24 Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of Hamburg, Germany

Research associates will be expected primarily to teach and conduct research. The research associate will also have the opportunity to pursue further academic qualifications, in particular a doctoral dissertation. At least one-third of set working hours will be made available for the research associate’s own academic work.

The research associate will examine Effects of acclimation, dispersal, and establishment on diversity patterns of mosses and lichens under climate change. These organisms are key for ecosystem functioning in many regions of the world, but mosses and lichens are seldom represented in process-based dynamic vegetation models (DGMVs) that are used for prediction of future vegetation patterns and functions at global scale. In particular, processes that may limit range shifts under climate change, such as dispersal and establishment, or mechanisms of acclimation to altered climate at the individual level, are missing in DGVMs.

The aim of this project is to estimate how these potentially limiting processes affect future distribution patterns of mosses and lichens, focusing on their functional diversity and the associated ecosystem functions. To this end, an established DGVM of mosses and lichens will be extended by mechanisms of dispersal, establishment and acclimation and evaluated by means of laboratory and small-scale field experiments.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are becoming increasingly prevalent in the Baltic Sea and neighbouring estuaries. The mass mortality of fish in the Oder estuary in August 2022 has demonstrated that HABs pose a significant threat to important ecosystem services, biodiversity and human health. The focus of this research position is to determine the tolerance limits of fish to toxic algae such as Prymnesium parvum. The aim of this research is to improve the risk assessment of HABs in the Baltic Sea and to develop early warning systems and preventive measures.

Specific information on the research idea of the position:

The work will include ecotoxicological experiments with fish, such as behavioural tests (shuttlebox system) and measurements of metabolic performance (swimtunnel respirometry) to determine algal toxicity thresholds. The experiments will be conducted under controlled environmental conditions to simulate heat waves and hypoxia events. The position is part of the larger research consortium HABBAL, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Within the HABBAL consortium, the candidate will collaborate with scientists in the fields of molecular ecotoxicology, genetics, biochemistry, and socioeconomics.

Duties include academic services in the project named above. Research associates may also pursue independent research and further academic qualifications. They may also pursue doctoral studies outside of working duties.

This project aims to understand the dynamics of the oceanic surface mixed layer. Within this layer, processes from different dynamical regimes (e.g., small-scale turbulence, submesoscales, and surface waves) generate a variety of energy transfer mechanisms. This position will focus on submesoscales, a recently discovered dynamical regime that is important for the energetics and dynamics of the surface layer but is currently poorly understood. The successful candidate will use a high-resolution numerical modeling approach and available observations to evaluate the model results. The candidate will be part of the “Theoretical Oceanography” working group and the Research Training Group “ENERGY” which offers dedicated training courses, seminars, mentoring, and, if desired, international research visits.

Duties include academic services in the project named above. Research associates may also pursue independent research and further academic qualifications.

 The development of serial crystallography at X-ray free-electron lasers gives opportunities to measure time-dependent structures of functioning photoactive macromolecules, in real time. This project aims to extend time-resolved crystallography capabilities, as well as ultrafast spectroscopic tools, and apply them to the investigation of the structure and dynamics of flavoenzymes.

The increasing release of antibiotics, biocides, toxins, plasticizers and microplastics has a direct and indirect impact on microbial diversity and, through selection, promotes the spread of bacterial resistance mechanisms causing a high risk for human and animal health. In addition, climate change and other man-made factors increase and speed up these effects. The MOMOBIO-2 project will develop very detailed mainly omic-based data sets and models to track, monitor and predict the urban microbiota and changes in its biodiversity and resistance profile along the wastewater streams of the City of Hamburg as well as urban water bodies. Our main goal is to use changes in microbial biodiversity as an indirect measure for animal and human health.

The candidate will represent the functional diversity of microbial communities in a process-based ecological modelling approach and simulate the impacts of different environmental factors, in particular stressors, on shifts in community composition. The model will then be applied to predict abundances of potential pathogens that are relevant for human health, thereby integrating the experimental work in other parts of the MOMOBIO-2 project.

Functional diversity will be explicitly modelled based on population dynamics of a large number of microbial functional types that differ with regard to several key traits, based on existing eco-evolutionary models. The model will be parameterized using data on reaction rates and the simulated abundances will be validated against observational data, collected in other work packages of the project. The model will focus on evolving resistomes, xenobiotic gene loads, and virulence factors. The spread of antibiotic resistance in microbial communities will be scaled up along the flowpath toward the Elbe river in response to changes in stressor levels.

Research associates will be expected primarily to teach and conduct research. The research associate will also have the opportunity to pursue further academic qualifications, in particular a doctoral dissertation. At least one-third of set working hours will be made available for the research associate’s own academic work.

The Cluster of Excellence “Quantum Universe” performs research to understand mass and gravity at the interface between quantum physics and cosmology. The research team includes leading scientists from mathematics, particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology at Universität Hamburg and DESY.

The duties of this position are related to the development commissioning and operation of an experiment for Dark Matter search.

