The doctoral position is located in the Hydrogeology group at the Institute of Geological Sciences (Prof. Dr. Nadine Goeppert) at FU Berlin in collaboration with the Hydrogeology group at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Prof. Dr. Nico Goldscheider) and the Karst Research Institute in Postojna, Slovenia (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nataša Ravbar).
Our research focuses on groundwater quality and pollutant fate, transport of dissolved and particulate substances, groundwater ecology and microbial dynamics as well as quantitative hydrogeology.

Job description:
Your activities include research on methods for developing early-warning systems for groundwater contamination in karst areas. The main goal is to achieve a better understanding of the transport processes governing the spatial and temporal dynamics of fecal bacteria and proxies for microbial contamination in karst aquifer systems, as a basis for the better management and protection of these valuable but vulnerable freshwater resources.
Focus will be on the application of in-situ flow cytometry which allows fast analyses of the total and intact cell count, to distinguish between viable and dead cells and cells with a low and high nucleic acid content. Proxies for microbial contamination are selected hydrochemical parameters and the particle size distribution.
The potential study area includes the Malenščica karst spring, which is a regionally important source of drinking water in southwestern Slovenia. The catchment area is considered a typical example of the formation and development of karst landscapes characterised by numerous karst poljes and great temporal variability, forming intermittent lakes, sinking rivers and caves. The area has been a pioneer for speleological and karstological research, is well explored and provides a large amount of historical and current data.
The possibility of pursuing a doctorate is given. In addition to your research work, you will also contribute to teaching and support Bachelor and Master students (2 SWS per semester).

Requirements:
University degree (MSc) in the field of hydrogeology or equivalent (e.g. geoecology, engineering biology, environmental sciences, water sciences).

Desirable:
- good background in hydrogeology with experiences in geological field work, hydrochemical and microbiological analytics
- good analytical and problem-solving skills, good communications skills and the ability to work independently as part of a team
- ability to collaborate with partners from other institutions and to do hydrogeological field work in other countries
- very good written and spoken English
- valid driver’s license with acceptable driving history

For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Nadine Göppert (nadine.goeppert@fu-berlin.de / +493083861843).