Doctoral Researcher Position in Forest Legacy Effects on Hydrology (f/m/d/x) at the Excellence Cluster Future Forests, University of Freiburg

The Excellence Cluster Future Forests and the Chair of Environmental Hydrological Systems at the University of Freiburg invite applications for a funded doctoral researcher position investigating legacy effects of forest changes on hydrological processes Doctoral Researcher Position in Forest Legacy Effects on Hydrology (f/m/d/x) at the Excellence Cluster Future Forests, University of Freiburg

• Application deadline: 18. January 2026
• Publication date: 16. December 2025
• Start-date: 1. April 2026
• Scope of work: Part-time position (75 %)
• Id no.: 00004744

Description

Forests play a critical role in supplying clean freshwater, providing habitats for diverse ecosystems, and ensuring stable flow regimes that can buffer drought impacts and river floods. However, these functions and services change in response to the interplay of climatic changes, long-term forest evolution, as well as recent forest dieback.

This project will assemble and jointly analyse long time series of forest evolution and hydrology to better understand legacy effects of historic changes on forest hydrology. The PhD researcher will mainly work with time series of streamflow, soil moisture, groundwater observations and forest cover from remote sensing products - primarily in the Black Forest - Upper Rhine region where the Future Forests Cluster will also establish complementary observatories, but also relating and using time series from other forest ecosystems worldwide. Using process insights obtained from empirical analysis of long-term data, the work will then adapt and test a hydrological model for its ability to represent long-term as well as abrupt changes within the forest hydrological system. The project ultimately aims to contribute to improved quantification of water related ecosystem services that will be crucial in guiding land and water management.

The Excellence Cluster 'Future Forests' at the University of Freiburg is an interdisciplinary research center dedicated to questions of adaptation and transformation of forests and their societal use in the face of global change. Future-oriented research on the complex interactions between forests and society is conducted here with outstanding international visibility, supported by the German Research Foundation. Future Forests brings together more than 50 researchers from four faculties and non-university partner institutions.

 

Your Tasks

• Independent scientific research on forest hydrology with linkages to meteorology, climate change and land cover change
• Dataset curation and time series analysis with modern statistical and AI-based methods
• Model adaptation, e.g. time-varying parametrization, based on the RoGeR model
• Participation in interdisciplinary and international research teams
• Participation in a structured doctoral program
• Creation of scientific publications and presentations at national and international conferences
• Active involvement in and contributions to cluster activities, workshops, and outreach events

Your Profile

• Completed university degree (M.Sc. or equivalent) in Hydrology or a related field of Environmental and Earth Sciences with a focus on hydrology
• High motivation to write a doctoral thesis in a structured program on forest hydrological data analysis and modelling
• Very good knowledge of R or Python and statistical time series analysis
• Experience in hydrological modelling, GIS, and remote sensing
• Proficient written and spoken English; German is an asset
• Experience in scientific writing (publications) is an advantage
• Initiative, teamwork skills, and strong social competence

We Offer

• An exciting interdisciplinary environment within an internationally renowned university at a newly established Excellence Cluster
• Structured support and supervision for your scientific and career development
• A diverse, collaborative, and inclusive research community, including initial University and cluster-specific onboarding support
• Opportunities for further education, attendance at conferences, and professional networking
• Flexible working hours and support with work-life balance
• Salary according to TV-L 13
• A personal financial budget for project-specific expenses as well as for career development activities
• Optional involvement in university teaching

 

The University of Freiburg is dedicated to the principles of equal opportunity and diversity and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social background, religion/belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation.

Application 

Please upload your application (including a cover letter explaining the specific motivation for this position, CV, relevant certificates/transcripts, the names of 2 academic references and, if applicable, own scientific publications) by January 18, 2026 to the application portal of the University of Freiburg. 

 

The salary will be determined in accordance with E13 TV-L.

We will be particularly pleased to receive applications from women for the position advertised here.

Application

Please send your application in English including supporting documents mentioned above citing the reference number 00004744, by 18. January 2026 at the latest. Please send your application to the following address in written or electronic form:

Prof. Kerstin Stahl
Chair of Environmental Hydrological Systems
University of Freiburg
Friedrichstr. 39
D-79098 Freiburg

For further information, please contact Dr. Kerstin Stahl on the phone number +49 761 203-3532 or E-Mail kerstin.stahl@hydrology.uni-freiburg.de.