Research Associate (Postdoc) (f/m/x) Geodynamics and Geophysics

Job Description:

The University of Bremen, Faculty 05 - Geosciences, is offering a three-year 1.0 position – under the condition of job release – as

Research Associate (Postdoc) (f/m/x)

Pay grade TV-L 13

100% (39.2 hrs/week) of weekly working hours

for the area of

Geodynamics and Geophysics

The fixed-term contract is for the purpose of academic qualification in accordance with § 2(1) of the WissZeitVG (Act on Fixed-Term Contracts in Academia). Accordingly, your application can only be considered if you still have the requisite period of qualification time remaining in accordance with § 2(1) of the WissZeitVG.

The University as an employer:

With around 20,000 students and approx. 3,500 staff members, the University of Bremen is a medium-sized university. It is one of Germany’s leading universities in terms of third-party funding and research.

The Faculty of Geosciences at the University of Bremen is an internationally established research and teaching institution. It covers the full spectrum of modern geosciences, offers five predominantly English-taught degree programmes (B.Sc. and M.Sc.) with a focus on applied, marine and materials sciences, and maintains close scientific cooperation with non-university research institutions. Together with the Research Faculty MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, Bremen is a leading international research location in the field of marine sciences.

The position is integrated into the Geophysics and Geodynamics research group within the Department of Geosciences and MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences. The research focus lies on the numerical modelling of geodynamic processes that lead to rift formation, seafloor spreading, and subduction.

The research group investigates the dynamics of rift margins as well as the formation of oceanic crust and tectonic plates. The applied research methods include the development and implementation of dynamic models of rifting and seafloor spreading, as well as the integration of these models with geophysical, geochemical, and geological datasets.

Your Responsibilities:

• Academic teaching duties amounting to 4 teaching hours (LVS), including: The imparting of specialist knowledge and practical skills, as well as instruction in the application of academic methods in Bachelor’s, Master’s and, where applicable, examination-based degree programmes, in accordance with the relevant teaching workload regulations (where applicable, teaching contributions in the form of subject-specific teaching for other teaching units).
• The production of one’s own academic work, in particular the preparation of a habilitation thesis or equivalent work.

(In accordance with the BremHG, at least one-third of working hours are allocated to this for a full-time post, and at least half of working hours for part-time employment).

• Academic services in research, collaboration on research projects, including:
• Development of independent research projects relevant to the subject area
• Academic collaboration on research projects and research priorities (https://www.uni-bremen.de/forschung/forschungsprofil/wissenschaftsschwerpunkte) within the Department of Geosciences and at MARUM
• Active involvement in the technical management of the laboratories
• Active involvement in the supervision of student assistants, undergraduates, research assistants and visiting researchers
• Publication of research findings in international specialist journals.
• Other university duties, such as participation in academic self-governance

Your qualifications:

• A completed academic degree (Master’s/university diploma) in computational geodynamics or related fields.
• A completed, relevant and recognised PhD in the field of geosciences.
• Experience in numerical modelling and scientific computing (UNIX/LINUX, MATLAB/Python/Julia).
• Independent academic work with a consistent record of publications.
• Good written and spoken English.
• Ability to work in a team, high reliability, a sense of responsibility and a willingness to cooperate.

A prerequisite is a willingness to deliver lectures in English and, after two years at the latest, to teach in German as well.

The following would also be an advantage:

Experience in teaching and in securing external funding.

What we offer:

You can look forward to a varied and multifaceted role within a dedicated team and an innovative research environment. The department is characterised by a spirit of cooperation and mutual support. This atmosphere of mutual respect also shapes the work across the entire department.

• Close collaboration with international research partners
• Support for further academic development
• Participation in workshops, conferences and further training opportunities
• Depending on your individual qualifications, a gross annual salary in accordance with the TV-L collective agreement ranging from €57,112.44 (Grade 1) to €81,176.28 (Grade 6) for a full-time post.
• The university will determine the individual pay grade on the basis of relevant previous professional experience in the event of a successful application. Additional benefits, such as the annual bonus (‘Christmas bonus’) and any career development opportunities within the advertised pay group, are also dependent on this pay grade. This is based on the applicable legal provisions of the TV-L (in particular Section 16 of the TV-L).
• For civil servants, remuneration is governed in particular by the provisions of the Bremen Civil Service Remuneration Act (further information can be found here).
• An additional pension scheme (VBL) for public sector employees
• 30 days’ annual leave per calendar year (based on a 5-day working week)
• A diverse, forward-looking and open organisation
• Support from a collegial, motivated team with a positive working atmosphere
• Personalised induction
• Opportunities for further training and professional development
• Work-life balance through flexible working hours (flexitime) and the option to work remotely (subject to the relevant conditions)
• Free services as part of our social and family counselling programme
• An active workplace health management programme, including the option of discounts at local sports clubs or for gyms and swimming pools (EGYM Wellpass)
• The option to use a Job-Ticket
• A wide range of sporting and cultural activities
• A varied selection of dining options in the Studierendenwerk’s canteens

Further information on the application:

For general enquiries regarding the selection process or specific questions about the advertised position, please contact: Prof. Dr. Marta Pérez Gussinyé ([email protected]).

How to apply:

Please send your application, including your complete and relevant documents (cover letter, CV, certificates, list of publications and teaching experience), quoting reference number A162-26, by September 30th 2026 as a single PDF file via unencrypted email to: [email protected]

Or by mail to

Universität Bremen

Fachbereich 5 – Geowissenschaften

Prof. Dr. Marta Pérez Gussinyé

Postfach 33 04 40

28334 Bremen

Please note that no photos are to be attached to the application documents.

We kindly ask you to send us only copies (no portfolios) of your application documents, as we cannot return them. They will be destroyed after the selection process has been completed. Any application costs cannot be reimbursed.

General information:

Please note that no photographs should be included with your application documents.

Please submit only copies (no portfolios), as we are unable to return them.

Note pursuant to Sections 12 and 13 of the GDPR: Your application documents will be retained in accordance with the provisions of Article 6 of the GDPR in conjunction with Section 12 of the Bremen Data Protection Act (BremDSGVOAG), Sections 85 et seq. of the Bremen Civil Code (BremBG) and Section 15 of the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) until the expiry of the statutory retention period, after which they will be destroyed.

Any costs incurred in connection with the application process cannot be reimbursed.

We look forward to receiving your application!

General information:

Open to unconventional approaches in research and teaching, the University of Bremen has, since its foundation 50 years ago, retained its character as a place where people and ideas can interact easily. With a broad range of disciplines, we combine exceptional academic excellence with great potential for innovation. As an ambitious research university, we champion the approach of research-based learning and a strong focus on interdisciplinarity. We actively shape academic collaborations worldwide in a spirit of partnership.

Today, around 23,000 people study, teach, conduct research and work on our international campus. In research and teaching, administration and operations, we are firmly committed to the goals of sustainability, climate justice and climate neutrality. Our ‘Bremen spirit’ is expressed in the courage to try new things, in a supportive sense of community, and in mutual respect and appreciation. Through our academic and research profile, and as part of the European YUFE network, we take on social responsibility in the region, in Europe and around the world.

The University is family-friendly, diverse and sees itself as an international institution of higher education. We therefore welcome all applicants, regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social background, religion or belief, disability, age, sexual orientation and gender identity.

The University of Bremen promotes the employment of women at all levels. Women are therefore expressly encouraged to apply.

Where applicants with severe disabilities have essentially the same professional and personal qualifications, they will be given priority.