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IHE Delft MSc in Water and Sustainable DevelopmentIHE Delft MSc in Water and Sustainable Development

PhD Position: Hydrogeological system understanding of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta and impact evaluation of future water management strategies under a changing climate

Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen, Netherlands

Your job

Are you a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual with a strong background in process-based modelling, data analysis, and hydrogeology? Are you passionate about hydrogeological system understanding and sustainable groundwater management under a changing climate? Do you want to be part of an interdisciplinary research team? Then we may have the perfect opportunity for you!

We are looking for a proactive and self-motivated PhD candidate to join our NWO-funded Coast-Water-Solutions project team (4 years, full-time, fully funded) based at the Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group (HWM) at Wageningen University to conduct a comprehensive hydrogeological assessment of the coastal zone of Bangladesh to enhance understanding of water availability and inform effective groundwater management strategies.

Coast-Water-Solutions project: Most large deltas (70%), including the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) delta, are under a constant threat of groundwater overexploitation, salt-water intrusion, freshwater availability, land subsidence, and pollution due to anthropogenic and climatic pressures. Home to millions, the GBM delta is one of the world's most climate-vulnerable regions, facing existential threats from relative sea-level rise and extreme weather. Furthermore, salinity as well as arsenic and other groundwater contaminations drastically reduces freshwater availability of high quality for coastal population and agriculture, a problem projected to worsen due to climate change and increased human pressure.

The Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 (BDP2100) identified the coastal region as one of the hotspots and seeks to ensure sustainable water-system management to mitigate future freshwater scarcity by developing effective techniques and strategies for reducing stress on safe water resources. To support the practical implementation of the BDP2100, the Coast-Water-Solutions project aims to close crucial knowledge gaps on the functioning of the coastal (ground)water system and develop much-needed, science-informed strategies to secure future access to clean freshwater for WASH and food production. The project aims to create an integrated understanding of the (ground)water system. Collaborating with stakeholders, it will co-create site-specific, acceptable technologies and adaptation, mitigation, and management strategies for implementation in Bangladesh.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Co-develop your PhD research proposal within the framework and deliverables of the Coast-Water-Solutions project;
• Develop an open hydrogeological database by collecting and managing existing datasets, potentially by including contributions from citizen science.
• Create a user-friendly modelling framework to analyze the current hydrogeological system in the GBM delta and assess future scenarios related to groundwater availability, salinity and land subsidence impacts.
• Design and evaluate integrated hydrological solutions to enhance future clean freshwater availability and mitigate water-related threats
• Actively engage and collaborate within the larger project team (other Bangladesh-based PhDs and project teams) towards the common goals of the project.
• Travel to Bangladesh to directly collaborate with affiliated project institutes, attend project and programme meetings and to collect data during field campaigns.
• Publishing your research in peer-reviewed scientific journal papers and presenting your results at conferences

Your qualities

For this position, we are looking for enthusiastic candidates with a background in Earth Sciences, hydro(geo)logy or physical geography or related field, preferably with a proven background in, or willingness to learn, physics-based numerical modelling and programming skills, in Python (preferably), R, MATLAB, or a comparable language. Openness to collaborate within interdisciplinary and multi-cultural project teams, stakeholders, and research groups at Wageningen University (WU), Utrecht University, and other (inter)nationally institutes, both in the Netherlands and Bangladesh is a must. Experience in groundwater modelling is a big plus. As a PhD candidate in our group, you will join the PhD program of the WIMEK graduate school and spend up to 10% of your time on the education and supervision of BSc/MSc students. The selected candidate is expected to finish the 4 year project by writing a PhD thesis that contains a series of peer-reviewed journal articles.

You possess:

• a completed (or about to be completed) MSc degree, preferably, but not necessarily, with a link to Earth Sciences, hydro(geo)logy, physical geography, water management, environmental and/or water resources engineering , preferably with a strong numerical modelling foundation.
• proven proficiency, or willingness to develop, technical skills relevant to hydro(geo)logical modelling, which allow you to develop complex groundwater models. Prior experience with numerical modelling is an advantage.
• a team player mentality and demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary and multicultural research environment.
• strong analytical skills, with experience in statistical analysis, geospatial data processing, or modelling of hydro(geo)logical systems.
• proven programming skills in Python (preferably), R, or a comparable language…
• good organizational and communication skills; willingness to engage in the organization of international workshop and knowledge exchange events;
• willingness to travel to and collaborate closely with stakeholders and research partners of Coast-Water-Solutions project
• proven scientific writing skills in English and the ability to publish research results in peer-reviewed academic journals.

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level . Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here .

We offer you

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment . A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• Partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.

The gross salary for the first year is € 3.059,- per month rising to € 3.881,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the " best university " in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

Coming from abroad

Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. We can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

For more information about the position, please contact Dr. Syed Mustafa, .

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Jessa Rozema, Corporate Recruiter, via