05 Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of Freiburg, Germany

The FOOTPRINT research project aims to analyse and develop an open data solution to measure, monitor and compare emissions from roadworks, including their impact on traffic. Roadworks have direct and indirect effects on traffic. The speed of traffic may be reduced, but there may also be congestion, obstructions or diversions with longer routes, which have been little considered or recorded in the carbon footprint of roadworks.   

The direct and indirect (detour) effects on traffic have been difficult to measure. Using existing open data, e.g. from the mCloud or the motorway app API, but also additional sensors at the construction site (traffic type/vehicle), an analysis will be carried out.  

The aim is to design a system that allows valid, simulative statements about the influence of road works on the local development of road traffic and CO2 emissions. 

The aim of the Freiburg Resist project is to investigate the effectiveness of measures to improve the resilience of cities in terms of resilience management. This requires the further development of tools to measure, visualize and improve the resilience of cities and their inhabitants.    

The aim of the resilience analysis is to quantitatively measure and validate the increase in urban resilience achieved by the measures. For this purpose, the sensor data to be collected in the project, as well as data on the situation picture, but also, for example, on relevant social factors, will be specified and, on this basis, resilience parameters will be identified that are suitable for mapping resilience from normal operation (normal urban activity) to extraordinary events, such as those rehearsed in the large-scale exercises.   

The data will be used, for example, to improve the placement of sensor elements to ensure the best possible coverage of resilience-critical parameters. The aim is to increase resilience from a technical, organizational, social and economic perspective. 

We are looking for scientists or engineers with an excellent university degree and PhD and a broad knowledge in modeling, design, fabrication and application of microsystems and miniaturized systems, in material sciences and measurement techniques. You are capable and willing to work in a multidisciplinary and multinational team – and in a prestigious excellence cluster – with high engagement and ambition. A successful application of livMatS in the 2nd phase may open perspectives for a continuation of this position.

The position is embedded in the Biochemistry and Functional Proteomics group at the Faculty of Biology (www.proteasedegradomics.org), which studies biological signalling and protein function on a proteome-wide scale using mass spectrometry. Within the CRC 1381 (www.sfb1381.uni-freiburg.de) we provide a mass spectrometry platform for analysis of dynamic protein machineries.

In the face of rapid climate change large expanses of forests are evolving towards novel ecosystems.   It is highly uncertain to what extent these novel ecosystems will be capable of providing the desired ecosystem services and supporting biodiversity. The changes may occur so quickly that natural adaptation processes will not be able to keep pace with them. In addition, major societal changes are to be expected, resulting from processes such as urbanization, globalization and trade, land use, and changing demands regarding nature’s services to humans. The natural and social spheres are closely interlinked, interact in complex ways, and thus present unexpected risks. Based on a better understanding of these system dynamics, it may possible to devise strategies to prevent undesirable developments. The Future Forests initiative tackles the pressing challenge how to adapt these social-ecological systems comprising forests, forest management, and the sectors of society that depend on the manifold ecosystem services that forests provide to global change.