PhD student in Physical Geography: Monitoring and risk assessment of Swedish water resources

Ref. No. SU FV-0984-23

At the Department of Physical Geography . Closing date: 4 May 2023.

The Department of Physical Geography is one of the major departments within the Faculty of Science. The department has approximately 110 employees and educates approximately 1 000 students annually. Education is oriented towards geography, geosciences, biology-earth sciences, and environmental protection and management. The main research areas are: Landscape, Environment and Geomatics, Climate Science and Quaternary Geology, Geomorphology and Glaciology, and Water, Permafrost and Environmental systems. We offer a stimulating and friendly environment in a very diverse and international department.

Project description
Inland still waters provide key ecosystem services to humans, whether natural, such as lakes and wetlands, or anthropogenic such as reservoirs. Since freshwater supply, storage, and water power for electricity are the most relevant services for humans, the waters providing these services are the most monitored. However, most inland waters remain unmonitored. For instance, less than 1% of all lakes is being monitored in Sweden. Unmonitored inland still waters are already facing threats from accelerated Earth system change, driven by direct human activities and climate change. Worryingly, the effects of Earth system change on unmonitored water resources remain unknown. Water levels in still waters may be already changing beyond their thresholds for ecosystem service provision. Although future plans exist to monitor still inland waters, there is an increasing need to observe and quantify the latest and ongoing hydrological changes in still inland waters. Such monitoring is the only way to determine climate-related risks to water supply and resources.

This project addresses these needs for the case of Sweden and Scandinavia by using hydrogeodetic technologies such as interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), altimetry, and the new Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission, if available. Furthermore, it develops a framework to address water-related risks in Scandinavia. The project is a collaboration between Lund University, Uppsala University and Stockholm University.

Qualification requirements
In order to meet the general entry requirements, the applicant must have completed a second-cycle degree, completed courses equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle, or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

In order to meet the specific entry requirements, and to fulfil the general syllabus for doctoral studies in the field of physical geography, the candidate for this position should have acquired a total of 240 higher education credits (of which at least 60 at advanced level), or acquired in some alternative fashion, the equivalent knowledge in geoscience, environmental science or other relevant natural or engineering science.

The qualification requirements must be met by the deadline for applications.

Selection
The selection among the eligible candidates will be based on their capacity to benefit from the training. The following criteria will be used to assess this capacity:

• Master Education completed with Hydrology/remote sensing background.
• Programming skills.
• Written and oral proficiency in English.
• The candidate’s written motivation for seeking the position.
• Performing in the Interview for shortlisted candidates.
• Previous experience in any of the following is an asset: google engine, altimetry, InSAR, risk assessement, and machine learning.

Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies at Stockholm University are available at: www.su.se/rules and regulations .

Terms of employment
Only a person who will be or has already been admitted to a third-cycle programme may be appointed to a doctoral studentship.

The term of the initial contract may not exceed one year. The employment may be extended for a maximum of two years at a time. However, the total period of employment may not exceed the equivalent of four years of full-time study.

Doctoral students should primarily devote themselves to their own education, but may engage in teaching, research, and administration corresponding to a maximum of 20 % of a full-time position.

Please note that admission decisions cannot be appealed.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
For more information, please contact Senior Lecturer Fernando Jaramillo, telephone: +46 8 16 47 71, [email protected]

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, [email protected] , Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/OFR), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, [email protected] , [email protected]  (SEKO), and PhD student representative, [email protected] .

Application
Apply for the PhD student position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of degree projects/theses
• Project proposal/Research proposal describing:
  – why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement
  – why and how you wish to complete the project
  – what makes you suitable for the project in question
• Degree certificates and grades confirming that you meet the general and specific entry requirements (no more than 6 files)
• Letters of recommendation (no more than 6 files)
• Degree projects/theses (no more than 6 files).

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position .

You are welcome to apply!

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.

URL to this page
https://www.su.se/english/about-the-university/work-at-su/available-jobs/phd-student-positions-1.507588?rmpage=job&rmjob=20383&rmlang=UK