PhD in serious gaming for decision making in water management

The 4-year PhD position is part of the EU-funded project WATERAGRI project. In this project, 23 partners from across Europe will cooperate on the development of a novel framework for the use of water retention for more sustainable managing of excess and shortage of water as well as improved recovery of nutrients from small agricultural catchments. The PhD candidate will develop a generic serious game that will build onto Multi Criteria Decision Analysis methods that are used to support preference formulation and option exploration in decision making. This intends to account for complexity of water management problems with multiple conflicting goals, many optional available solutions and different stakeholder preferences. This serious game will then be further adapted to the specific project needs but also tested on additional, urban water management case study.

We are looking for a candidate with an MSc degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering, Operations Research, Computer Science Human-computer Interaction, or an equivalent degree, with interests in serious gaming, multi-criteria decision analysis and decision making in general. The selected candidate will, ideally, have an experience with the development of related tools and methods. The candidate is expected to publish her/his research in scientific journals and conferences. The candidate should be capable of performing independent research,  working in a team on research projects, and collaborating with researchers and practitioners of the WATERAGRI project. The researcher should have an open personality and good English language skills to closely cooperate with colleagues and students.

TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount for health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The minimum salary mentioned is the salary in your first year. The salary mentioned as the maximum will be your salary in your fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment; an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor; and a Doctoral Education Programme aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. Please visit www.tudelft.nl/phd for more information.

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is a multifaceted institution offering education and carrying out research in the technical sciences at an internationally recognised level. Education, research and design are strongly oriented towards applicability. TU Delft develops technologies for future generations, focusing on sustainability, safety and economic vitality. At TU Delft you will work in an environment where technical sciences and society converge. TU Delft comprises eight faculties, unique laboratories, research institutes and schools.

The Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology and delta technology. The research covers global social issues and is closely connected to education as well as the work of a wide range of knowledge institutions. CEG is convinced that Open Science helps to realise these goals and supports its scientists in integrating Open Science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Delft University of Technology is a leading Dutch University that was recently ranked first in the world on the Shanghai list for ‘Water Resources’. The Department of Water Management from the faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences focuses on a wide range of issues across the full water cycle. The objectives of the research are to understand water availability and water use, as well as water quality, treatment and transport, and to translate this knowledge into practical technologies and methods. The Department uses a combination of modelling based work with refined laboratory methods and on-site testing to ensure the feasibility of new technologies and methods. The department currently has 30 FTE academics and over 100 PhD students and postdocs.