Postdoc (f/m/x) Re-Entry Position

Area of research:

Scientific / postdoctoral posts

Job description:

The Helmholtz Centre Potsdam – GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences is the national centre for geosphere research. As a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres we are part of the largest scientific organization in Germany. With approximately 1,300 employees our key mission is to secure a profound understanding of the systems and processes of solid Earth, to develop strategies and options for action in addressing global change and its impacts on a regional level, to understand natural hazards and to minimize associated risks, to ensure the sustainable provision of energy and raw materials for a high-tech society and to evaluate the influence of human activity on system Earth.

You had a professional hiatus and are now looking for a way to re-start your career?

The GFZ wants to facilitate the return into scientific work for doctorates after a family related break (maternity leave, parental leave and periods of caring for a relative normally of at least 6 months). For this reason, every year the GFZ offers a re-entry position for up to 2 years aimed at (former) GFZ-Postdocs.

• Detailed CV with list of publications, certificates and references


• Information about planned work spanning for the requested time period (3 A4 pages max.)


• Information about planned weekly working hours


• Statement from the future line manager

Start date: Flexible
Fixed-term: Min. 12 months up to max. 24 months
Salary: This position has been assessed as being salary group 13 according to “TVöD Bund (Tarifgebiet Ost)”. The salary group will be determined by the conditions of the collective wage agreement and the appropriate personal qualifications.
Working hours: Part-time / Full-time
Place of work: Potsdam, Oberpfaffenhofen, Niemegk

• Ambitious and varied tasks in a dynamic and international research environment


• State-of-the-art equipment


• Public service benefits


• Extensive training opportunities


• Professional career advice offered by our in-house Career-Centre 


• Flexible working hours and conditions


• Support with finding a good work-life balance offered by benefit@work

If so, we look forward to receiving your application by

. Please use our online application form only.

Diversity and equal opportunities are integral components of our human resources policy. The GFZ actively promotes diversity and explicitly welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of ethnic and social origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation and identity, religion/belief, age and physical characteristics. Anyone who has been recognized as severely disabled, will be given preferential consideration in the event of equal suitability and qualification in accordance with the provisions of the German Social Code IX. If you have any questions, please contact our representative for the severely disabled at [email protected] , who will be happy to assist you in the further application process. In case of further queries regarding gender equality, please do not hesitate to contact our Equal Opportunities Officer at [email protected] .

Your personal data will be processed for the purpose of conducting the selection procedure on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 b, Art. 88 GDPR in conjunction with Art. 26 of the Data Protection Act for the State of Brandenburg. After completion of the procedure, application documents will be deleted in compliance with data protection regulations.

In case of any further queries relating to the field of activity, please contact Dr. Ute Weckmann via email at

. If you have any general questions about the application process, please contact Ms Buge under +49 (0)331-288-28787.

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.