Doctorate, at Max-Planck-Institute for Meteorology Hamburg, Germany.
Marius Winkler is a postdoctoral researcher at the Max‑Planck‑Institut für Meteorologie (MPI‑M) in Hamburg. His work centers on understanding atmospheric boundary‐layer dynamics, especially in tropical equatorial regions, and how they interact with the ocean. He earned a PhD in Earth System Sciences from MPI‑M and Universität Hamburg (2021–2025), an M.Sc. in Theoretical Physics from ENS Paris and TU Berlin (2018–2020), and a B.Sc. in Physics from TU Berlin and ENS Lyon (2014–2018). In addition to his scientific pursuits, he trained as a bespoke shoemaker. Marius actively contributes to science communication through MPI‑M’s social media team and participates in field campaigns, such as the Barbados ORCESTRA mission. His interdisciplinary training spans climate physics, neuroscience modeling, and nonlinear dynamics, blending theoretical and experimental approaches. Driven by curiosity and rigorous analysis, Marius seeks to uncover the mechanisms shaping Earth’s climate and enhance its predictability.
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🎓 Education
Marius completed his PhD in Earth System Sciences (2021–2025) at MPI‑M and Universität Hamburg under advisors Bjorn Stevens and Juan Pedro Mellado González. His dissertation, “Boundary Layer Wind Balances and their Influence on Equatorial Sea‑Surface Temperatures,” focused on air–sea interactions, momentum fluxes, surface wind dynamics, and their implications for equatorial cold tongue formation—core aspects of climate physics. He earned an M.Sc. in Theoretical Physics (2018–2020) from École Normale Supérieure de Paris and Technische Universität Berlin. Guided by Boris Gutkin and Eckehard Schöll, his thesis explored phase response methods in neural models with delay, converging nonlinear dynamics, simulation, and neuroscience. His Bachelor’s degree (2014–2018) in Physics at TU Berlin and ENS Lyon involved both theory and experimental work; his thesis by Eckehard Schöll investigated synchronization phenomena (chimera states) in multiplex logistic networks. Additionally, between 2012–2014, he apprenticed as a bespoke shoemaker in Neumünster, earning artisanal craftsmanship in parallel to his scientific training.
💼 Professional Experience
Since February 2025, Marius has served as a Postdoctoral Researcher at MPI‑M in Hamburg. In September 2024, he was a Field Scientist at the Barbados Cloud Observatory during the ORCESTRA campaign. He led radiosonde instrumentation and launches, planned observational missions, coordinated with international teams, and post-processed atmospheric data to ensure quality for climate science analyses. Since 2021, Marius has volunteered in MPI‑M’s communication department as a Science Communicator, crafting and editing content, organizing editorial workflows, and coordinating with researchers and external partners. He even led the team during staff absences, ensuring brand consistency and copyright compliance. As a Teaching Assistant (2018–2019), he supported experimental physics lectures under Prof. Dr. Dähne, guiding students in lab settings. Earlier, from 2012 to 2014, he worked as a Journeyman Shoemaker, gaining hands-on experience in traditional European craftsmanship, reflecting his broad skill set and dedication to precision both in science and trade.
🔬 Research Interests
Marius’s research spans Earth systems and climate dynamics, specifically focusing on tropical boundary-layer wind patterns and their influence on sea surface temperatures. He is deeply interested in the mechanisms governing the equatorial cold tongue, the underlying boundary‑layer wind balances, and how momentum and heat fluxes affect ocean–atmosphere interactions. During his M.Sc. and B.Sc. work, he also investigated nonlinear dynamics, delay‑differential neural models, and synchronization phenomena, such as chimera states, in complex systems. These themes highlight his fascination with feedbacks, emergent behavior, and predictability in physical and biological networks. In his postdoctoral research, Marius aims to bridge high-resolution climate modeling (e.g., ICON‑Sapphire) and field data (e.g., radiosondes) to uncover drivers of equatorial wind variability. He’s also engaged in kilometer‑scale Earth system modeling, exploring how convective biases emerge under weak wind regimes and their broader implications for climate simulations.
🏆 Awards
Marius received multiple prestigious scholarships recognizing his academic excellence and mobility. From October 2019 to March 2020, he was awarded an ERASMUS+ scholarship during his M.Sc. studies, facilitating international collaboration. In April to June 2020, he held a PROMOS (DAAD) scholarship, supporting exchange-based research. Earlier, from September 2016 to August 2017, he received another ERASMUS+ scholarship during his Bachelor’s studies. These awards enabled him to study across Germany, France, and beyond, fostering interdisciplinary training in neuroscience, climate dynamics, and applied physics. Their competitive nature reflects Marius’s strong academic performance and ability to adapt across cultures and academic systems. These honors not only funded his cross-border education but also endorsed his promise as a young researcher charting a path through theoretical physics and Earth system science.
📚 Top Noted Publications
Here are Marius’s key publications (approx. 150 words total):
1. Winkler, M. (2025a)
Title: Uncovering the Drivers of the Equatorial Ocean Surface Winds
Publication: Reports on Earth System Science
Year: 2025
Notes: No volume or issue number provided. No citation count listed.
2. Hohenegger et al. (2023)
Title: ICON‑Sapphire: simulating the components… (full title needed)
Publication: Geoscientific Model Development
Volume: 16
Issue: 2
Pages: 779–811
Year: 2023
Citations: 125+ citations
3. Winkler, G., Dumont, E., Schöll, B., & Gutkin, B. (2021)
Title: Phase response approaches to neural activity models… (full title needed)
Publication: Biological Cybernetics
Year: 2021
Citations: 80+ citations
4. Winkler et al. (2019)
Title: Relay synchronization in multiplex networks… (full title needed)
Publication: Europhysics Letters
Volume: 126
Issue: 5
Article Number: 50004
Year: 2019
Citations: 60+ citations
Conclusion
Marius Winkler presents a strong candidacy for the Research for Best Researcher Award. His work combines high scientific quality, interdisciplinary expertise, and active leadership in collaborative international projects. The research outputs are impactful and timely, addressing key challenges in climate physics and Earth system science. His engagement in science communication and team coordination further enriches his profile as a well-rounded researcher.