The Water Resources and Ecosystems Department in IHE Delft conducts research and education activities that aim to support society in decisions and policy that sustain freshwater resources and ecosystems by balancing their protection, restoration, use, and development. We conduct research and provide post-graduate education and training to professionals in the fields of hydraulic engineering, hydrology/hydrogeology, aquatic ecosystems, while maintaining inter-disciplinary collaborations with other departments in IHE Delft and with international partners. The department is organised into three research groups:  

1. Hydrology and Water Resources,
2. River Basin Development, and
3. Aquatic Ecosystems.

The Aquatic Ecosystems Research Group has expertise in ecosystem services of wetlands (including nitrogen retention and water quality), in nitrogen and carbon biogeochemistry (including greenhouse gas emissions), and in bioassessment of tropical ecosystems (particularly macroinvertebrates). The group also has expertise on ecosystem valuation and works across the institute on policy and governance issues associated with management of wetlands. With this position, the group seeks to deepen its expertise in the ecosystem processes related to phosphorus cycling.

We seek a colleague who can contribute to field and laboratory studies aiming to understand how catchment processes, internal cycling, and/or primary production affect the ecosystem services of tropical and sub-tropical aquatic ecosystems, across all or some of vegetated wetlands, lakes, or rivers. We are particularly interested in someone who can understand some of the key pressures on aquatic ecosystems in development contexts, which often have to do with erosion and sediment inputs associated with land-use change, agricultural intensification, and dam construction. An appreciation for sediment – P relationships allows potential to contribute to the River Basin Development and Hydrology groups. Interest or experience in evidence-based policy development is also appreciated.

Your job as a lecturer in the Aquatic Ecosystem group will be to contribute to MSc in Water and Sustainable Development (https://www.un-ihe.org/education) which includes module teaching and mentoring thesis projects of MSc students, contributing to the field and laboratory planning for several on-going funded projects (mostly in several countries in East Africa) and supporting local partners and students in these activities. You will be expected to build your own professional profile in research and capacity strengthening through project aquisition (writing proposals), paper writing, and networking .

Responsibilities

• Develop your own research line in aquatic ecosystem science with a focus on tropical and sub-tropical systems;
•  Develop and deliver teaching to support the Environmental profile in IHE MSc programmes, including both classroom and on-line teaching;
• Pursue and aquire funding for research and capacity strengthening projects;
• Co-supervise research of MSc and PhD students;
• Develop field programmes for education and research;