Are you interested in why deltas and coastal areas are sinking and how this can be avoided? Are you interested to work in an international context across multiple scientific disciplines? Do you want to do impact-oriented research in a rapidly growing field with high societal relevance?
We are currently looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to strengthen our team (4 years, full time, fully funded) at the Soil Geography and Landscape group at Wageningen University.
Low-lying river deltas, home to over 500 million people worldwide, play a critical role in global food production and economic activities. However, many deltas experience accelerated relative sea-level rise as they increasingly sink due to human-accelerated land subsidence, threatening communities, economies, and food production in deltas worldwide.
The complexity of interactions between natural processes, human water management, and land use governs delta subsidence and we urgently need improved capabilities to create reliable projections for future subsidence and come up with effective solutions and mitigation strategies.
In this PhD research project you will collect and analyse geomorphology, hydro(geo)logy, and geomechanical engineering data from sinking deltas located in SE Asia (Chao Phraya, Mekong, and Pampanga located respectively in Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines) and combine innovative numerical models to quantify different land subsidence processes and subsurface interactions. With these new models and quantifications you will contribute to create reliable projections of relative sea-level rise. You will contribute to the dissemination of these policy relevant scientific findings and use these insights to develop effective mitigation strategies aimed to reduce land subsidence and relative sea-level rise in these vulnerable deltas.
For this position, we are looking for enthusiastic candidates who have a background in Earth sciences, physical geography and/or its relevant sub-disciplines (meteorology, hydrology, ecology), or (environmental) engineering. Prior numerical modelling and coding skills are highly preferable but not a strict must. Your project is imbedded in the broader research line on land subsidence in coastal-deltaic areas around the world, and next to your own project, you will collaborate with other team members on related research topics. As a PhD candidate in our group, you will join the PhD program of the PE&RC graduate school. This is a unique opportunity to work on an emerging and highly societal relevant research topic in a dynamic and supportive team.
Your duties and responsibilities include :
You have:
Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:
For more information about this position, please contact Asst. Prof. Dr. Philip S.J. Minderhoud, philip.minderhoud@wur.nl
For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, corporate recruiter, noorien.abbas@wur.nl .
Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.
This vacancy will be listed up to and including 30 September 2024. We hope to schedule the first job interviews soon after the closing date.
Additional information form
For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below:
https://forms.office.com/e/VbyZJUudE3
Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process.
Equal opportunities
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs a large number of people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment.
You will work here
You will become part of the research team of Asst. Prof. dr. Philip S.J. Minderhoud on coastal-deltaic land subsidence and relative sea-level rise, who will act as co-promotor and daily supervisor. The research is embedded within the Soil Geography and Landscape group led by Prof. Jakob Wallinga.
Wageningen University & Research
The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.
Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!
We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.
In your application, please refer to Professorpositions.com