We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to explore the potential of direct potable water reuse with the aim to reduce global water scarcity.
Your job
Roughly two billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water. In water scarcity hotspots around the globe, non-renewable groundwater storage is being depleted, and surface water resources are overallocated. This has led to an unsustainable situation, where there is a large water gap between the demand and availability of freshwater. Direct potable reuse (DPR) – introducing highly purified wastewater into urban water supply systems – is one promising solution strategy to reduce this water gap in urban areas. You will explore the potential of DPR systems to mitigate water scarcity at global, national, and regional scales.
As a postdoc, you will be part of the National Geographic Society – World Water Map project. You will work with an international team of researchers from Utrecht University and the Joint Global Change Research Institute. Using the Global Change Analysis Model (GCAM), you will measure the multisector implications of DPR under a range of socioeconomic and climate change scenarios. Your work will explore the impacts of DPR on the energy, urban, and agricultural sectors and map regional teleconnections resulting from DPR investments.
Your qualities
We are looking for someone with the following qualifications:
- a PhD in environmental sciences, water or energy resources research, (socio-)hydrology or a related field;
- proven knowledge and peer-reviewed publications in the field of environmental sciences, water or energy resources research or (socio-)hydrology;
- sound understanding of water systems in the context of global change;
- willingness to integrate insights from stakeholder engagement and participatory research with quantitative water-energy system modelling of our research group;
- experience with programming languages (Python / R) ideally using spatial and temporal datasets;
- interested in highly interdisciplinary collaborations;
- sensitive to the fact that successful and impactful research is a team effort;
- excellent English oral and scientific writing skills.
Our offer
We offer:
- a position for one year, with an extension to a total of two years upon a successful assessment in the first year;
- a working week of 38 hours and a gross monthly salary between €3,226 and €5,090 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 10 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 external link.
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. David Gold (assistant professor) at d.f.gold@uu.nl.
Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.
Apply now
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.
The interviews are on 18 September 2024. The first round can be online via MS Teams. The preferred starting date is 1 December 2024.
The application deadline is 1 September 2024.
