PhD position in Investigating Offshore Groundwater Hydrology and Submarine Groundwater Discharge
Join an interdisciplinary project investigating offshore freshened groundwater systems through marine drilling and geochemical analysis.
Best for:Best for candidates with a background in geosciences or hydrogeology who are eager to combine marine fieldwork with geochemical data analysis.
Overview
The Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) is seeking a motivated PhD candidate to join the international AQUA-SHELF project. This research focuses on understanding offshore freshened groundwater (OFG) and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) in the Baltic and northern Adriatic Seas. The successful candidate will participate in offshore drilling campaigns, conduct geochemical and isotopic analyses, and integrate hydroacoustic and environmental data. The position is based at the AWI Wadden Sea Station on Sylt and offers a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment with opportunities for international fieldwork.
What you'll do
- Plan and execute marine field campaigns in the Baltic and northern Adriatic Seas.
- Detect and characterize submarine groundwater discharge using hydroacoustic and geochemical methods.
- Deploy and maintain seabed monitoring systems for electrical conductivity and temperature.
- Collect and analyze sediment, pore-water, and groundwater samples.
- Investigate groundwater origin, age, and mixing processes using geochemical and isotopic data.
- Integrate multi-disciplinary datasets to assess land-sea groundwater connectivity.
- Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at international conferences.
Requirements
Degree required: Master’s degree or equivalent in geosciences, hydrogeology, marine geology, environmental sciences, geochemistry, or geophysics.
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English (CEFR level C1 or equivalent).
Instruction: English
- Knowledge of hydrogeology, coastal groundwater systems, or groundwater geochemistry.
- Experience with fieldwork or environmental/geochemical datasets.
- Proficiency in quantitative data analysis using R, Python, or MATLAB.
- Willingness to participate in multi-day marine research cruises.
- Must hold a Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline.
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-10-08
Applications must be submitted online via the AWI portal. Please ensure all documents are provided in English.
- CV
- Cover letter
- Academic transcripts
Contact
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