Erstellt am 26. Juni 2026
Postdoctoral Researcher (f_m_x) - Generative AI for Earth System Sciences
GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung
Potsdam, Brandenburg 14473, Germany
Vollzeit
Reference: 414587363
GFZ is Germany's national centre for solid Earth research. We advance the understanding of dynamic processes to address global challenges, from mitigating the impacts of natural hazards and sustaining our habitat amid global change to responsibly managing georesources. We are part of the Helmholtz Association, the largest German scientific organisation. With around 1,200 employees as well as ca. 500 guest researchers, we contribute to the Helmholtz Research Field Earth and Environment, aligning cutting-edge research with societal relevance and international collaboration. Our work integrates multidisciplinary studies across Earth's system components, leveraging advanced technologies and infrastructure to research solutions and to transfer our knowledge to society. We are doing this in line with our vision: "Taking the pulse of our Earth to safeguard a habitable planet".
In Department 5 "Geoinformation", we are looking for a:
Postdoctoral Researcher (f_m_x) - Generative AI for Earth System Sciences
Reference Number 11340
Artificial intelligence (AI) methods, particularly generative AI, have the potential to significantly advance and transform Earth System Sciences (ESS), especially given the complexity of the Earth system as a dynamic system of interacting components. Generative AI enables to identify general structures across a wide range of problems, which can be addressed to specific tasks in subsequent research questions.
"GenAI4Earth" will go beyond the state-of-the-art by designing, deploying, and operating trustworthy, reusable GenAI services within the EOSC ecosystem, built on FAIR data, models, and workflows. The goal of this position is to develop data-driven approaches to AI-supported analysis for applications in ESS as part of the EU project "GenAI4Earth." To this end, current developments in the field of AI (e.g., Edge AI, Sustainable AI, Agentic AI) will be addressed and translated into concrete application scenarios.
Your responsibilities:
About You:
Essential Qualifications:
Desirable Qualifications:
What we offer:
Fixed-term: 3 years
Salary: The position is classed as salary group 13 according to "TVöD Bund ". The salary group is determined on the basis of the Collective Wage Agreement and the respective personal qualifications.
Working hours: Full-time (currently 39 h/week); The position is generally suitable for part-time work.
Place of work: Potsdam
Have we piqued your interest?
If so, we look forward to receiving your application by 22nd July 2026. Please use our online application form only.Required documents: letter of motivation, CV and certificates/grades
Please note, that we currently have two postdoctoral positions available in the field of artificial intelligence:
Here is the link to the position "Postdoctoral Researcher (f_m_x) - AI-based analysis of complex systems ", Ref Nr. 11336
Important Technical Note: Currently, email addresses associated with domains such as @hotmail.com, @outlook.com, or @live.de may experience occasional delays or restrictions in receiving messages. To ensure smooth communication during the application process, we recommend using an alternative email address and providing an additional contact method (e.g., a phone number).
The GFZ actively promotes diversity and explicitly welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of ethnic and social origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation and identity, religion/belief, age and physical characteristics. We also promote an inclusive working environment in which everyone can fully develop their own talents. Anyone who has been recognised as severely disabled will be given preferential consideration in the event of equal suitability and qualification in accordance with the provisions of the German Social Code IX. If you have any further queries regarding gender equality, please do not hesitate to contact our Equal Opportunities Officer.
"Diversity in perspectives" is one of GFZ's core values. As an integral part of supporting diversity at our centre, we actively promote women in science and in leadership positions. We, among others, do this through our gender equality plan and the cascade model measures, which we actively implement to enable sustainable equal opportunities in academic career paths. The GFZ thus committedly strives for gender equality in science, including in leadership positions, and strongly encourages women to apply.
Data protection information for applicants
In case of any further queries regarding the field of activity, please contact Wolfgang Graf zu Castell-Rüdenhausen via email. If you have any general questions about the application process, please contact our recruiting team at our phone number +49 (0) 331-6264-28787.
In Department 5 "Geoinformation", we are looking for a:
Postdoctoral Researcher (f_m_x) - Generative AI for Earth System Sciences
Reference Number 11340
Artificial intelligence (AI) methods, particularly generative AI, have the potential to significantly advance and transform Earth System Sciences (ESS), especially given the complexity of the Earth system as a dynamic system of interacting components. Generative AI enables to identify general structures across a wide range of problems, which can be addressed to specific tasks in subsequent research questions.
