1.8 Mio Euro grant from Helmholtz Association
for PhD stipends in Earth System Science

On July 2, 2007, the Helmholtz Association has approved a joint proposal of the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), Jacobs University, and the University of Bremen to found the Earth System Science Research School (ESSRS). The ESSRS will utilize the existing unique complementary expertise of the three leading geosciences institutions in Bremen and Bremerhaven to foster excellence in earth sciences through postgraduate research and education. A substantial part of the granted 1.8 million will be used to support 24 PhD students over a period of six years.

[ Jul 02, 2007] 
The main theme of the research school is to understand the earth as a complete, dynamic and complex system. An important aspect of the research school is to couple observations with numerical models and simulations to better understand past and present environments. Jacobs University's expertise in the fields of visualisation, geographic information science and numerical and computational modelling will help to bring ancient and modern worlds together through simulations and visualisation. The Institute for Environmental Physics of the University of Bremen will concentrate on the remote sensing and atmospheric chemistry aspects, while AWI will focus on understanding present and past processes.

The Earth System Science Research School will provide a uniquely structured three year PhD program consisting of block courses in both basic and advanced topics of earth sciences. Students will participate in formal lectures, laboratory and course work jointly organised by the participating institutions. Other unique aspects are training in soft skills, visits to other international institutions, and regular presentation of results at scientific meetings and conferences.

Funding for 12 PhD positions will be available from 2008 onwards. Advertisements soliciting suitable applicants will be placed in leading journals in the forthcoming months.

For futher details contact:
Vikram Unnithan | Professor of Geosciences
School of Engineering and Science
phone: +49 421 200- 3161 | E-Mail: v.unnithan@jacobs-university.de