. We consistently advocate for family friendliness and equal opportunities.

The research unit ‘Environmental Geochemistry’ of the Institute of Geoecology is offering a position as

Doctoral Researcher (m/f/d)

in the assessment of changing trace metal fluxes in the Central and Eastern Arctic Ocean

funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and starting on February 1st 2026 for the duration of 36 months (salary group EG 13 TV-L, 75% part-time). The position offers the possibility to obtain a doctoral degree in natural sciences.

Project description

The Arctic Ocean has seen an increase in primary production of ~60% in the last decades, which is suggested to facilitate fisheries and enhanced carbon export. However, we still know little about the factors that control phytoplankton growth in the Arctic. At the same time, the Arctic Ocean is subject to considerable change due to anthropogenic climate forcing which is likely to affect the biological carbon pump. This doctoral position focusses on trace metal cycling in the Eastern and Central Arctic Ocean, links to surface primary productivity and their responses to climate forcing including sea ice retreat and Atlantification, increased shelf erosion and elevated riverine discharge. The doctoral candidate will assess changes in sources and sinks of dissolved and particulate trace metals from expeditions from 2007 and 2015, against data from an expedition in 2024 where we sampled three transects across the Central and Eastern Arctic Ocean. The obtained knowledge will be used to calculate lateral and vertical trace metal fluxes and will include a focus on trace metal transport efficiency across the Central Arctic Ocean with potential links to primary production and export of micronutrients to the North Atlantic Ocean.

Job description

The Doctoral researcher will work in strong collaboration with researchers at GEOMAR Helmholtz-Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (Germany) and in the interdisciplinary environment of the international GEOTRACES programme. The candidate will be placed at TU Braunschweig with a research stay of approximately 1 year at GEOMAR. The supervisory team will include Dr. Stephan Krisch (TU Braunschweig), Prof. Harald Biester (TU Braunschweig), and Prof. Eric Achterberg (GEOMAR). The candidate will be working closely with chemical, biological and physical oceanographers, and biogeochemical modellers within the ArcTrace project. The candidate will undertake analysis for labile and particulate trace metals and establish their distribution in relation to sources and water masses, determine trace metal fluxes and their attenuation, and interpret the data with respect to changing in surface ocean chemistry and primary production. The Doctoral researcher will need to communicate routinely with other members of the GEOTRACES programme. Opportunity for teaching at TU Braunschweig is given. This may include preparation and implementation of courses as well as supervision of students’ work. The candidate will have the opportunity to participate in seagoing expeditions. There is also the possibility for a research stay at partner institutes in Great Britain or the United States.

Your tasks

• Trace metal analysis including leaching, digestion, and ICP-MS analysis under trace metal clean conditions.
• Data interpretation and data publication.
• Writing and publication of scientific manuscripts.
• Participation in international meetings and conferences.

Your Qualification

• A completed university degree (Master degree or Diploma) in chemical oceanography, marine sciences, environmental sciences, environmental chemistry, geosciences, analytical chemistry or in a related field is required.
• Experience in marine sciences, analytical chemistry, geochemistry, and/or environmental chemistry is required.
• We expect good English language skills.
• German language skills are desired.
• Flexibility and the ability to work in a team.
• The candidate is willing to conduct an extended research stay at GEOMAR in Kiel (Germany).
• You aim for a doctorate.

For further information and applications: https://www.tu-braunschweig.de/stellenangebote/wimi/doctoral-researcher-m/f/d-in-the-assessment-of-changing-trace-metal-fluxes-in-the-central-and-eastern-arctic-ocean