Job Opportunity// PhD position: Changing Rivers at the Utrecht University, Netherlands

Job description

As part of NWO project ‘Geometric Algorithms for Perpetually Changing Channel Networks in Rivers and Estuaries’, the Utrecht University is looking for an enthusiastic PhD candidate. Do you have an interest in developing into a scientific researcher? Are you enthusiastic about working with large datasets of real rivers and clever software for the analysis of complex patterns? Are you curious about scale experiments under controlled laboratory conditions?

Tidal systems such as the Ems and Scheldt estuaries and the Wadden Sea have perpetually changing channels and shoals of sand, mud and vegetation. Understanding these dynamic patterns is scientifically fascinating, and highly important for management. We integrate state-of-the-art landscape scale experiments  external linkwith computer models, field measurements, shallow coring and remote sensing observations on two planets. We explicitly address the interaction between the natural environment and human activities, such as coastal protection and nature restoration. 

The NWO project ‘Geometric Algorithms for Perpetually Changing Channel Networks in Rivers and Estuaries’ aims to develop and test algorithms that recognize channels in estuaries, and connect them not only in space but also through time. You will use a large existing field data set of depth maps of the Western Scheldt estuary and collect new data in Metronome experiments under controlled laboratory conditions. These experiments are like a time machine: an entire estuary, that takes centuries to form in reality, forms before your eyes and scanners in a few weeks, and changing the formative conditions is elementary. These experiments will therefore enable you to explore the long-standing fundamental problems of equilibrium, self-organization and chaos in estuarine morphology on spatial and temporal scales that are inaccessible in field data. You will also test the algorithms to address fundamental questions about dynamics of channel junctions, emergent network properties and the propagation of disturbances through the channel networks. The latter is of immediate societal relevance, since disturbances are mainly induced by dredging and dumping for shipping fairway maintenance. You will be part of a collaborative project team, led by Prof Bettina Speckmann of TU Eindhoven and Prof Maarten Kleinhans of Utrecht University.

Qualifications

We are looking for a candidate with:

  • a MSc degree, or equivalent, in complexity science, earth science, physical geography, civil engineering or another closely related research field;
  • demonstrable enthusiasm for experimentation and working with large datasets;
  • affinity with numerical modelling of river/estuarine morphodynamics will be an asset;
  • the willingness and flexibility to work in multi-disciplinary teams of scientists, specialist programmers and lab techno-wizards;
  • English oral and writing skills; you should be able to demonstrate English language proficiency. We require a qualification English at C1 level (comparable to level 3 of the Lecturer Assessment Grid) or you should be willing to obtain this level by training;
  • gardening skills, technical skills or artistic skills are welcomed.

Offer

You will be offered a PhD position (0.8 – 1.0 FTE), initially for one year with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period. The gross salary ranges between €2,443 in the first year and €3,122 in the fourth year of employment (scale P according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month for a full-time employment.

Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% per year. In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment conditions  external link (multiple choice model). More information about working at Utrecht University  external linkcan be found here.

Additional information

For more information about this position, please contact: 
Prof Maarten Kleinhans  external link, via m.g.kleinhans@uu.nl. external link

Apply

Everyone deserves to feel at home at our university. We welcome employees with a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. To apply, please send the following documents via the ‘apply’ button below:

  • Let us know what your motivation for this position is, why should we hire you? (1-page motivation letter);
  • Send your resume, including a list of your publications if you have any;
  • What are your research interests? (1-page statement of concrete research interests);
  • Who can we contact as your references? (state the names and contact details of three references);
  • Interviews will be held in June, either in person or via video call.

The application deadline is 31 May 2022.

The announcement is available here.