PhD student position (m/f)The Department of Computational Landscape Ecology (www.ufz.de/cle) invites applications for1 PhD Student position (m/f)- Code digit 51/2011 –to commence as early as possible. The appointment is limited to 3 years and is subject to final funding approval by the funding agency. The position is part of the project “Energieeffiziente Stadt Delitzsch” (http://uni-leipzig.de/~effstadt/cms/).The candidate is expected to develop an agent-based model on residential mobility for a shrinking city. The approach encompasses a conceptual description, calibration and validation of the model. Empirical data to be used in the model are being surveyed by the department of Urban and Environmental Sociology at the UFZ. The modelling work contributes information for estimating future housing needs as well as investments in energy-efficient technologies in the housing sector.Applicants should have a background in scientific fields such as social geography, environmental / social modelling, environmental sciences or agent-based modelling. Software skills in at least one programming language (preferably Java) and GIS are an advantage. We expect good written and oral communication skills in English and also in German, as contacts to local stakeholders and use of German empirical data are part of the project. Ability for working in an international interdisciplinary team is obligatory.We offer excellent research opportunities within an interdisciplinary, international team located in a very pleasant city. Further information will be provided by Dr. Nina Schwarz ([email protected]) or Prof. Dr. Ralf Seppelt ([email protected]).The position will be located in Leipzig. Salary will be according to the appropriate German civil service level (50%) (TVöD), Entgeltgruppe 13. PhD students participate in the Graduate School HIGRADE (http://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=11429).Women are explicitly encouraged to apply to increase their share in science and research. Physically handicapped people will be favoured if they are equally qualified.Please send your application documents (letter of motivation, curriculum vitae, certificates of academic degrees, reprints of most important publications (if available) or a summary of the master / diploma thesis) with reference to the code digit 51/2011 by 29 April 2011. Please email your application with all documents in a single pdf-file that clearly states your name and the reference number of this job description (e.g. Smith_51_2011.pdf) to Nina Schwarz and [email protected] or by mail to Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Personalabteilung, PF 50 01 36, D-04301 Leipzig, Germany.The offer is also online available under http://www.ufz.de/index.php?de=11426&ske_stl_id=1069&ske_seite=detail