ENWAT Project
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Publication date: Sep 4, 2024
| Position-ID: | 1582 |
| Faculty/ Facility: | Civil- and Environmental Engineering |
| Institute/ Facility: | Civil- and Environmental Engineering : IWS – Institute for Modelling Hydraulic and Environmental Systems |
| Research Association: | Environment Water (ENWAT) |
| Teaching Obligation: | No |
| Application deadline: | 10/31/2024 |
| Anticipated Start Date: | 10/01/2025 |
About Us
The international Doctoral Program “Environment Water” (ENWAT) of the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Stuttgart, Germany, in collaboration with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) opens a call for max. 2 PhD positions for research in Environment Water. Each project involves high-quality research and state-of-the-art techniques and is supervised by excellent researchers. We are looking for highly motivated and talented students with a passion for science. Candidates must demonstrate an excellent performance in their previous academic education.
Title: Laboratory experiments to optimise habitat diversity by reintroducing wood in rivers
Advisor: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Silke Wieprecht, Dr-Ing. Ingo Schnauder
Research group / department: Department of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management (LWW), Institute for Modelling Hydraulic and Environmental Systems (IWS)
Keywords: Large wood, Nature-based solutions, Instream river training, physical model experiments
Introduction / Background
According to the EU-WFD (European water framework directive), more than 90% of German rivers and 60% of the rivers in the EU are in a deficient stage of ecological degradation. The two main drivers for this degradation are (1) loss of morphologic diversity and (2) loss of longitudinal, lateral and vertical connectivity. Both are closely related to the removal of wood from the rivers, which is common practice and has a long tradition in European rivers.
River restoration schemes based on reintroducing wood into the rivers have therefore become increasingly important. However, design standards and calculation schemes are largely missing and hinder an optimised and broader use of wood.
The main challenges herein are the properties of wood, that differ from standard engineering building materials. Wood and wood structures have a complex and heterogenous shape, properties of anisotropic porosity and a dynamic buoyancy due to wetting and drying processes. Predictions of their hydraulic and morphodynamic impact are thus demanding. Even more so, if the natural dynamics of a river system have to be considered that determine habitat quality and ecological functioning. Existing literature on the hydromorphologic processes related to wood in rivers is scarce and there is an urgent need for systematic studies under controlled conditions in the laboratory. We will therefore run tests with different idealised and standardised wood types and quantify their effects on bed topography, scour and sediment deposition patterns.
Contact for research questions
Dr. Ingo Schnauder, University of Stuttgart, ingo.schnauder@iws.uni-stuttgart.de
Contact for administrative questions (e.g. on the admission process)
Dr. Gabriele Hartmann, University of Stuttgart, gabriele.hartmann@f02.uni-stuttgart.de
Your Tasks
Research goals and methods to be used
First, the Ph.D. candidate is responsible for reviewing the state-of-the-art literature on wood in rivers, on the processes and key features that wood provides for aquatic habitats and the related ecological functions. Further, reviewing the classic engineering literature on bridge pier scour and tunnelling scour is a prerequisite for understanding the more complex wood cases.
The candidate will conduct own flume experiments with different wood structures and under different flow configurations. Abstracting the complex and heterogenous properties of wood and transferring them into a physical scale model will be a central part of the research – and to some extent – also involve field studies and observations. Measurements in the lab will include flow quantification (velocity profiles, turbulence quantities), flow visualisation techniques and time-resolving surveys of the bed topography (cross-sections, analyses of scour evolution).
Besides the required publications in peer-reviewed journals, the findings will be included in a practitioner’s guideline for the use of wood in restoration (DWA-Merkblatt). The collected data will be added to our wood scour database with planned public access at a later stage.
Your Profile
Prerequisites
Good knowledge in hydraulics, turbulent flows and sediment transport is required, as well as commitment to improve the ecology of rivers.
English language skills sufficient for scientific writing, reading and speaking.
Further Prerequisites:
- Resume/CV showing the applicant’s background, professional skills, a list of publications and oral and poster presentations as well as additional achievements (scholarships, awards etc.)
- M.Sc., Dipl.-Ing. or equivalent degree in Civil Engineering, Water Resources Management, Environmental Engineering or related sciences
- B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, Water Resources Management, Environmental Engineering or related sciences
Copies of Certificates and Transcripts, including all undergraduate level certificates and university degrees. All documents, which are not in English or in German, must be accompanied by copies of a legally certified English translation (for the application we will accept copies; but please be aware, that originals or legally certified copies will be needed for the final phase. In case any differences between the copies and the originals show up, the application will be dismissed.)
Please make sure, that the copies of the transcripts show not only the grades but also explain the home grades’ system (please add copy of the description of grade scale).
- At the time of application, generally no more than 6 years should have passed since the last degree was gained.
- Only international (non-German) applicants can be accepted. At the time of application the candidate must not have been resident in Germany for more than the last 15 months.
- Unless native speaker: proficiency in English (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS, etc.), or proof that M.Sc. and B.Sc. programs were held in English.
- 2 Reference letters from university professors from the applicants home university, issued during the last 2 years.
- Motivation letter describing the applicant’s work experience and research goals (1 page).
Our Benefits
Research Environment
The PhD candidate will conduct experiments in the hydraulic laboratory at IWS. Besides, the student will become part of an interdisciplinary working group consisting of post-docs and doctoral students who conduct research on morphological processes in rivers.
Employment and compensation information
Maximal Funding Period or Duration of Employment: 48 months
Type of Funding: Scholarship
Compensation: 1300 € per month
Percentage of weekly working hours (usually 39.5h = 100%):100%
Employment at the cooperation partner:
Location: Stuttgart, Campus Vaihingen
If Location other than Stuttgart or additional location(s):
Contact Details
Contact person: Dr. Gabriele Hartmann
Mail: gabriele.hartmann@f02.uni-stuttgart.de
Phone: +49 711 685 66585
Website: https://www.enwat.uni-stuttgart.de/
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Women who apply will be given preferential consideration in areas in which they are underrepresented, provided they have the same aptitude, qualifications and professional performance. Severely disabled applicants with equal qualifications will be given priority.
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