Opportunities

CALL  for interested applicants:

PhD position (for African students) in Terrestrial Laser Scanning of South African ecosystems

 

The ARS AfricaE consortium, in the framework of a follow-up project EMSAfrica (Ecosystem Management Support for Climate Change in Southern Africa), offers a potential PhD position to a South African/African graduate  interested in applying for a three-year PhD scholarship from the DAAD. The planned starting date for the position is early 2019 and the position is subject to approval of funding by the DAAD.

We offer the ambitious, enthusiastic young candidate an opportunity to join a cutting-edge interdisciplinary climate change research project, and expand your international academic networks. The successful candidate chosen by the project supervisors will receive our support in applying for a DAAD PhD scholarship for three years. As part of the PhD programme, we will offer additional training in methodological and transferrable skills as well as regular meetings with other PhD candidates, and opportunities to present your research at international meetings and conferences.

 

Our basic requirements for candidates are:

You have completed or are about to complete your M.Sc. degree before end of the year 2018 with excellent grades

  • You are African and not currently living in Germany
  • You are committed in spending three years at German academic institution(s) to complete a PhD degree
  • You have a high level of competence in oral and written English (German is a plus) and are able to produce scientific written outputs of a high standard

 

Furthermore, we expect that:

  • You are motivated to work on an interdisciplinary topic related to climate change in Southern Africa and communicate your results at local and international meetings
  • You are able to take your own initiative, work independently and manage your time well
  • You are open to new ideas and have a strong motivation to learn new approaches and techniques and develop your skills
  • You have a positive, flexible approach and enjoy working as part of a multicultural team

 

Application instructions

Your tentative application documents should be sent by email to the supervisor Christiane Schmullius (c.schmullius@uni-jena.de) by 15.09.2018. We particularly welcome expressions of interest from female candidates and individuals with disabilities.

Please compile the following attachments into one PDF document and attach this to your email:

  • CV (max. 3 pages) including your publications list
  • A short cover letter (max. 1 page) explaining your personal motivation and suitability for the position
  • A tentative research plan (2-3 pages) describing your main planned scientific approaches
  • Relevant professional references (max. 5 pages), including a recommendation letter from your previous academic (M.Sc.) supervisor
  • Up-to-date email address and telephone number where we can reach you