PhD candidate: Incorporation of flood types in tailored rainfall-runoff models

Are you interested in the prediction and modelling of extreme flood events? Do you want to understand how extreme events manifest and which are the most relevant processes? Do you want to bring together deterministic modelling and stochastic classification? Then we may have the perfect opportunity for you!

We are currently looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to join our team (18 months with the intention for extension to up to four years, full time, fully funded) at the Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group at Wageningen University. The position is based within the NWO-funded VIDI project “FutureFlood - Future-proof flood prediction” to develop novel tailored flood prediction models that directly take into account different flood types and their generating processes.

As PhD candidate you will compare several hydrological models such as HBV, WALRUS and LISFLOOD for case study regions around the globe. You will analyse their model components and set up new model version that are tailored to specific flood types, i.e. focusing on the relevant flood-generating processes only, with a type-specific parametrisation. The models are compared to benchmark models and analysed regarding robustness and sensitivity. In a second step, the models will be tested under different climate change scenarios. The newly developed models will be applied to estimate design flood events for different return periods and flood types. With metrics based on flood statistical aspects, the type-specific models will be compared to standard stationary models without distinction of flood types.

This framework will be ultimately included in a flood prediction model, which will be developed within the VIDI project. For this purpose, you will exchange with the project team on regular basis. You will exchange with stakeholders in the case study regions to receive feedback on the applicability of the framework.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Development of a flood classification framework for flood type prediction
• Comparison of different ML algorithms in a sensitivity study
• Communication with stakeholders
• Development of open source programme code (preferably as a software package)
• Exchange within the VIDI project to embed the results in flood prediction

You will work here
We are the Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group (HWM), a dynamic and committed team of 14 academics, 5 support staff, 3 postdocs and 29 PhD researchers. Our focus is on hydrology and environmental hydraulics, which we combine to understand and quantify hydrological processes in catchments, aquifers, rivers and deltas. We develop novel sensing techniques, create models and perform field and lab experiments to advance process understanding.

You will be supervised by Svenja Fischer, Ryan Teuling and Josh Ho (from ESG group).

For this project, we are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate. You have a collaborative, curious, and creative mindset and are able to evaluate critically. You have experience in programming (preferably R or Python) and in adapting hydrological models. You have obtained knowledge in hydrological modelling and basic extreme value statistics. You are open to work in a team and to communicate with different partners from university, water boards and research institutes.

You also possess:

• A successfully completed MSc degree in: hydrology, earth systems, water management or a similar research area
• Advanced programming skills (preferably R or Python)
• Experience with hydrological modelling

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• Partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.
The gross salary for the first year is € 3.059,- per month rising to € 3.881,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.