The position is associated with the MADMAX experiment which involves R&D for a new experimental approach to search for axions with a mass around 100 μeV as favored by a class of theoretical models. The new approach makes use of magnetized dielectric media and dedicated RF antennas in the 1–100 GHz range. The position is specific to the commissioning and integration of the first MADMAX prototype in a cryostat, and the operation of an axion/ALPs search experiment in the SHELL laboratory in Hamburg, and in a magnetic field at the CERN SPS facility.

In the period from as soon as possible until 12/31/2025, duties primarily include teaching and research. Research associates may also pursue independent research and further academic qualifications.

In the period from 01/01/2026 for the remaining time, duties include academic services in the project named above. Research associates may also pursue independent research and further academic qualifications.

Spin systems are an intriguing breeding ground for exotic and topological quasiparticle excitations like anyons and quantum skyrmions. This project utilizes artificial neural networks to simulate the dynamics of topological excitations in spin systems and aims to find fast-time-scale coherent control of these quasiparticles, which has previously only been demonstrated on an adiabatic, i.e., infinitely slow, time scale. The project connects dynamics, topological excitations, and quantum machine learning as its three key aspects.

Duties primarily include teaching and research. Research associates may also pursue independent research and further academic qualifications.

The successful candidate will be part of the working group „Atmospheric Turbulence and Boundary Layers“. Research topics for this position include, but are not restricted to, cloud-turbulence interaction, convection, stratified turbulence, near-surface turbulence, with a special focus on high-performance computing and exascale computing. This position also includes a teaching obligation of 4 hours per week.

Duties include academic services in the project named above. Research associates may also pursue independent research and further academic qualifications. They may also pursue doctoral studies outside of working duties.

In the framework of the Project, mainly semiconductor nanoparticles (perovskite type materials and others) will be syntezied by means of colloid chemistry. The synthesized nanoparticles will be deposited on appropriate substrates and their performance in solar cells will be examined. Exhaustive and sound optical characterization of the nanoparticles and additionaly electronic characterization of the produced solar cells will be performed.

Duties include academic services in the project named above. Research associates may also pursue independent research and further academic qualifications.

The Cluster of Excellence “Quantum Universe” performs research to understand mass and gravity at the interface between quantum physics and cosmology. The research team includes leading scientists from mathematics, particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology at Universität Hamburg and DESY.

You will be part of a novel research project which aims to detect gravitational waves with superconducting radio-frequency cavities. This research is carried out together with world-leading experts on superconducting cavities and RF control systems, and further benefits from the location of the world-wide largest superconducting accelerator on-site. Another vital part is the excellent theoretical research team, developing necessary models to describe the interactions of the cavity with gravitational waves and its environment. Together we design and specify the fundamental concept of the experiment, which will be carried out in the near-future. Besides the project team in Hamburg, we are closely collaborating with a research team at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, where mutual visits are part of the project.

You will lead the study to design a new cavity geometry for the future experiment. This is based on the experience gained during cryogenic tests at DESY and FNAL, and a first physics run to detect high-frequency gravitational waves at FNAL at which you participate and analyze various data. For that, you will interact and work together with various renowned experts on their different fields and gain in-depth knowledge of various aspects of cavity operation.

The diffusion of light alkali-metal ions (such as Li+ or Na+) and the accompanying reduction of transition metals within intercalation materials are fundamental processes in a wide range of battery cathodes. Directly measuring these processes can provide valuable insights for designing novel fast-charging materials. However, techniques capable of capturing information at both atomic length scales and relevant timescales are currently lacking. Accelerator-based x-ray photon sources, such as x-ray free-electron lasers and next-generation storage rings, offer short, intense, tunable, and transversely coherent x-ray pulses with the potential to overcome these limitations. Yet, their application has been restricted due to the absence of suitable methodologies.

The successful candidate will develop the theoretical foundation for a novel technique to address this challenge. This technique will utilize x-ray scattering at the transition-metal K-edge, which is sensitive to the oxidation state of the transition metal, and analyze the resulting time-dependent x-ray speckle patterns, which are sensitive to diffusion. To that end, the candidate will employ state-of-the-art electronic structure theory and molecular dynamics simulations to model local atomic environment changes upon Li+ insertion, such as alterations in transition-metal x-ray scattering properties and displacements of neighboring atoms, as well as Li+ diffusion pathways and rates. Based on these calculations, the candidate will predict the expected measurement signals and determine optimal observation conditions. This study will lay the groundwork for proof-of-principle experiments at x-ray free-electron lasers that will be designed in collaboration with experimental groups. Another specific duty is teaching of four hours per week during teaching times (4 LVS) in the period from as soon as possible until 31.12.2025.

Research associates will be expected primarily to teach and conduct research. The research associate will also have the opportunity to pursue further academic qualifications, in particular a doctoral dissertation or a habilitation (postdoctoral qualification). Therefore, at least one-third of set working hours will be made available for the associate’s own academic work.

