PhD position – Soil–plant Hydraulics and Drought Part-time

PhD Position – Soil–plant Hydraulics and Drought

In the coming decades, climate change and shifts in land use will have a significant impact on the productivity of terrestrial ecosystems in terms of the services they provide (food, feed, fiber, energy), as well as on the challenges society must address. At the Institute of Bio- and Geosciences – Agrosphere (IBG-3), we develop solutions to safeguard ecosystem services based on an improved understanding of hydrological and biogeochemical processes in terrestrial systems. Our focus is on agricultural and forest systems, which are coming under increasing pressure due to global change. Innovative observation technologies are combined with laboratory experiments and modeling to investigate and predict terrestrial processes across scales (from the pore scale through the field scale to the continental scale), thereby contributing to the sustainable use of the natural resources water, soil, and atmosphere.

Your Job

The PhD will investigate the relationships between transpiration, effective soil water potential and leaf water potential under contrasting soil and climatic conditions. You will combine mechanistic soil–root–plant modelling with experimental data to:

• determine how heterogeneous soil water potentials are integrated by root systems
• quantify how soil texture and root hydraulic properties control water uptake
• investigate hydraulic adaptation to drought
• analyse the role of stomatal regulation in maintaining plant water status

You will work with modelling approaches implemented in CPlantBox and with data from the TERENO SoilCan lysimeter network, including soil water status, evapotranspiration, sap flow and leaf water potential.

Your Profile

• A Masters degree in bioscience engineering, soil science, hydrology, plant science, environmental science, physics, engineering, applied mathematics or a related field
• Strong quantitative skills
• Interest in soil–plant water relations and drought
• Motivation for modelling and data analysis
• Programming experience or willingness to develop it
• Good English communication skills (at least B2 level according to the CEFR), ideally supported by a certificate confirming the language level.
• Experience in soil physics, plant hydraulics or numerical modelling is an advantage.

Our Benefits for You

• Team & Environment: You will work in a motivated team with an international and interdisciplinary focus – at one of the largest research institutions in Europe
• Research & Infrastructure: You will have access to excellent scientific and technical facilities for your work
• Networking & Exchange: You will participate in (international) conferences and project meetings and actively build your scientific network
• Supervision & Support: We will accompany your doctoral studies with continuous, expert guidance from your academic supervisor
• Work-life balance: We offer flexible working hours to help you balance your professional and personal life. You also have the option of flexible working (in terms of location), which is generally possible after consultation and in line with upcoming tasks and (on-site) appointments
• Annual Leave: You get 30 days of annual leave
• Knowledge & Development: Your professional development is important to us – we support you specifically and individually e.g., through training and networking opportunities specifically for doctoral candidates (JuDocS)
• Health & well-being: Your health is important to us. You can look forward to a comprehensive company health management programme with a wide range of options, including a beach volleyball court, running groups, yoga classes and much more. In addition, our company medical service and an experienced social counselling team are available to assist you on site
• Campus experience: Our research campus in the countryside creates ideal conditions for collegial exchange and sporting activities right on site. Our cafeteria offers a wide range of options—you can enjoy a relaxing lunch break with a lake view
• Successful start: It is important to us that you quickly settle into the team and are given structured training for your tasks. We also support you from the very beginning and make your start easier with our Welcome Days and Welcome Guide
• Support for international employees: Our International Advisory Service makes it easier for international employees to get started
• Fair remuneration: Depending on your qualifications and assigned responsibilities, you will be classified according to pay group 13 (65%) of the TVöD-Bund. In addition to the basic salary, there is an additional year-end bonus under the collective pay agreement
• Contract: The position is for a fixed term of 4 years

In addition to exciting tasks and a collegial working environment, we offer you much more.

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.

The following links provide further information on diversity and equal opportunities: and on specific support options for women.