University professorship – remuneration group W3

The professorship is of central importance to teaching and research in the field of climatology at TU Berlin (key application area: urban systems and environmental systems). The professor will teach in English and German in the bachelor’s and master’s programs in “Ecology and Environmental Planning” and “Landscape Architecture” as well as the master’s programs in “Urban Ecosystem Sciences” and “Environmental Planning”, and is expected to have an interdisciplinary reach into other degree programs of Faculty VI in the future. The new professor will take over and expand the existing courses.

In the “urban climatology” field of research, the professor will assume responsibility for the Urban Climate Observatory Berlin and for the long-term monitoring and expansion of the measurements. This is intended to address one of the most important challenges in urban climatology, namely the collection of multi-decadal weather and climate data to be used in long-term studies. The professor is expected to carry out innovative research projects that contribute to new findings in climatology, encompassing effective measures for climate protection and climate adaptation, preserving intact urban ecosystems valuable to society, and sustainable urban development.

In the “regional climatology” area of research, the professor will develop and tackle resource-related research questions, e.g. how climate change interacts with a region’s water resources or biodiversity. Research questions on climate-induced natural hazards and risks are of great interest in this respect. The professor is expected to cover both fields of research while carrying out research into scientific fundamentals and application-based issues.

The further development of curricula for the degree programs supported by the chair and academic self-administration are further requirements of the position. Further responsibilities include leading and managing the chair and its staff; supporting the advancement of junior scholars, women, and diversity; knowledge and technology transfer; initiatives to promote internationalization; gender and diversity competence and sustainability-oriented action; as well as committee work.

The job posting is intended for researchers specializing in environmental science and geosciences, in particular climatology, meteorology, physical geography, and related areas. In addition to excellent scientific expertise, candidates must also be able to work closely with staff in the other disciplines of the Institute of Ecology and within Faculty VI.

Applicants must fulfill the hiring requirements pursuant to Section 100 Berlin State Higher Education Act (BerlHG). These include a university degree in the fields mentioned above; an aptitude for scientific work (generally demonstrated by the quality of the applicant’s doctorate); additional academic achievements (generally demonstrated by a positively evaluated junior professorship, “Habilitation” or other achievements equivalent to the “Habilitation”); as well as an aptitude for teaching (demonstrated in a teaching portfolio; for further information, please see https://www.tu.berlin/en/go209650/).
It is essential that the candidate has in-depth specialist knowledge of both urban climatology and regional climatology. This must be demonstrated by a significant number of publications in high-ranking international journals and the acquisition of third-party funding for research projects in relevant subject areas.

With regard to the range of methods required for this professorship, candidates must have advanced expertise in the following two areas:
a) Climatology monitoring, e.g. observing atmospheric processes with ground-level sensor networks, measurement systems for recording the radiation and energy balance, turbulent fluxes of heat, water vapor, and carbon dioxide (Eddy covariance method), or ground-based atmospheric remote sensing.
b) Numerical modeling of atmospheric processes for micro and mesoscale studies on issues in urban and regional climatology (e.g. dynamic downscaling, weather and climate simulations).
A number of measurement processes have already been established at the Institute of Ecology, e.g. Eddy covariance flux towers, wind LiDAR, and ceilometers.

Technische Universität Berlin requires professors to be willing and able to assume responsibility for the management and strategic development of their chair and staff. In particular, this includes an understanding of the special responsibility of creating gender and diversity-sensitive work and study conditions. The position also requires the willingness and ability to advance junior scholars, women, and social diversity as well as to contribute to academic self-governance. The willingness and ability to provide new ideas for internationalization and sustainability-oriented action in research and teaching is expected. Experience with initiatives in science communication and knowledge and technology transfer is desirable.

As a university with an international profile, we require our professors to have excellent English-language skills and we very much welcome applications from candidates whose first language is not German who are committed to quickly learning the language. Applicants must be able to teach in German and English. (See the current Language Policy of the Academic Senate of TU Berlin at https://www.tu.berlin/en/go209656/). The successful candidate will be expected to have a command of the German language or be willing to learn the language as quickly as possible; this is necessary to fulfill the requirements of the job posting (minimum C1 in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

It is not possible to offer the position as two part-time professorships.

Technische Universität Berlin is seeking to increase the proportion of women in research and teaching and actively encourages applications from suitably qualified female candidates. Preference will be given to applicants with severe disabilities who equally fulfill the requirements of the position. TU Berlin values the diversity of its members and is committed to equality of opportunity. Applications from people of all nationalities and with a migration background are very welcome. We are a certified family-friendly university and our Dual Career Service can assist you and your family with your move to Berlin.

Please submit your application in English quoting the reference by 06 January 2025 with the following documents: CV, certificates, concept for research and teaching, teaching portfolio, details of acquired external funding with own funding amount, and a publications list highlighting which five publications you regard as your most significant. Your application must be sent by email as a single PDF file to bewerbungen@fak6.tu-berlin.de. Electronic documents submitted using cloud services such as WE-Transfer or Dropbox cannot be accepted. Please address your application to Technische Universität Berlin – Die Präsidentin – Dekanin der Fakultät VI Planen Bauen Umwelt, Straße des 17. Juni 152, 10623 Berlin.

TU Berlin is taking steps to make appointment procedures more equitable and has created a form to take academic age into account in appointment procedures as part of a pilot project. The form is to be regularly used in procedures from early 2023. You can download the form (Excel file) from the following website: https://www.tu.berlin/en/go209647/.

Please send an email to berufungen@fak6.tu-berlin.de for further information concerning the formal application process. Specific questions relating to the position should also be sent to this address so that they can be forwarded to the chair of the appointment committee.

By submitting your application via email, you consent to having your data electronically processed and saved. Please note that we cannot guarantee the protection of your personal data when submitted as an unprotected file. Information on the processing of your data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation can be found on the website of the personnel department: https://www.tu.berlin/abt2-t/services/rechtliches/datenschutzerklaerung-bei-bewerbungen