PhD Candidate “High-tech sensing for turbulent and radiant heat exchange in urban environments”

Are you thrilled by solving physics problems that so far have been a tough nut to crack and at the same time charmed by contributing to societal issues? Then join our team to resolve turbulent and radiant heat exchanges in urban environments through high-tech sensing. You will be working on remote sensing-based observational modelling of atmospheric urban boundary layer dynamics by combining optical-thermal imagery with ground observations to unravel and resolve urban radiative and turbulent energy exchanges.

You will also be working on modelling of ambient temperature by coupling remotely sensed surface temperatures to atmospheric heat transport in an urban environment, through data assimilation, resistance networks, surface renewal techniques, Large Eddy Simulations, and by participating in experimental campaigns, including ground-based and airborne observations. You will present (both preliminary and mature) research results at appropriate meetings and conferences, publish results in scientific workshops, conference proceedings, and journals, contribute to teaching on topics related to your work, and supervise and mentor involved MSc students as needed.

Our mission is to build communities of water professionals, scientists and engineers with skills to contribute to a sustainable and resilient living environment using Earth Observations and Modelling of Water and Climate.

The world desperately needs people with these skills. Water-related challenges are everywhere. Some are caused by climate change, others by urbanization, infrastructure, land cover change, mining, discharge of polluted effluents, and sea level rise. They affect food security, biodiversity and health. Good water management starts with insight into the problem and access to accurate, (near-)real-time information. This requires a scientific data infrastructure and research capacity. We engage with social actors including policymakers, entrepreneurs and citizens to co-create sustainable and innovative solutions for the monitoring and management of freshwater and marine resources using Earth Observation. We focus on physical, chemical and biological processes on land and in aquatic systems, river basins, soils and plants. To study these, we develop, use and teach quantitative use of Earth observation and physically based models, and unravel linkages between water and food, energy, health and ecosystem security and sustainability.