POLMAR Ph.D. Scholarships 2011(10 Ph.D. Scholarships for 3 years)

POLMAR Ph.D. Scholarships 2011

The Helmholtz Graduate School for Polar and Marine Research (POLMAR), funded by the German Helmholtz Association, offers 10 Ph.D. Scholarships for 3 years  for outstanding young scientists in the field of polar and marine research. POLMAR provides a coherent framework for a well structured postgraduate programme at the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). Together with cooperating institutions – the Universities of Bremen and Potsdam, Jacobs University Bremen, Bremen International Graduate School for Marine Sciences (GLOMAR), Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology (Bremen), University of Applied Sciences (Bremerhaven), and Institute of Marine Resources (IMARE) – the Graduate School POLMAR intends to generate a new generation of internationally competitive young scientists in the field of marine research with a focus on high latitude marine ecosystems and polar climate change. Besides the training in the specific research fields, the postgraduate programme offers a broad range of transferable skill courses, and provides an excellent research infrastructure and supportive environment.
Applicants should hold a MSc or diploma degree (or equivalent) in one of the fields related to Biosciences, Geosciences or Climate Sciences (e.g., Biology, Chemistry/Physical Chemistry, Geology, Geophysics, Physics, Informatics). Graduation from this degree may be up to a maximum of three years prior to the start of the doctorate. Exceptions to this rule are possible, particularly in the context of promoting a compatibility between family and career. Candidates should have a good command of spoken and written English. We specifically seek candidates who are keen to face the challenge of a highly interdisciplinary education and scientific career.
All applicants are required to submit an outline for a Ph.D. project of three years duration. The proposed project should be in line with the upcoming scientific working programme “Polar Regions and Coasts in a changing Earth System” (PACES) at the AWI. This programme aims at identifying the role of processes at high latitudes on past, current and future changes of the Earth system. Research focuses on (1) the changing Arctic and Antarctic, (2) coasts affected and mediated by climatic and anthropogenic drivers, (3) lessons learned from the Earth’s past, and (4) a synthesis via the integration of the polar perspective into Earth System models. To achieve these goals the programme relies on existing and will develop new sophisticated modern infrastructure for coastal, ocean, and polar research.
Detailed information about current and future areas of research and related projects can be obtained from the AWI website http://www.awi.de/en/research/. Further information about the postgraduate programme can be obtained via the contacts provided at the POLMAR homepage (http://polmar.awi.de/).

MONTHLY PAYMENT:

Scholarships are granted through stipends for a period of three years in order to prepare a Ph.D. thesis within a research project at the AWI or at one of the cooperating institutions. The monthly net payment is 1460- EUR and is tax free. If applicable, an additional allowance for child care is granted.

APPLICATION:

All relevant information about the application procedure can be found at the POLMAR website. Qualified applicants should submit a letter of motivation, the application form and curriculum vitae, copies of their degree or diploma, and an outline of the proposed Ph.D. project (max. 1000 words). All academic records must be translated into English or German. In addition, applicants are requested to arrange for two letters of reference to be sent to the coordinator Dr. Claudia Sprengel admission.polmar@awi.de.

Deadline for the application is October 30, 2011.
POLMAR specifically encourages female candidates to apply with a view towards increasing the proportion of female scientists. AWI and POLMAR support balanced work-life career development via a variety of alternatives. Physically disabled applicants with identical technical and personal qualifications will be preferentially selected.

FOR DETAILS, PLEASE REFER http://polmar.awi.de/en/admission/polmar_phd_scholarships/