Doctoral Researcher in atmospheric sciences (m/f/d/x)
Founded in 1409, Leipzig University is one of Germany’s largest universities and a leader in research and medical training. With around 30,000 students and more than 5000 members of staff across 14 faculties, it is at the heart of the vibrant and outward-looking city of Leipzig. Leipzig University offers an innovative and international working environment as well as an exciting range of career opportunities in research, teaching, knowledge and technology transfer, infrastructure and administration.
The Faculty of Physics and Earth System Sciences, Leipzig Institute for Meteorology (LIM, https://www.physgeo.uni-leipzig.de/en/institute-for-meteorology), seeks to fill the above position from 1 February 2026.
This position is a doctoral position in the field of atmospheric sciences in the project “Quantification of the effects of aerosols on warm clouds using the cloud-by-cloud approach”, which is funded by the German Research Foundation. Atmospheric aerosol particles that act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) are needed to form warm liquid-water clouds under atmospheric conditions. Changes in CCN concentration, affect the albedo, development, phase, lifetime, and rain rate of those clouds. This has implications for the Earth’s energy budget and aerosol-cloud interactions (ACI) are still understood only with medium confidence. Satellite observations have been widely used to quantify the magnitude and importance of different ACI mechanisms. However, most studies are based on snapshot observations and lack reliable CCN information. This project will use recently developed methods to (i) track the position and development of individual clouds in geostationary observations and to (ii) infer height-resolved aerosol-type specific CCN concentrations from polar-orbiting lidar observations in a novel cloud-by-cloud approach that collates (i) individual clouds with (ii) the surrounding CCN concentrations, and (iii) meteorological re-analysis fields.
The PhD student will conduct independent research as part of the group Aerosols and Clouds at LIM. They will create a data set of more than 15 years for selected target regions that will be the first of its kind to systematically relate the concentration of cloud-relevant aerosol concentrations at cloud level to information on evolving clouds under different meteorological conditions. The data set will be used to study the direct effect that aerosol perturbations have on the brightness, droplet number concentration, and droplet size of liquid-water clouds as well as how the perturbed clouds adjust to these changes.
About the position
Fixed term of 3 years
75 % of a full-time position, a part-time employment is possible
Planned remuneration: salary group 13 TV-L
Duties
Creation and adaptation of customized code for addressing the scope of the project
Analysis and interpretation of data from satellite observations
Presentation of the results in scientific publications and at conferences
Requirements
A Master of Science or comparable degree in meteorology, physics, or a related field
Strong interest in atmospheric sciences, particularly in relation to aerosols, clouds, and satellite remote sensing
Experience with scientific programming for data analysis, e.g., with Matlab, is desirable
Excellent written and spoken English communication skills
What we offer
A modern workplace and attractive working conditions (mobile working)
A productive and interdisciplinary working environment
Integration into the thriving Leipzig Graduate School on Clouds, Aerosol and Radiation (http://www.lgs-car.tropos.de/)
Flexible working hours and work-life balance
Goal-oriented staff development throughout your working life, with opportunities for continuing professional development
Pension plan
A discounted local public transport ticket (e.g. the Deutschlandticket as a job ticket)
Please send your application with the usual documents (letter of motivation, curriculum vitae, diplomas and transcripts or records, other qualifications, and contact information of two academic referees), quoting reference number 147/2025, as a single PDF file to dekan@physik.uni-leipzig.de by 27 October 2025. Please note that it is not possible to guarantee confidentiality and rule out unauthorised access by third parties when communicating by unencrypted email.
We kindly request that you submit copies only, as we are unable to return application documents. Interview expenses will not be reimbursed.
Please contact the project leader Matthias Tesche (matthias.tesche@uni-leipzig.de) for questions regarding to the position.
Leipzig University aims to increase the proportion of women in positions of responsibility and therefore expressly invites qualified women to apply. Severely disabled persons – or persons deemed legally equal to them under Book IX of the German Social Code – are encouraged to apply and will be given preference in the case of equal suitability.
