The Department of Coastal Systems (COS) is looking for a highly motivated PhD student to help investigate the changes in sedimentation in the North Sea and Wadden Sea as a consequence of current and future climate-induced sea-level variations. We are looking forward to meeting a candidate with a background in geosciences, physics, mathematics, programming and data analysis.

The vacancy

Sea-level changes are one of the most important consequences of climate change. This holds in particular for low coastal areas such as the Netherlands, where human settlements and coastal ecosystems are at risk. This project focuses on the changes in hydrodynamics of the North Sea and Wadden Sea as a consequence of sea-level rise. The main aim of this project is to quantify the changes in transport and deposition of sediments and to investigate potential feedback to the coastal ecosystems.

The project will mainly focus on numerical modeling but will include comparisons to observational data. Strong collaboration with the Department of Estuarine and Deltaic Systems (EDS) at NIOZ-Yerseke, as well as with national and international groups, is expected.

The ideal candidate for this PhD position is an excellent, highly motivated scientist with a university degree (MSc) in oceanography, geophysics, meteorology, physics or a related area. A strong background in math, programming (Fortran, C++, Matlab, Python), numerical modelling and data analysis is requested.

The candidate is expected to attend workshops, summer schools and national and international meetings.

Due to the international character of the research team it is crucial that the candidate is proficient in spoken and written English.

The PhD researcher will be hosted by the department of Coastal Systems (COS) at the Royal NIOZ on the isle of Texel.

The main task will be to conduct a PhD Thesis. PhD defense will take place at Utrecht University: Promotor Prof. Dr. H.E. (Huib) de Swart

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

We offer a position for 4 years for 40 hours per week. We offer a pension scheme, a health insurance allowance, a yearly 8% vacation allowance, year-end bonus, flexible employment conditions and 42 days of annual leave. Our labour policies are based on the Collective Labour Agreement of Research Centers (WVOI). The Royal NIOZ will provide cost of relocation and help with housing.

NIOZ Sea Level Centre

The Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) is the leading research institute in the Netherlands for the basic marine sciences. Five departments (Physical Oceanography, Marine Geology, Marine Organic Biogeochemistry, Biological Oceanography and Marine Ecology) carry out the multidisciplinary research of the institute. Approximately 250 persons are currently appointed at the NIOZ. NIOZ has a large variety of instrumentation and is operating modernly equipped research vessels for coastal and ocean studies. The institute is located on the Wadden Island of Texel, close to the mainland.

https://www.nioz.nl/en/expertise/nioz-sea-level-centre

Coastal Systems (COS)

The department of Coastal Systems (COS) focuses on biological, chemical and physical processes that underlie the population dynamics of marine organisms (invertebrates, fish, mammals, and birds), including migrant shorebirds that live in intertidal ecosystems during the nonbreeding season.

A key aim of the department’s research is to better understand how coastal ecosystems function, and how changes in trophic interactions -in response to natural and anthropogenic environmental changes in hydrological, morphological and environmental regimes- influence the richness and productivity of coastal marine ecosystems and the ecological functions they provide. Within COS, research is performed as a combination of field observations, experiments and modelling activities, including demographics, migration and energetics.

https://www.nioz.nl/en/about/cos