PhD position in the field of fluvial Geomorphology (m/f/x)

About us

In the research group for Sedimentology and Earth Surface Processes at the Faculty of Geosciences at the Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich we develop quantitative constraints on the physical and chemical processes that control the evolution of landscapes, the erosion, transport, and deposition of sediments, and the global fluxes of dissolved solutes and carbon. To this end, we combine field observations, analogue experiments, geochronological methods, and geochemical analyses of sediment, soil, and water. Part of the Faculty for Geosciences, the research group is embedded in an environment with a broad range of expertise from geology and geophysics to paleontology, mineralogy, and physical geography.

Your tasks and responsibilities:

Within the ERC-funded Project "Floodplain Weathering" (FloW), we are looking for a doctoral student that will use flume experiments and sediment samples to study controls on sediment transfer and storage on floodplains. The project is part of a larger effort to understand the impact of floodplain-sediment storage on the global carbon cycle. You will carry out large-scale flume experiments and laboratory work in Munich and at collaborating institutes in Utrecht. You will develop digital and analogue methods to track sediment and water and develop theory to interpret your findings. You will also communicate findings in peer-reviewed journals and during international conferences.

Project FloW: Rivers transport sediments from eroding uplands into sedimentary basins. Along this journey, sediments can be temporarily stored, building floodplains that support soil formation and development of weathering zones. Little is known about how fast sediments transition from mountains to lowlands, how many storage events they experience, and how the sediment residence time and storage depends on the grain size and on the climatic and tectonic boundary conditions. Beyond the relevance for fluvial geomorphology, this knowledge gap greatly limits our understanding of carbon cycling across floodplains. With FloW, we aim to develop a comprehensive understanding of the timescales of sediment transport and storage on floodplains and its impact on chemical weathering fluxes.

In this project within FloW, you will develop methods to trace sediment residence times across braided and meandering channel-belts in flume experiments. You will develop theory on the controls on sediment residence-time distributions. Together with fellow researchers working on FloW, you will test this theory against field data from the 1500-km-long floodplain of the Madeira River.

Your qualifications

• A master's degree in Earth Science, Geology, Hydrology or similar (to be completed, at the latest, by the time of assuming the position)
• A high level of competence in oral and written English
• Independent, structured, and solution-oriented thinking
• Creativity and motivation to develop physical experiments and digital solutions for data acquisition and analysis
• Willingness to travel internationally including carrying out a research stay at the University of Utrecht, attending conferences in Europe and in the USA, and - optionally - participating in remote field-work in Bolivia and Brazil

Benefits

• Wide range of stimulating activities in an ambitious and research-oriented team
• Salary at 75% of TV-L E13 and 30 days paid vacation
• Flexible working hours
• A family-friendly working environment in the center of Munich
• Further training opportunities through the LMU Qualifications program
• Support for international students in relocating to Munich through the LMU Gateway service

Applicants with disabilities who are as qualified as other applicants will receive preferential treatment.

Contact

To apply, please submit the following documents in English language, compiled into a single PDF file, to [email protected] by January 31 st 2026 :

• Cover letter explaining your achievements and your motivation to do your PhD as part of the project FloW (1 - page).
• A short CV (1 - 2 pages)
• An example of your writing (e.g. your bachelor's or master's thesis or a paper without co-authors).
• Contact information of two references
• Copies of your bachelor's and master's degrees with transcripts. If your master's degree is not completed by the time of application, you can upload the latest available transcripts.