PhD on Assessing Environmental Impact of Floating Structures

11 Jan 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Utrecht University

Research Field

Physics

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Netherlands

Application Deadline

21 Feb 2024 - 22:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Not Applicable

Hours Per Week

40.0

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Utrecht University and Deltares are searching for a PhD candidate as part of the project ‘Floating Future - Scaling up floating structures as climate-proof space-creating solution enabling societal, industrial and ecological win-wins’.

Your job
The Floating Future research project aims at answering the question: ‘How can we keep our densely populated country liveable?’.

We will investigate possibilities of flood resilient, multifunctional, and inclusive living space on the water enabled by large floating structures. However, so far the ecological effects and water quality effects of large-scale floating constructions remain largely unknown.

Your task as part of our team will be to gain understanding how large-scale floating structures can be designed so that they minimise negative ecological impacts, maximise opportunities for restoring ecosystems and their services and include aquaculture. The environmental effects depend on the scale of the floating structure relative to the dimensions of the lake or sea, as well on how the edges of the floating structures are shaped for nature and aquaculture targets.

Within this project, you will design ‘scenarios’ for 3D numerical modelling of physical and biological processes around floating infrastructure using DFLOW-FM and possibly other model systems. You will (learn how to) couple mostly existing modules for hydrodynamics, suspended particulate matter, nutrient dynamics and the resulting primary and secondary production. Hydrodynamics specialists from Deltares will help with this. Then you will investigate effects of floating infrastructure on water quality, ecological impact and possible tipping points in the ecosystem. This means that you will work on a range of systems with different structure and characteristics, such as freshwater, brackish or fully marine. Models will be validated against existing and new data sets. The outcomes of these different models will be combined in an overall assessment regarding the ecological status of the system.

You will work closely together with your supervisors from Deltares and Utrecht University, other researchers from the different institutes, and (inter-)national collaborators. Your time will be spent at the UU (25%) and at Deltares (75%). You will closely collaborate with two other PhD candidates, focusing on optimizing the design of the edges of the floating systems for ecological purposes and on integrating seaweed cultivation into the floating structures.

To support academic and personal development, PhD candidates follow courses and assist in teaching at the department of Earth Sciences at Bachelor's and Master's level. Together these activities amount to twenty per cent of the contracted time.

Requirements
Specific Requirements

We look forward to your application if you have multiple of the following qualifications:

• a Master’s degree (MSc) in aquatic ecology, oceanography, marine science, physical geography, or a related field;
• experience in working with numerical models and/or a background in aquatic ecology is a large advantage;
• quantitative skills including scripting (e.g. Python or Matlab);
• a passion for aquatic environments;
• good English oral and writing skills (C1 level);
• good team working skills, especially in an (inter)national, interdisciplinary and diverse team;
• excitement to (learn how to) think across disciplinary and institutional boundaries;
• a VOG (Statement of Behavior) is required for this position, because you will often be at Deltares locations.

Additional Information
Benefits

We offer:

• a temporary position, initially for one year with an extension to four years upon mutual agreement and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period;
• a working week of 36 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2,770 and €3,539 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU);
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development , leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities , as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University .

Selection process

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation, via the ‘apply now’ button.

If you have an international (not Dutch) Master's diploma you can be requested to send your Master's thesis, Bachelor's and Master's diplomas and grade transcript.

Additional comments

For more information, please contact Professor Maarten Kleinhans via [email protected] or Dr Luuk van der Heijden via [email protected] .

Website for additional job details

https://www.academictransfer.com/336497/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Universiteit Utrecht

Country

Netherlands

City

Utrecht

Postal Code

3584CB

Street

Princetonlaan 8a

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.academictransfer.com/en/336497/phd-on-assessing-environmental-impac…

Contact

City

Utrecht

Website

http://www.uu.nl/

Street

Domplein 29

Postal Code

3512 JE

STATUS: EXPIRED