"GenAI4Earth" will go beyond the state-of-the-art by designing, deploying, and operating trustworthy, reusable GenAI services within the EOSC ecosystem, built on FAIR data, models, and workflows. The goal of this position is to develop data-driven approaches to AI-supported analysis for applications in ESS as part of the EU project "GenAI4Earth." To this end, current developments in the field of AI (e.g., Edge AI, Sustainable AI, Agentic AI) will be addressed and translated into concrete application scenarios.
Your responsibilities:
- Conducting research in the field of generative AI methodology
- Developing generative AI methods and services for research data and metadata management in interdisciplinary research projects
- Developing AI models for Earth System Sciences applications
- Contributing to GenAI4Earth infrastructure architecture - core federated services, compute, AI-ready datasets, testing and validation
- Publication of research papers in relevant academic journals and participation in conferences
- Participation in the application process for national and international research projects
- Participation in GFZ-wide projects in the field of AI
About You:
Essential Qualifications:
- A Master's degree and a PhD in Data Science, Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, or in a related field
- In-depth knowledge in current methodology of AI (Deep Learning, generative AI, Explainable AI, ...) and relevant programming frameworks
- Advanced programming skills in relevant programming languages and contexts (e.g., Python, HPC/GPU programming, big data applications)
- Strong team spirit and experience in interdisciplinary collaboration
- Fluent in spoken and written English
Desirable Qualifications:
- Knowledge of German
- Experience in scientific research in the field of generative AI
- Experience with interdisciplinary research projects
- Experience in working in an international team
- Solid understanding of data-driven modelling and related mathematical and statistical methods
- Excellent communication skills
- Proactivity, follow-up and keeping deadlines, initiative, problem-solving skills
What we offer:
- Ambitious and varied tasks in a dynamic and international research environment
- State-of-the-art equipment
- Public service benefits
- Extensive training opportunities
- Professional career advice offered by our in-house Career-Centre
- Flexible working hours and conditions
- Support with finding a good work-life balance offered by benefit@work
- Institute day-care centre on site
- Working at the Albert Einstein Science Park on the Telegrafenberg in Potsdam
- Workplace within walking distance of Potsdam main train station, or just a short ride on the shuttle bus
Fixed-term: 3 years
Salary: The position is classed as salary group 13 according to "TVöD Bund ". The salary group is determined on the basis of the Collective Wage Agreement and the respective personal qualifications.
Working hours: Full-time (currently 39 h/week); The position is generally suitable for part-time work.
Place of work: Potsdam
Have we piqued your interest?
If so, we look forward to receiving your application by 22nd July 2026. Please use our online application form only.Required documents: letter of motivation, CV and certificates/grades
Please note, that we currently have two postdoctoral positions available in the field of artificial intelligence:
Here is the link to the position "Postdoctoral Researcher (f_m_x) - AI-based analysis of complex systems ", Ref Nr. 11336
Important Technical Note: Currently, email addresses associated with domains such as @hotmail.com, @outlook.com, or @live.de may experience occasional delays or restrictions in receiving messages. To ensure smooth communication during the application process, we recommend using an alternative email address and providing an additional contact method (e.g., a phone number).
The GFZ actively promotes diversity and explicitly welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of ethnic and social origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation and identity, religion/belief, age and physical characteristics. We also promote an inclusive working environment in which everyone can fully develop their own talents. Anyone who has been recognised as severely disabled will be given preferential consideration in the event of equal suitability and qualification in accordance with the provisions of the German Social Code IX. If you have any further queries regarding gender equality, please do not hesitate to contact our Equal Opportunities Officer.
"Diversity in perspectives" is one of GFZ's core values. As an integral part of supporting diversity at our centre, we actively promote women in science and in leadership positions. We, among others, do this through our gender equality plan and the cascade model measures, which we actively implement to enable sustainable equal opportunities in academic career paths. The GFZ thus committedly strives for gender equality in science, including in leadership positions, and strongly encourages women to apply.
Data protection information for applicants
In case of any further queries regarding the field of activity, please contact Wolfgang Graf zu Castell-Rüdenhausen via email. If you have any general questions about the application process, please contact our recruiting team at our phone number +49 (0) 331-6264-28787.
