Two post-doctoral researcher positions Modelling terrestrial ecosystems response to environmental changes at KIT/Campus Alpin

Description

Do you have knowledge of land ecosystems, climate change and land use change? Do you have very good quantitative and coding skills? Are you keen to apply your knowledge and skills to address societal and ecological research challenges? If so, we can offer you a post-doctoral researcher position within a multidisciplinary, international research environment at KIT's Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research / Atmospheric Environmental Research in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

We welcome a creative, communicative team-spirited colleague to join the land-ecosystem modelling group (LEMG; ) at IMK-IFU. You will be contributing to the further development and application of advanced coupled model systems, focusing (depending on your skills and research interests) either on the dynamic global vegetation model LPJ-GUESS and the full coupling of LandSyMM and/or advancing the coupling of LPJ-GUESS with the functional diversity model Madingley.

Lines of research include:

• Familiarise yourself with code and the coupled modelling set-up
• Further develop relevant key processes
• Develop ideas for model applications, simulation set-up and analysis and publications
• Document code development and performance
• Coordinate and interact with others involved in these developments (within the LEMG team and international partners)

Requirements

• A Ph.D. degree in environmental science, ecology, meteorology, or related areas
• Knowledge in coding languages, ideally C++
• Proficiency in Python or R
• Fluency in English and good communication skills
• Delight in engaging with an international, multidisciplinary research community, including the willingness to travel

Salary

Salary and benefits will be based on the Collective Agreement for the German Public Service Sector (TV-L). Funding is available initially for 3 years with the possibility to extend the contract, depending on funding availability.

Application deadline, selection and expected start date

Applications uploaded as a single pdf should include a letter of motivation, CV, publication list and contact details of two referees. Applications are open until May 1. We expect the position to start towards the end of 2026.

Please apply at

Further Reading

Regarding LandSyMM

• Alexander, P., Rabin, S., Anthoni, P., Henry, R., Pugh, T. A. M., Rounsevell, M. D. A., & Arneth, A. (2018). Adaptation of global land use and management intensity to changes in climate and atmospheric carbon dioxide. Global Change Biology .
• Camargo-Alvarez, H., Bampoh, D., Mazzola, V., Alexander, P., Henry, R., Rabin, S., Rounsevell, M., & Arneth, A. (2025). Assessing the impact of strictly protecting 30%-50% of global land on carbon dynamics in natural and agricultural ecosystems. Plants People Planet , 7(4), 1070-1079.
• Rabin, S. S., Alexander, P., Henry, R., Anthoni, P., Pugh, T. A. M., Rounseyell, M., & Arneth, A. (2020). Impacts of future agricultural change on ecosystem service indicators. Earth System Dynamics , 11(2), 357-376.

Regarding LPJ-GUESS/Madingley

• Krause, J., Anthoni, P., Harfoot, M., Kupisch, M., & Arneth, A. (2025). Modelling herbivory impacts on vegetation structure and productivity. Geoscientific Model Development , 18(23), 9633-9651.
• Krause, J., Harfoot, M., Hoeks, S., Anthoni, P., Brown, C., Rounsevell, M., & Arneth, A. (2024). How more sophisticated leaf biomass simulations can increase the realism of modelled animal populations. Ecological Modelling , 492,