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Germany - University of Postdam PhD Scholarships in Geophysics, Hydrology, Statistics and Mathematical Modelling

August 19th, 2007

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The newly founded Graduate School at the University of Potsdam (Germany) entitled “Natural Disasters: Generation, Propagation, and Impacts” invites applications for four PhD scholarships available as of July 1, 2007.

The duration of available scholarships is for up to three years. The successful candidates will be offered grants of 1000 up to 1200 e/month. The Graduate School is hosted by the Departments of Geoecology, Geosciences, and Physics at the University of Potsdam. The interdisciplinary research and education programme deals with different aspects of natural disasters including earthquakes, landslides, and flooding. The PhD projects combine recent developments in geophysics, hydrology, and statistics, as well as process-based and mathematical modelling. The projects will be supervised by two members of the Departments of Geoecology, Geosciences, Physics, or Mathematics at the University of Potsdam. They are integrated into the Potsdam Graduate School.

The four different topics of the PhD projects are:

• Ground motion models for intraplate earthquakes
  Supervisors: Prof. F. Scherbaum (Geosciences), Dr. S. Hainzl (Geosciences)

  The prediction of ground motion for future earthquakes with assumed characteristics is of major importance for seismic hazard analysis. The aim of this project is to develop improved ground motion models for intraplate situations as in Central Europe. Because of the relative low seismicity in these regions, existing models include uncertainties of unknown magnitude. By combining modeling approaches from earthquake physics with statistical validation methods, the goal is to develop new calibrated ground motion models for selected regions in Central Europe with an appropriate quantification of the uncertainties.

  Targeted area of sciences: seismology, geophysics

• Wavelet based information extraction from strong motion seismograms
  Supervisors: Prof. M. Holschneider (Mathematics), PD G. Zoller (Physcics) , Prof. F. Scherbaum (Geosciences)

  In low seismicity regions, e.g. in Western central Europe, the ground motion of future earthquakes is commonly estimated from regression models, which have been generated from response spectra of ground motion recorded in seismically active areas. In contrast to the Fourier spectrum, the description of a response spectrum within a simple model is not straightforward. However, for applications in engineering seismology, the Fourier spectrum has the shortcoming that it does not provide time localization. This projects aims at the design of a methodology to combine the advantages of Fourier spectra (physical models) with those of wavelet based approaches (time localization) for purposes of seismic hazard assessment.

  Targeted area of sciences: geosciences, mathematics, statistics, physics

• The impact of climate change on hydrological extremes
  Supervisors: Prof. J. Kurths (Physcics), Prof. A. Bronstert (Geoecology)

  Design values for hydraulic structures, such as river dikes, are usually calculated using methods from extreme value statistics. The quality of the resulting estimates is dependent on the length of the time series and the stability of the climatic and hydrologic situation. The aim of this project is to develop suitable statistical methods to analyze the consequences of climate chance on extreme values or river discharge and other important hydrological variables by means of numerical models. In order to provide a reliable basis for decision makers, the model uncertainties should be included into the space of extreme events.

  Targeted area of sciences: hydrology, climatology, statistics, physics

• Exploring a potential landslide site with active geophysical techniques
  Supervisors: Prof. J. Tronicke (Geosciences) Prof. E. Zehe (Geoecology)

  The complex evolution of mass movements, e.g. as a consequence of heavy rain fall, towards large landslides, is at present not completely understood. In this project, we will investigate the potential of various active geophysical techniques (seismic, electric, electromagnetic, borehole and direct-push methods) to image relevant subsurface structures and parameters as well as monitoring hydrological processes at a potential landslide site. The “Heumoser Hang”, an alpine mountain slope in Voralberg/Austria, will serve as a natural laboratory. This field site is also the focus of the DFG (German Research Foundation) Researcher‘s Group “Natural Slopes (Großhang)” and, thus, a close cooperation with this group is indispensable within this project.

  Targeted area of sciences: hydrology, geophysics

Applicants must have an above-average Master/Diploma degree or equivalent in the appropriate Natural Sciences and a good background in modelling and statistics. The willingness, both to do interdisciplinary research and to actively participate in the activities of the Potsdam Graduate School, is a prerequisite for the application.

Applications, preferably in electronic form, should refer to one of the four projects and include a CV, copies of degree certificates, and possibly a letter of recommendation. They should be forwarded to the acting head of the Graduate School:
Prof. Axel Bronstert
Institut fur Geookologie
Universitat Potsdam
Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24
D-14476 Potsdam-Golm
Germany
email: Axel.Bronstert@uni-potsdam.de

For further information, please contact the coordinator of the Graduate School, PD Dr. Gert Zoller (Institute of Physics, University of Potsdam, Tel. +49 (0)331 977-1175, email: gert.zoeller@uni-potsdam.de).

See also the web pages of the participating groups
- http://www.uni-potsdam.de/u/Geooekologie/
- http://www.geo.uni-potsdam.de/
- http://www.agnld.uni-potsdam.de/
- http://www.math.uni-potsdam.de/

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the positions are filled. Equal opportunity is part of our personnel policy. The University of Potsdam encourages applications from qualified female candidates.

Tags: beasiswa luar negri, doctoral, geophysics, germany, graduate, job, mathematical modeling, phd, postgraduate, scholarship, statistics, university of postdam, wavelet

Entry Filed under: Germany

 

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