PhD position in Volcanology

The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München invites applications for a PhD position for the fully-funded DFG project “Exploring the conditions for occurrence of volcanic lightning”. The term is fixed for a period of 3 years with a probation period of 6 months and it is remunerated at a salary level TV-L 13.
The project is a collaborative research project between the Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München (Dr. Corrado Cimarelli, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences ) and the Universität Hamburg (Prof. Dr. Matthias Hort, Institut für Geophysik). The project includes two PhD positions, one located in Munich and one in Hamburg. Each doctoral student will work on an own subproject in a research-driven environment under the supervision of the local supervisor.
The subproject in Munich aims at investigating plume electrification processes combining laboratory experimentation (characterization of electrical properties of volcanic ash and analogue materials, shock tube and fluidized bed experiments) and field measurements at active volcanoes (high-speed visible and thermal imaging, ash sampling, in-situ measurements of charge mechanism). A specific focus will be given to the development of new electrical sensors for the lab and field measurements in collaboration with the Universities of Bath and Reading (UK). Frequent exchange and field campaigns with the project partners in Hamburg are expected during the course of the project.
For informal enquiries about the Munich sub-project contact Dr. C. Cimarelli: cimarelli@min.uni-muenchen.de.

Requirements:
Applicant must hold a MSc degree in a relevant field, such as Geophysics, Meteorology, Physics, Electrical Engineering or Earth Sciences. The project requires very good team work ability, high motivation and very good English skills. Interest in volcanology, experiences in conducting field work as well as lab experiments and experience in data modelling are highly desired. Applicants are asked to send their CV and two letters of recommendations to Dr. Corrado Cimarelli at cimarelli@min.uni-muenchen.de .

The review of applications will start immediately until 30 November 2017 with beginning of the position in early 2018. Selection of candidates will continue until the position is filled.

The University aims to increase the number of women in research and teaching and explicitly encourages qualified women to apply. Selected applicants will be invited to an interview.