The prospective candidate will work in the NWO-perspectief project SALTISolutions, funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). The project accommodates 14 PhD positions and 7 Post-Doc positions at various universities in the Netherlands.

Freshwater is vital for drinking water, nature, agriculture and industry. However, the availability of freshwater is under pressure in deltas throughout the world. Salty seawater is penetrating further up the rivers due to human intervention, such as the deepening of waterways, as equally climate change. Within SALTISolutions, the researchers, together with the partners involved such as Rijkswaterstaat, water boards, port authorities and dredging companies, produce a virtual model (digital twin) of the Rhine-Meuse Delta. This model integrates knowledge about processes on various spatial and time scales: from turbulent flows at the smallest scale level to the consequences of climate change in the long-term.

Post-Doc project description

The Post-Doc project at the University of Twente will integrate the insights found in Work Package 6 and 7 of SALTISolutions. Work Package 6 focuses on the natural processes of nature-based solutions (e.g. bedform dynamics, wetland development), whereas Work Package 7 focuses on the design and operation of nature-based solutions. Specifically, the Post-Doc will develop and apply a novel ecomorphodynamic model to evaluate the large-scale estuary wide effects of these nature-based solutions on salt intrusion, both in the Netherlands and worldwide. Importantly, the Post-Doc really is a linking pin as (s)he will closely interact with the six ongoing PhD projects within Work Package 6 and 7 and the involved end-users (such as Deltares, Rijkswaterstaat, engineering consultancies, water boards, port authorities and dredging companies).

We seek an enthusiastic and motivated candidate who has:

• a strong system knowledge as well as experience in process-based numerical modelling (e.g. Delft3D).
• a PhD related to coastal/civil engineering, physical geography or oceanography.
• good programming skills and a proven scientific publication record.
• excellent communication skills and comprehension of English, in both spoken language and writing, is necessary and comprehension of the Dutch language is advantageous.

We offer a fulltime 24-month Post-Doc position. The gross monthly salary is between €3557,- and €4670,- depending on experience and qualifications (in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities).

In addition, the University of Twente offers attractive fringe benefits.