Post Doc Position – Sustainable Development of Timber as a Construction Material

Work group:

IBG-2 – Pflanzenwissenschaften

Area of research:

Scientific / postdoctoral posts

Job description:

Your Job:

The position is embedded in the collaborative project “Naturally grown timber elements as basis for load-bearing building structures – structural analysis and growth simulation”, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

• You will perform experiments and analyze data how woody plants adapt their anatomy and optimize growth under the influence of environmental conditions such as drought, heat and wind
• Generate knowledge for a better understanding on biophysical principles of load-bearing wooden structures
• Apply modern tomographic technologies (MRI / CT) and use mathematical tools, computer programming and quantitative approaches
• You will be working in a project that span multiple disciplines, including architecture and engineering
• Publishing the scientific results in international journals and travel to national and international conferences

Your Profile:

Required applicant Profile: Master and PhD degree in Agriculture, Forestry, Plant Biology, Engineering, related natural sciences.

Desired attitude and skills:

• Self-motivated, curious and collegial
• Creative problem solver
• Interest in cross-disciplinary cooperation and application
• Good knowledge of woody plant eco-physiology, especially in relation to wood development and anatomy
• Experience conducting plant experiments in greenhouses or other growth conditions
• Good understanding of biomechanics
• Knowledge of tomographic technologies
• Programming skills, preferably in Phyton and / or statistical language R
• Preparation of data and scientific interpretation of results, independent presentation of results at scientific conferences and collaboration on scientific publications
• Excellent written and spoken English/German

Our Offer:

We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and are offering you the chance to actively help in shaping the change! We support you in your work with:

• A large research campus with green spaces, offering the best possible means for networking with colleagues and pursuing sports alongside work
• Possibility to develop an own scientific profile in the topic
• An excellent environment to perform cutting-edge research at an international level
• World-class infrastructure and expertise in plant phenotyping
• Developing the potential of our employees is important to us, which is why we offer individual professional development opportunities
• Ideal conditions for balancing work and private life, as well as a family-friendly corporate policy supported by our Equal Opportunities Bureau
• Flexible working hours in a full-time position with the option of slightly reduced working hours
• 30 days of annual leave and provision for days off between public holidays and weekends (e.g. between Christmas and New Year)
• Targeted services for international employees, e.g. through our International Advisory Service
• Exploration and preparation of next career opportunities, supported by our Career Center & Postdoc Office: www.fz-juelich.de/en/career-center-postdoc-office

We offer you an exciting and varied role in an international and interdisciplinary working environment. The position is initially for a fixed term of 1,5 years. Salary and social benefits will conform to the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Public Service (TVöD-Bund), pay group 13, depending on the applicant’s qualifications and the precise nature of the tasks assigned to them.

In addition to exciting tasks and a collaborative working atmosphere at Jülich, we have a lot more to offer: go.fzj.de/benefits

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.

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organisation.