The researcher will work within the theme “Natural Water Production”, a new theme started in 2019 that aims at enhancing precipitation to make more fresh water available. Potentially, the key to enhancing precipitation is to increase evaporation and stimulate the water recycling in a watershed in this way. However, the effectiveness of this mechanism varies from place to place. Here, we aim to determine the most optimal locations for positively affecting the water cycle through regreening. To make this vision a reality, a strong interdisciplinary program is under construction, including disciplines like meteorology, hydrology, forestry and water technology.

The goal of the theme is to assess the climatological impacts of regreening. In order to do this assessment, a toolchain of meteorological models will be created, validated and applied. These models will range from three dimensional regional climate simulations to local scale heuristics. The application of these models should aid the assessment of measures, like regreening, in stimulating the water cycle.

For this ambitious project, we are looking for a suitable candidate. The main tasks are; own research to support the development of the meteorological model, co-supervision on your area of expertise of a PhD student, and coordination actions within the theme and the associated companies.

We are looking for a candidate with:

• Relevant experience or a Ph.D. degree in Meteorology, Climatology, Hydrology, or similar.
• Interest in the interaction of the land surface state (wetness, vegetation state, roughness) with meteorology, including boundary layer dynamics, large scale circulation and atmospheric moisture budget.
• Knowledge of and about remotely sensed relevant products of the land surface state (soil moisture, vegetation, etc.)
• The ability to simulate the coupled land-atmosphere system using models ranging in complexity from conceptual models to regional climate models.
• Experience with the WRF model, or similar.
• Numerical literacy in Python, C, or similar language.
• Affinity with supervision, preferably in in a research context. 
• Excellent team-working and communication skills, writing skills, and the ability to work in a multicultural and international environment.

When you meet the above-mentioned requirements, you have a clear research affinity and if you are enthusiastic about multidisciplinary cooperation, you are the ideal candidate for us!

Fixed-term contract: 1 year.

At Wetsus, you will get the opportunity to grow with an innovative, dynamic and future orientated top research institute. You can accelerate the development of new water solutions in cooperation with prominent companies and universities. Wetsus promotes a close collaboration between its employees and a large network of industrial and academic partners. In this project, you will interact regularly with the members of the research theme ‘Natural Water Production’. The workplace is in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.

This job offer includes:

• A dynamic research project with a strong collaboration with universities and
• companies.
• A full-time appointment for two year, with evaluation after one year.
• A gross monthly salary in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement of the Dutch Universities, depending on your experience.
• An attractive package of benefits including moving expenses, 35 holiday days (based on fulltime) and end-of-year allowances.

Wetsus

Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, is an independent research institute that creates a strong strategic cooperation for development of profitable and sustainable state of the art water technology.

The research is performed at its own state-of-the art premises in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands. The inspiring and multidisciplinary collaboration between companies and research institutes in Wetsus results in innovations that contribute significantly to the solution of the global water problems. The research program of Wetsus is divided in 23 research themes, in partnership with 104 companies worldwide and 20 European knowledge institutes. Within each research theme, specific research topics are defined and are carried out mainly as PhD and postdoc projects. On our website Wetsus, the various themes are explained.