On September 1, GFZ at the Helmholtz Centre for Earth System Research welcomed ten new young colleagues. Six of these talented young people are trainees. After three years of intensive and practical training, they will graduate as physics laboratory assistants, industrial mechanics, IT specialists for system integration, media and information services specialists, or office management assistants. We are also pleased to welcome a dual student in the field of computer science, who will complete the practical part of his training with us.
We are also delighted to welcome three young people who have decided to support GFZ employees during their voluntary year in science, technology, and sustainability as FJN volunteers. Two FJN volunteers will learn about the work in Section 4.6 Geomorphology and will already be working on very specific topics in working groups.
One FJN member will join a working group that uses tree rings to research the current climate as well as the climate of the past. Another FJN member will support the lake sediments working group, which extracts drill cores from lakes – including Lake Tiefen – in order to use these valuable archives of climate variability to investigate environmental changes, for example. In cooperation with Section 3.3 Geomicrobiology, the working group recently initiated a very successful “Youth Research Project at Heiligen See” in Potsdam, which will be followed up with further research this year. Our GFZ student laboratory, which introduces children and young people to the geosciences with many different illustrative experiments, is also looking forward to the active support of an FJN member this year. For all potential interested parties: there is still one place available as an FJN member at the GFZ!
The first day of work on September 1st traditionally began with an introductory event, this time featuring welcoming words and presentations from our Executive Director, Prof. Susanne Buiter, our Head of HR, Beate Kessler, and other representatives from administration, as well as the Communication & Media team. Important information regarding occupational safety at GFZ, which maintains numerous laboratories and workshops, was provided to everyone. One presentation also focused on the possibility of an international internship at GFZ, a great opportunity to experience working life in other countries for four to six weeks. GFZ supports (also financially) the desire for an international internship, which can be organized depending on the choice with the vocational school, the responsible chamber, or independently. The international internship can take place in any country worldwide and can be selected individually.
Contact persons and much important information were also provided by the GFZ’s Youth and Trainee Representation, which also organized the “GFZ Trainee Day” this week, bringing together trainees from all years of training and taking them on a day trip.
Feel free to recommend us to others
GFZ needs highly qualified employees in science, in the laboratories and workshops, as well as in administration and IT. In addition to excellent trainers, GFZ can boast a particularly international working environment, state-of-the-art equipment, and excellent working conditions. Unfortunately, despite the attractive training conditions at GFZ, not all training positions could be filled this year. For example, a position for an electronics technician and one for an industrial mechanic at our observatory in Niemegk (Brandenburg) remained vacant. There were also further capacities available for the dual study program in Computer Science. Further information on the dual study program in Computer Science at GFZ. Therefore: Please feel free to recommend us to others!