Background
Sea ice and snow observations are the backbone of studying the role of sea ice as a central element of atmosphere-ice-ocean interactions in the Southern Ocean. 
This project aims to develop new and innovative products that go beyond the current state-of-the-art, improve our knowledge of the Antarctic sea ice mass balance, and allow for investigations of associated freshwater fluxes and linkages to ocean stratification. 
The goals of the postdoc appointment are (1) to develop a circumpolar map of the dominant scattering surface for Ku-band altimeters and (2) to develop an experimental snow/ice dataset. 
These tasks will contribute to a new ESA-funded project, "Sea Ice Mass Balance Assessment: Southern Ocean (SO-SIMBA)".

Your Tasks

• Implement a snow model (e.g., SNOWPACK) in a Lagrangian framework, coupled with a 1D ice growth model to track snowpack properties, including snow/ice formation over time.
• Develop an Antarctic circumpolar dynamic snow depth, density, and snow/ice data product that incorporates all physical processes involved in snowpack evolution.
• Co-locate various satellite datasets together with autonomous measurements for analysis and validation.
• Provide uncertainty estimates and quality flags for the individual datasets.
• Assess how snowpack properties influence the dominant scattering horizon in Ku- and Ka-band altimeters.
• Publish the datasets to make them available to project and external scientists.
• Present results at national and international scientific conferences and team meetings.
• Publish results in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Your Profile

• PhD in Geophysics, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Oceanography, Climate Sciences, or related fields.
• Strong background in snow physics and remote sensing.
• Experience working with large geophysical datasets.
• Excellent programming skills.
• Good English communication skills.

Further Information
The AWI is characterized by

The AWI is characterized by

• our scientific success - excellent research
• collaboration and cooperation - intra-institute, national and international, interdisciplinary
• opportunities to develop – on the job and towards other positions
• an international environment – everyday contact with people from all over the world
• flexible working hours and the possibility of mobile working up to 50% of regular working hours
• health promotion and company fitness with Hansefit and Wellhub
• support services and a culture of reconciling work and family
• occupational pension provision (VBL)

AWI values diversity and actively promotes gender parity, as well as an open, inclusive environment that provides equal opportunities. We are convinced that diverse teams and a variety of perspectives enrich our work and our daily collaboration. In a continuous process of learning and reflection, we aim to ensure that all our employees can be themselves and feel a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from qualified people regardless of binary and non-binary genders, race and nationality, ethnic and social background, religion, age, physical abilities, neurodivergence, sexual orientation, and other identities.

Applicants with disabilities will be given preference when equal qualifications are present.

AWI fosters work-family compatibility in various ways and has received several awards as a result of this commitment. And as a new international member of our team, you can be sure that we will help you settle in. Our Family Office and International Office will be glad to support you, even before you start at AWI.

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.