Are you highly motivated and skilled researcher and concerned about the impact of climate change on flood risk ? And can you develop optimal nature-based adaptation schemes for dikes, based on excellent research? And are your able you disseminate the findings to a broad audience with your outstanding communication skills? The we are looking for you!

Within the NWO Living Labs in the Dutch Delta Program 'The Hedwige-Prosper Polder as a large experiment in managed realignment: integrating saltmarshes in water safety', you will explore different nature-based construction and maintenance regimes for wide grass-covered dikes by experimental manipulations of dikes (adaptation of the dike by application of local material, as well as management regimes for removal of debris), modelling, literature study and field visits. This will yield insight in the combined biodiversity and safety services value of a restored wetland for human society, and must result in guidelines for the optimal construction schemes and maintenance strategies for wide green dikes incorporating economic cost, technical safety, ecological value and future-proof sustainability.

The project will be developed in close collaboration with TU Delft, NIOZ and HZ Zeeland and relevant partners (i.e. STOWA, Province of Zeeland, Rijkswaterstaat, waterboard 38Scheldestromen, knowledge institutes and companies.

• M.Sc. in Earth and Environment, Biology, Civil Engineering or equivalent, with interest in flood protection, nature-based solutions, geography, landscape processes, planning and ecology;
• Experience with and strong interest in flood risk management (either through work experience or specialization during your M.Sc);
• Experience with and strong interest in ecosystem services and land and water management (either through work experience or specialization during your M.Sc);
• Strong collaborative skills;
• Excellent communication and writing skills (both in English and Dutch, in order to conduct research in close interaction with partners in the Netherlands and to communicate the results to an international audience)

The starting date is 1 January 2020, and interviews will be held during the first week of December 2019

Fulltime position: 4 years, starting with an 18 month contract. If your suitability in this position is apparent your period of employment will be extended to the remainder of your PhD-study. Commencing as soon as possible. Gross salary starts at € 2042 during the first year growing to € 2612 Euro/month during the fourth year. This project is funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO), The Netherlands.

In addition we offer:

• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% fixed-year allowance
• Excellent training opportunities and secondary working conditions;
• Flexible working hours and vacations can in consultation with colleagues be settled so that a good balance between work and private is possible;
• An excellent pension scheme via ABP;
• 232 holiday hours, the ability to purchase and good supplementary leave arrangements and an individualized model to compose part of your working conditions and a bicycle plan;
• sports facilities available on the campus;
• we stimulate internal growth opportunities and mobility with an active and internal recruitment policy. There are ample opportunities for own initiative in a creative learning environment.

Wageningen University & Research

Delivering a substantial contribution to the quality of life. That's our focus - each and every day. Within our domain, healthy food and living environment, we search for answers to issues affecting society - such as sustainable food production, climate change and alternative energy. Of course, we don't do this alone. Every day, 6,500 people work on 'the quality of life', turning ideas into reality, on a global scale.

Could you be one of these people? We give you the space you need!

The Water Systems and Global Change group seeks to contribute to sustainable water systems in a changing global environment by development of new knowledge on e.g. climate-proof water systems with sufficient and clean water for society and nature. The WSG Group has about 50 members, including about 30 Ph.D. students. See also: www.wur.nl/en/Research-Results/Chair-groups/Environmental-Sciences/Water-Systems-and-Global-Change-Group.htm