PhD Position in the area of Air Sea Fluxes
We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to investigate the interactions between wind, waves, and sea-surface monolayers. Understanding energy and scalar fluxes across the air-sea interface is crucial for a number of environmental challenges, including weather, climate and sea state forecasting. The Air-Sea Fluxes group at the Institute of Coastal Ocean Dynamics conducts laboratory- and field-based research, by developing and deploying unique, novel high-resolution imaging systems to investigate submillimeter-scale turbulent dynamics in multiphase environments such as the ocean surface.
The project is part of the research group “Biogeochemical processes and Air-sea exchange in the Sea-Surface microlayer (BASS)” funded by the German Research Foundation. The overall goal is to investigate the importance of the sea-surface microlayer (SML) as a biogeo- and photochemical reactor, and how its reactivity affects ocean-atmosphere interactions. Eight subprojects will collaborate in joint field campaigns in the open North Sea, in a joint mesocosm study at the Sea-Surface Facility of the University of Oldenburg, and in joint experiments at University of Hamburg’s Wind-Wave Facility. BASS will combine interdisciplinary expertise, advanced technologies for millimeter-scale observations, core infrastructures for controlled experiments, and state-of-the-art analytical facilities at the molecular levels.
We invite applications with preferred starting date as soon as possible. The position is limited to March 31, 2026. The candidate will develop and use novel imaging techniques at University of Hamburg’s large wind-wave facility, to quantify, understand and parametrize wind-wave-surfactant interactions, and their effect on air-water fluxes of momentum and scalars.
Your tasks:
- designing, planning and performing laboratory (wind-wave facility) experiments, using state-of-the-art imaging techniques
- developing computational codes to process and understand large experimental datasets (e.g., image processing)
- analyzing experimental results; developing conceptual models and parameterizations
- scientific publication and presentation
- working as an integral part of a motivated multidisciplinary team within the institute and with external academic partners
Your profile (essential qualifications):
- a MSc degree in oceanography, fluid mechanics, geosciences, physics, mechanical engineering or related disciplines
- programming skills in one or more languages (Matlab, Python, R, C, Fortran)
- excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken)
- high degree of motivation, creativity, and flexibility
- ability and willingness to participate in sea-going research