PhD Position on Water-Carbon-Nutrient Dynamics for More Resilient Landscapes in Dutch Sandy Soils

Utrecht University has opened a new full-time four-year position for a doctoral (PhD) researcher in the field of water-carbon-nutrient dynamics for more resilient landscapes in Dutch sandy soils. The position is part of the 5-year research program RESHAPE, which aims to increase the resilience of Dutch sand landscapes in the face of ongoing climate change, focusing on droughts, floods, biodiversity loss, and deteriorating water quality.

Job Description:
The PhD researcher will work towards developing nature-inspired guiding principles of water-carbon-nutrient dynamics at the watershed-scale and their implementation strategies in anthropogenic landscapes, aiming for more resilient landscapes and water systems in Dutch sandy soils. The main tasks of the position include:

1. Quantifying water, nutrient, and carbon balances using existing datasets, additional fieldwork data, and models.
2. Proposing future-proof nature-inspired solutions that restore biodiversity, climate resilience, and the natural water, nutrient, and carbon buffers.
3. Quantifying the effects of the proposed solutions by monitoring field implementations and/or model explorations.

The PhD candidate will be supervised by Dr. Stefanie Lutz, Professor Stefan Dekker, Dr. Ype van de Velde (overall lead RESHAPE), and Dr. Joachim Rozemeijer (Deltares). A substantial part of the project will be conducted at the knowledge institute Deltares under the supervision of Dr. Joachim Rozemeijer. The candidate will be part of the RESHAPE Academy, a trans-disciplinary innovation lab where co-creation, validation, and dissemination of project results will take place.

Qualifications:
The ideal candidate should possess the following interests and skills:

• A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline, such as environmental sciences, hydrology, geosciences, or a related field.
• Demonstrable interest in quantitative methods, including working with large model outputs, datasets, spatial data, and/or satellite data.
• Experience with programming languages such as Python, R, and/or Matlab, and an affinity for numerical modeling.
• Interest in conducting cutting-edge policy-relevant scientific research.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary project team.
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills in English.
• Proficiency in Dutch or willingness to acquire Dutch language skills.

Offer:
The position is offered as a temporary position (1.0 FTE) initially for one year, with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment in the first year, leading to a doctorate within this period. The gross salary ranges between €2,541 in the first year and €3,247 in the fourth year of employment (scale P according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month for a full-time employment. The position also includes additional benefits such as a holiday bonus and a year-end bonus.

Application:
Interested candidates should submit the following documents:

• A motivation letter explaining interest and suitability for the position.
• A full curriculum vitae (CV) including grades for Master’s thesis and overall grade point average (or equivalent) of Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
• Names and contact details of 2-3 people who can act as references/referees. No reference letters are required at this stage.

The application deadline is 15 September 2023.

Contact:
For more information about the position, interested candidates can contact Dr. Stefanie Lutz (Assistant Professor) at s.r.lutz@uu.nl or Professor Stefan Dekker (Professor Global EcoHydrology and Sustainability and Research Director Copernicus) at s.c.dekker@uu.nl.