Foreign students seeking a fully funded research position in environmental sciences can now apply for an exciting new PhD scholarship at Leibniz University Hannover, Germany. The university is offering a prestigious PhD position in Soil Science, funded under the DFG Research Unit FOR5903 “Sustainable Rurbanity.” This opportunity provides not just scientific training in Europe, but also valuable international fieldwork experience in India and Ghana.
Scholarship Overview
Position Title: PhD Position in Soil Science
Research Focus: Effects of rurbanity on soil quality and microplastic contamination
Location: Leibniz University Hannover, with field visits to India and Ghana
Start Date: October 1, 2025
Duration: 48 months (fixed term)
Funding: Full stipend
PhD Funding Package
This PhD scholarship position includes:
- Monthly stipend/salary under the TV-L 13 scale (65%), offering a competitive wage aligned with public research salaries in Germany
- Fieldwork travel funding for multi-month research stays in Accra (Ghana) and Bengaluru (India)
- Access to university benefits, including support for work-life balance, sports facilities, mental health resources, and childcare services
- Interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities with international research teams and partner universities
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following qualifications:
- A Master’s degree in soil science, geosciences, environmental sciences, or a closely related field
- Demonstrated fluency in English (written and spoken)
- A strong interest in working within an intercultural and international team across Germany, India, and Ghana
- Commitment to pursuing a doctoral degree
- Physical and medical fitness for tropical field assignments
- Prior experience in soil chemical/physical analysis is desirable
- Knowledge of spectral analysis methods is an advantage.
Role and Responsibilities
- Conduct field sampling campaigns in Ghana and India
- Analyze soil samples for chemical/physical quality and microplastic contamination
- Develop spectral analysis methods in collaboration with other researchers
- Work with other PhD candidates across institutions, especially on related topics like PFAS contamination
- Participate in drone surveys, research workshops, and international scientific conferences
- Publish research outcomes in peer-reviewed journals.
Application Submission: https://www.uni-hannover.de/en/jobs/id/7926/.
The last date to apply for the PhD Position in Soil Science at Leibniz University Hannover is August 15, 2025.