PhD Position on Coastal Adaptation to Sea-Level Rise

Faculty: Faculty of Geosciences Department: Department of Physical Geography Hours per week: 36 to 40 Application deadline:

How many Wadden Islands will still exist in 2100? The answer to this question depends not only on sea-level rise scenarios, but also on our ability to design clever adaptation strategies that can prolong the lifetime of barrier islands such as the Wadden Islands. Many examples exist of successful coastal adaptation to sea-level rise, but it is not yet clear how these can be scaled up, and if there are physical limitations to their effectiveness, on a landscape scale.

Your job

In this PhD project you will collect field data and use numerical models to assess possibilities of (and limits to) climate adaptation for the entire Wadden Sea coast and its islands. It is part of the new and exciting WADWAD project : a tri-lateral consortium of Dutch, German, and Danish scientists and engineers that will develop an action plan for the Wadden Sea coastal area.

You, together with the rest of the UU team, will bring in expertise on coastal geomorphology and climate change adaptation. The rest of the project includes sedimentologists, biologists, economists, and social scientists that cover topics of coastal adaptation from the paleo record all the way to cost-benefit analyses and stakeholder acceptance.

To support academic and personal development, you will follow courses and you will assist in teaching Earth Sciences at Bachelor’s and Master’s level. Together these activities amount to twenty percent of the contracted time.

Your qualities

We look forward to your application if you have the following qualifications:

• an MSc degree in earth, climate, or environmental sciences and engineering (or similar) with demonstrable affinity with numerical modelling of Earth surface processes;
• good skills in programming and using large spatial datasets (preferably in Matlab or Python);
• a strong interest in and ability to participate in interdisciplinary research in an international project setting;
• willingness to participate and lead fieldwork in and along the Wadden Sea coast;
• proficient writing and communication skills in English;
• enjoying working in an international environment and a multidisciplinary team of researchers.

Our offer

We offer:

• a position 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;
• a working week of 36 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2,872 and €3,670 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development , leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities , as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University .

About us

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 Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow .

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 team of the Department of Physical Geography excels in research and education on BSc, MSc and PhD level. We research processes, patterns and dynamics of Earth’s systems from the mountains to the sea, and the interaction in between. This knowledge is essential for the sustainable management of our planet and to guarantee the availability of resources for the next generations. We are a lively department that hosts an active early career community (PhD candidates, researchers and lecturers). We organise a warm welcome for every new member.

More information

For more information, please contact Dr. Ir. Jaap Nienhuis (Assistant Professor Coastal Geomorphology) at j.h.nienhuisuu.nl .

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation, via the ’apply now’ button.

If you have an international (not-Dutch) Master’s diploma please include your Bachelor’s and Master’s diplomas and gradelists (in English).

The interviews are on 9 January 2025. The first round can be online via MS Teams. The preferred starting date is spring 2025.

The application deadline is 13 December 2024.