In delta channels, the sediment balance is dependent on physical processes governed by the river discharge, waves and the tidal motion. When this sediment balance is disrupted, channel incision or sediment accumulation may result, which has impacts on safety against flooding, shipping, water quality and biodiversity. Intertidal areas may play a key role in maintaining the sediment balance and, at the same time, tend to disappear because of sealevel rise and land reclamation. This project aims to determine the role of intertidal areas in maintaining channel stability in estuaries and deltas. Field measurements are planned in the Ems Estuary and in the Ganges Brahmaputra Delta, which will be carried out in collaboration with fellow researchers in the VICI project "Deltas out of shape: regime changes of sediment dynamics in tide-influenced deltas". The field measurements will reveal residual transport patterns, which will be used to improve existing numerical models. The measurements will be utilized to test new parameterizations to represent small scale processes in regional models at the scale of an estuary or delta.

• you have a Master degree or an equivalent degree in Earth Sciences, Physics, Applied Mathematics or Civil Engineering.
• you have a strong interest and preferably experience in morphodynamic model development;
• you have a strong interest and preferably experience in field data collection with hydrographic instrumentation;
• you have good organizational, writing and presentation skills and you can work both independently and in a team;
• you are committed to finalise a PhD, combined with a training and supervision trajectory;
• you are able to participate in courses within the master's programme Earth and Environment, and to supervise MSc-thesis students within the project;
• you have an excellent command of the English language, both orally and in writing.

We offer a temporary position for a period of 1.5 years with extension of 2.5 years after successful evaluation. Gross salary per month € 2325,-. in the first year rising up to € 2972,-. per month in the fourth year based on 38 hours a week.

In addition we offer

• 8% holiday allowance and a structural 8.3% year-end bonus;
• excellent training opportunities and secondary working conditions;
• flexible working hours and vacations can in consultation with colleagues be settled so that an optimal balance between work and private is possible;
• excellent pension scheme via ABP;
• 232 holiday hours, the possibility 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 campus which can be used against a small fee.

Equal opportunities employer
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.

Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University & Research
The mission of our University is to explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life. Within Wageningen University & Research, nine specialised research institutes from the Wageningen Research Foundation and Wageningen University have joined forces to help answer the most important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With approximately 30 locations, 5,000 employees, and 10,000 students, it is one of the leading organisations in its domain worldwide. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of the unique approach of Wageningen.

Department of Environmental Sciences
The Hydrology and Quantitative Water Management group is part of the Department of Environmental Sciences of Wageningen University. The department's fundamental research and education concern our living environment: nature, landscape, land use, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, water management, and various competing claims on space. Wageningen University is part of Wageningen University & Research.