Department Head (f/m/d) "Thermodynamics of actinides" / Completed university studies (PhD) in the...

Area of research:

Executive posts

Starting date:

01.09.2026

Job description: Department Head (f/m/d) "Thermodynamics of actinides"

With cutting-edge research in the fields of ENERGY, HEALTH and MATTER, around 1,500 employees from more than 70 nations at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) are committed to mastering the great challenges facing society today.

The Institute for Resource Ecology (IRE) conducts applied basic research into the protection of people and the environment from the effects of radioactive radiation.

The IRE is looking for a Department Head (f/m/d) "Thermodynamics of actinides".

The department focuses on interdisciplinary research in the fields of geosciences, radiochemistry and artificial intelligence.

The position is initially a two-year fixed-term contract. The intention is to convert the position into a permanent role once the fixed-term contract expires.

Your tasks

# Technical and disciplinary leadership of the “Thermodynamics of Actinides” department
# Scientific coordination of research on modeling the transport of radioactive substances, as well as the collection of relevant experimental data and parameters, including uncertainty and sensitivity analyses
# Integration of these models with geostatistics and machine learning methods
# Development of digital twins for safety analyses in host rock for deep geological disposal
# Networking at the international and national levels, particularly with partner institutions in the HGF’s program-oriented research, with institutes at the HZDR, and with internal partners, leading to the acquisition of third-party funded projects
# Supervision of academic degrees (Bachelor’s / Master’s / Ph.D.)

Your profile

# Completed university studies (PhD) in the field of Geo Sciences / Chemistry / Environmental Sciences or related field
# Extensive knowledge in geochemistry and geostatistics
# Expertise in application of artificial intelligence methods to geoscientific problems
# Knowledge about the siting process for radioactive waste in Germany
# Excellent ability to engage in interdisciplinary scientific collaboration
# A professional manner and willingness to engage with others, as well as a responsible, independent, coordinated, and team-oriented approach to work
# Successful acquisition of grant-funded projects at the national and international levels, including the associated project management
# Experience in personnel management and mentoring early-career researchers
# Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English and German

Our offer

# A vibrant research community in an open, diverse and international work environment
# Scientific excellence and extensive professional networking opportunities
# Salary and social benefits in accordance with the collective agreement for the public sector (TVöD-Bund) including 30 days of paid holiday leave, company pension scheme (VBL)
# Depending on the personal qualifications, the candidate may be classified in salary group 15 according to TVöD-Bund
# We support a good work-life balance with the possibility of part-time employment, mobile working and flexible working hours
# Numerous company health management offerings
# Employee discounts with well-known providers via the platform Corporate Benefits
# An employer subsidy for the "Deutschland-Ticket Jobticket"

We look forward to receiving your application documents (including cover letter, CV, diplomas/transcripts, etc.), which you can submit via our online-application-system.

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.

Company

The Helmholtz Association contributes to solving major challenges to assure the future of our society. With more than 47.500 people on staff in 18 national Research Centers and an annual budget of more than 6 billion euros, the Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organization. The name Helmholtz stands for concerted research, in which networks form the key principle behind inquiring thought and action.

The profile of the Helmholtz Association

The Helmholtz Association performs cutting-edge research which contributes substantially to solving the grand challenges of science, society and industry. To succeed in meeting these responsibilities, Helmholtz concentrates its work in six research fields: Energy, Earth and Environment, Health, Information, Matter, as well as Aeronautics, Space and Transport. Within each of these fields, research programs are developed by our scientists and regularly evaluated by renowned international experts. Their evaluation forms the basis for the program-oriented funding that is allocated to Helmholtz research. Within the six research fields, Helmholtz scientists cooperate with each other and with external partners – working across disciplinary, organizational and national borders.

Moreover, Helmholtz specializes in large-scale research infrastructures – from accelerator facilities, earth observation satellites, research ships to supercomputers. They form the basis for scientific advances in tackling global societal challenges. Managing national research infrastructure is part of the Helmholtz Association's mission.

Promoting young academics

Helmholtz scientists, a high-performance infrastructure and modern and efficient research management are the ingredients to the Helmholtz Association‘s success and global impact.
Promoting young researchers is a major priority for the Helmholtz Association. Its qualification schemes for young researchers are geared mainly towards PhD students, postdocs and young managers. The Helmholtz Association has set high standards for its talent management. Its strategy begins with targeted recruitment of highly qualified staff at all levels, followed by comprehensive support aimed at further developing their potential. Ensuring equal opportunities is an essential element in all talent management activities undertaken by the Helmholtz Association.

The Helmholtz Graduate Schools and Research Schools at almost all Helmholtz Centers provide doctoral students with the general and specific skills and training they need, as well as ample opportunity to network. The period following a doctorate is decisive in determining the direction and success of a scientific career. For this reason, we established Career Development Centers for postdoctoral researchers in the Helmholtz Centers. This equips young researchers with the skills they need to go on to head a Helmholtz Investigator Group , for example. As an Investigator Group leader, junior scientists can independently set up their own group to conduct research in their specialist field and acquire management skills.

Within its talent management strategy, the Helmholtz Association pays special attention to the increased recruitment of talented female scientists both from Germany and abroad. To this end, there are currently two funding programs supporting this policy: and Helmholtz Distinguished Professorship – Funding for the recruitment of leading international female scientists (W3) .

The increasing complexity of the content, structures and framework conditions of scientific work today requires researchers to organize their projects, their employees and, of course, themselves in a highly professional and effective way. In response to these demands, we have set up the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to provide leaders in science with professional management training. Furthermore, the Helmholtz network provides a platform for the alumni of the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to come together and share their experiences of leadership, career development and lifelong learning.

All of this combined makes the 18 Research Centers of the Helmholtz Association a highly attractive environment for talented researchers from all over the world.

Company info

Telephone

0049-30-206329-0

Location

Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Str. 2
Berlin
Berlin
10178
Germany