The general focus of the Signal Processing (SP) research group is on developing novel methods for processing speech and audio signals, with applications in speech communication devices such as hearing aids, mobile telephony, and voice-controlled assistants. Modern machine learning and generative AI methods, such as diffusion models, have revolutionized the performance of these devices, for instance in acoustically challenging environments. In this context, potential PhD topics include:

• Source Separation: innovating techniques to isolate individual audio sources from complex environments
• Speech Enhancement: developing advanced methods to improve speech clarity and intelligibility in noisy settings
• Emotional Speech Synthesis: creating models that generate emotionally rich and natural-sounding speech
• Multimodal Signal Processing: leveraging modern machine learning to seamlessly integrate speech, language, and text processing, thereby enhancing overall system capabilities

Duties include academic services in the project named above. Research associates may also pursue independent research and further academic qualifications.

The primary focus of the Signal Processing (SP) research group is to develop innovative machine learning methods for speech signal processing. Our applications range across speech communication devices including but not limited to teleconferencing systems, assistive listening devices, and voice-controlled assistants. In this specific project, we will explore the use of score-based diffusion models to enhance speech using the capabilities of generative AI. Typical responsibilities for a Research Associate include authoring scientific publications and traveling to conferences and workshops to present the findings. We are seeking a highly motivated individual who is passionate about engaging in cutting-edge research within a supportive and pleasant working atmosphere.

Duties include academic services in the project named above. Research associates may also pursue independent research and further academic qualifications.

Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is inevitable in scenarios which ensure to stay below the 1.5 or 2° target by the end of the century. As a swift deployment is necessary and many unknowns remain.

To evaluate the synergy effects of co-deployment of biochar and rock dust for enhanced weathering, lab experiments have been conducted. Within project PyMiCCS, these results have to be evaluated and prepared to be integrated into global soil and ecosystem models. Furthermore, a group of researchers from ecologists and soil scientists to geologists has to be coordinated and results harmonized.

In close connection to the results found within PyMiCCS, EU-funded project UPTAKE aims to facilitate the global and sustainable upscaling of CDR by developing a set of robust strategies through technical, theoretical, and practical analyses. The UPTAKE approach will allow the assessment of geographical, sectoral, socioeconomic, demographic, and temporal trade-offs, co-benefits, and opportunities emerging from portfolios of different CDR methods.

Duties include academic services in the project named above. Research associates may also pursue independent research and further academic qualifications.

Successful candidates are required to perform interdisciplinary and collaborative research concerning the development and analysis of high-performance numerical algorithms for fluid flow simulation methods.

Duties include academic services in the project named above. Research associates may also pursue independent research and further academic qualifications.

The successful applicant will work in a junior research group lead by Dr. Ata Makarem (as a part of Prof. Maison’s Lab) at the Institute of Pharmacy. The research project focuses on the synthesis and molecular investigation of novel bioorganometallic molecules for use in tumor targeting. The goal of this fundamental research is to develop imaging probes initially for prostate cancer, but also for other types of cancer. In this context, the candidate will synthesize and characterize these compounds and examine their biological activity in-vitro (cell experiments). Animal experiments and radiochemical studies will be conducted by an external partner. The project consists of 70-80 % organic synthesis and coordination chemistry and 20-30 % biochemistry.

Applications from international candidates and individuals from minorities are highly encouraged! Please provide the name and contact address of at least one reference. Please submit your application documents as a single PDF file.

Duties primarily include teaching and research. Research associates may also pursue independent research and further academic qualifications.

Own research is supported, but it has to fall in the scientific field of machine learning and Geophysics. The candidate is expected to supervise students on bachelor and master level. Teaching duties include four academic teaching hours per week during teaching periods.

Duties primarily include teaching and research. Research associates may also pursue independent research and further academic qualifications.

Our group has a longstanding history in experimental neutrino physics with large unsegmented liquid scintillator detectors. After a previous involvement in Borexino, we are now active in the JUNO and ANNIE experiments. One of our main focuses is the reconstruction of particle tracks in liquid scintillators. To strengthen our activities in this field, we are offering this postdoc position.

Your tasks will include the maintenance and further development of the topological track reconstruction in Hamburg as well as data analysis for the JUNO experiment.

Research associates will be expected primarily to teach and conduct research. The research associate will also have the opportunity to pursue further academic qualifications, in particular a doctoral dissertation. At least one-third of set working hours will be made available for the research associate’s own academic work.

The research associate can take part in the doctoral training program “collective decision making” and needs to acquire skills in quantitative empirical data analysis (if necessary) to write a doctoral dissertation in political science or political economy on a topic related to the research interests at the chair of comparative political science, particularly gender and politics, climate politics or sustainable fiscal politics, electoral competition, gender and representation.

Also topics in political methodology, such as natural language processing of political texts, endogeneity, pooled and panel data analysis, or causal inference are possible.

Active participation in research events organized by the chair (colloquia, seminar series) is required.

The position involves teaching of tutorials for basic courses in political science and specialized courses in comparative politics or quantitative methods as well as the supervision of students in seminars. The teaching load is 2 hours per week.