The department of Physical Geography is searching for a PhD candidate within the ERC MultiDry project. The aim of the project is to understand how vegetation responds to multi-year droughts. It will make use of the latest developments in dynamic vegetation and hydrological modelling and will be executed in close collaboration with Wageningen University (WUR).

Drought is a major natural hazard, caused by a lack of water in precipitation, soil moisture, groundwater or rivers. The observed rise in multi-year drought events results in major challenges for water resource management, agriculture, and the economy, as was evident in recent (in some cases ongoing) multi-year droughts in the western US, southern South America, southern Africa, western Europe and Iberian Peninsula, India and Australia. However, there is limited knowledge on the role of vegetation on drought duration, propagation and recovery, including long-lasting impacts of multi-year droughts. As well as positive of negative feedback effects of vegetation on future drought impacts. You will make use of new developments in vegetation modelling, data analysis and hydrological modelling to improve our knowledge related to the drivers of multi-year droughts, now and in the future. The PhD project aims to develop methods that identify the response of vegetation to multi-year droughts, the period it takes to recover and the impact of changes in the vegetation and water use for crops on the hydrology.

In your work you will systematically study these components by:

1. identifying the critical duration of droughts to have long-lasting impacts on the vegetation;
2. studying the time it takes for vegetation to recover and the impact on water resources;
3. studying the impact of climate change on vegetation drought impacts and the recovery times. By using existing models and know-how on drought events you will identify patterns, and later study how these patterns will change in response to further climate change.

You will work in a multi-disciplinary team (2 PhD candidates, 1 Postdoc, the PI and external collaborators) in the ERC MultiDry project. The ERC has a focus on fundamental research in climate change, hydrology and hydrological extremes all related to multi-year drought. There will be ample opportunity to cooperate with researchers in the team, which include, in addition to Utrecht University, people at Wageningen University. Principle appointment will be at Utrecht University, but it is expected that you will work in close collaboration with the partners at different institutes.

To support academic and personal development, PhD candidates at Utrecht University follow courses and assist in teaching at Bachelor's and Master's level at our faculty. Together these activities amount to approximately 20% of the contracted time.

We are looking for candidates with:

• an MSc in Environmental Science, Hydrology, Civil Engineering, Earth Sciences or a related field;
• affinity with data analysis and/or numerical modelling;
• the ability to work in teams;
• excellent English oral and writing skills;
• preferably basic Dutch oral skills or a willingness to master the Dutch language.

You will be offered a temporary position (1.0 FTE), initially for one year with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period. The gross salary ranges between €2,541 in the first year and €3,247 in the fourth year of employment (scale P according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% per year.

In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). For more information, please visit working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth's core to its surface, including man's spatial and material utilisation of the Earth - always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the Faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development. The faculty is located at Utrecht Science Park near the historical city centre of Utrecht.

The Department of Physical Geography has the ambition to excel in research and education on BSc, MSc and PhD level. Its research focuses on processes, patterns and dynamics of Earth’s continental and coastal systems, and on the interaction between these processes. This knowledge is essential for the sustainable management of our planet and to guarantee the availability of resources for the next generations.