To strengthen our new SALTISolutions project team we are looking for two PhD Candidates.

SALTISolutions  is a multi-disciplinary TTW-funded Perspective Program, led by Prof. Julie Pietrzak TU Delft and carried out in close collaboration with the universities of Twente, Eindhoven, Utrecht, Wageningen and NIOZ.

SALTISolutions will deliver the VirtualDelta, a digital twin of a real Delta, as a management and design instrument for salt-intrusion related questions in deltas worldwide. Increasing salt intrusion caused by human alterations of estuaries and deltas, increased freshwater demand, and climate change threatens freshwater availability in deltas. Freshwater supply is essential for health and human well-being, for ecological integrity of aquatic ecosystems, and for economic interests. An integrated and optimized societal response to salt intrusion challenges demands actions at several levels:

• On short time scales: operational management tools based on short-term forecasts and available (‘big’) data for freshwater management;
• On medium time scales: evaluation of effects of infrastructural changes on salt intrusion and, using scenario models, introduction into the society-stakeholder debate. Development of well-designed, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly solutions to salt intrusion based engineering (‘grey’) and nature-based (‘green’) solutions is essential;
• On long time scales: evaluation of climate-proofness of infrastructure, policies and mitigation measures. Extreme climate-change scenarios require radically new solution pathways.

SALTISolutions’ Virtual Delta brings together advanced models, data-assimilation tools, visualisation methods, stakeholder-interaction tools, and exploratory strategic analyses for delta management at different levels. Scientific challenges and expected scientific breakthroughs include: incorporating multiscale physical processes; understanding impact of natural eco-morphological processes on salt intrusion, and developing forecasting systems and advanced game approaches for stakeholder engagement and decision making. Technology suppliers and end-users are actively involved in SALTISolutions, which will lead to conceptual and operational breakthroughs in freshwater management of deltas.

Position at EEMCS/DIAM: Development of the Virtual Delta module to support observing estuarine salinity from space.

Existing numerical models of salt intrusion are not very accurate. In addition to the development of improved models in other projects of SALTISlutions, there is also an excellent opportunity to improve modelling results using data-assimilation. For some deltas there may be sufficient local measurements availabe, but in many deltas and estuaries there are very few in-situ measurements available. However, there is a steadilly increasing wealth of satellite remote sensing data, with more and  satellites, more and improved sensors, etc. With the increase in resolution and improved processing techniques, coasts and estuaries are now within the reach of current capabilities. This position will explore the potential of data-assimilation and remote sensing to improve our model results for salt-intrusion. You will connect these and other measurements to the advanced 3D model developed within SALTISolutions and can build upon existing data-assimilation tools from OpenDA. Potential satellite data includes, altimetry (sea-surface height), infrared (water temperature) and optical images. In addition, we will explore the use of fast empirical relations to support reconstruction of long time-series and provide real-time forecasts with manageable computer resources.  The PhD candidate will be supervised by Prof. Dr. Ir. Martin Verlaan and Prof. Dr. Julie Pietrzak.

MSc degree in Mathematics, Oceanography, Earth System Science, Civil Engineering or related discipline.

- excellent ability to think conceptually and quantitatively

- excellent ability to communicate in English both in speech and in writing

- strong interest in data-assimilation, satellite observations and hydrodynamics

- good organisational skills and ability to work independently and in a team

- affinity in data processing, programming and numerical modeling

Fixed-term contract: 4 year.

TU Delft offers PhD-candidates a 4-year contract, with an official go/no go progress assessment after one year. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2395 per month in the first year to € 3061 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we embrace diversity and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of Conduct). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

Faculty Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three disciplines - electrical engineering, mathematics and computer science. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make future-proof. We are also working on a world in which humans and computers reinforce each other. We are mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. There is plenty of room here for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1,100 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.

Research at Delft Institute of Applied Mathematics (DIAM) is conducted in six research groups: Analysis, Applied Probability, Mathematical Physics, Numerical Analysis, Optimisation, and Statistics. Our research on the construction and analysis of mathematical models related to science and engineering is both fundamental and applied in nature and is often inspired by technical and societal challenges. We have, for instance, tackled complex mathematical problems to develop a model for predicting the flow of ash pollution after a volcano eruption. To come up with innovative solutions we maintain intensive contact with other TU Delft departments, technological institutes and research departments.

Besides research, education is an important cornerstone of our department. We teach the Applied Mathematics BSc and MSc programmes, as well as mathematics courses within other programmes at TU Delft, and national programmes such as “MasterMath”. Together with KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden) and the Technical University of Berlin (Germany) we have also initiated the international joint Master’s programme COSSE (Computer Simulations for Science and Engineering).

We value the great atmosphere at our institute and pride ourselves on our sense of community and the spirit of “getting things done together”, which we combine with mutual appreciation for individual success. To foster interaction and cooperation, we organize lunch seminars where colleagues from the various sections discuss their work, and we arrange an annual social activity where all staff members interact informally to get to know each other in a different setting. Our open and transparent way of communicating is reflected in the way we interact with one another and forms the basis for the way we work together to help each other achieve our goals as a team.