For Research Group “Physical Limnology”, Department of Ecohydrology and Biogeochemistry of IGB in Berlin-Friedrichshagen at Lake Müggelsee we are inviting applications for the position of research scientist (PostDoc) starting as of 15.05.2023.
The work will be performed within the DFG-project “PycnoTrap” with the subject on hydrodynamical drivers of carbon cycling in aquatic ecosystems. The successful candidate will be part of an international and interdisciplinary team with German lakes as primary research objects. The research will be focused on physical mechanisms driving the sinking and degradation of small organic particles in thermally stratified inland waters. The approaches encompass development and application of 3d particle imaging and Lagrangian modelling of particle sinking. The study will be done in close collaboration with the biogeochemical and microbiological teams of the project and allowing for intense knowledge exchange between different scientific disciplines and researchers. The workplace is in Berlin-Friedrichshagen with frequent visits of the IGB at Lake Stechlin (80 km north of Berlin), where the main field site is located. Lakes and reservoirs play a substantial role in the transport and transformation of both terrestrial and autochthonous organic carbon. The key internal pathway for aquatic carbon dynamics, i.e. sinking of particulate organic matter (POM), strongly depends on vertical density stratification of the water column. This project aims to shed light on the changing role of water column density gradients for sinking behaviour of POM and hence its impact on microbial carbon cycling in inland waters.