Soil might not seem like the flashiest player in the Earth system, but make no mistake – beneath its humble surface lies a complex and dynamic world. It is a critical component of our planet, cycling carbon and nutrients, supporting life, and shaping ecosystems. My research group jointly with colleagues from the Soil Biogeochemistry group at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, we are embarking on an exciting new journey: applying thermodynamic principles to soils to better understand their processes, dynamics, and limits. And we are looking for a curious mind to join us as a PhD researcher! More infos in this blogpost.
Here is the big idea: current soil carbon models focus on mass balance equations. That is useful, but it leaves out a key piece of the puzzle – energy. Soil processes involve energy transformations, and these are governed by the same thermodynamic rules that shape everything from the global climate dynamics to the hydrological cycle and life on Earth. In fact, these principles have already helped our group uncover very cool insights about Earth’s climate (e.g., summarized here) and the biosphere (e.g., here). Now, we want to explore whether these approaches can shed light on how soils store and cycle carbon.
Imagine revealing universal principles for how soils function – a big leap forward in understanding their role in the Earth system. This project is part of the DFG Priority Programme “Soil Systems”, a collaborative initiative brimming with experimental data and expertise to support your research. From investigating Gibbs free energy changes in soil processes to designing and testing quantitative models, this is your chance to help rewrite what we know about one of Earth’s most essential systems.
We are looking for someone who is not just technically skilled but also deeply curious. A background in geosciences, environmental sciences, or physics is a great start, but what really matters is your excitement to explore new disciplines and challenge assumptions. If you are comfortable with math, abstract thinking, and programming (or eager to learn!), this might be your perfect fit.
The city of Jena, where we are based, offers a vibrant research environment surrounded by stunning natural landscapes – the perfect backdrop for breaking new scientific ground. If you are ready to tackle big questions and be part of a collaborative, forward-thinking team, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s unlock the secrets of soil together!
How to apply? Check out the formal announcement here, or on LinkedIn Jobs. And you need to apply by 23 March 2025.
What else we do? Look around our blog here at earthsystem.org or at the website of the Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry.
Who is involved in this project? Thomas Wutzler of the Soil Biogeochemistry group. and Axel Kleidon of the Biospheric Theory and Modelling group.
Some potential starting points? Check out the websites of Joe Vallino for ocean sediments, Stefano Manzoni, who with a student worked on thermodynamics and soils, or Chris Kempes of the Santa Fe institute and his papers on scaling theory.
Earthsystem.org 