Research assistant in Urban Water Management (m/f/d) 80-100 %

Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology)

Dübendorf, Switzerland 🇨🇭

Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, is an internationally networked aquatic research institute within the ETH Domain (Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology). Eawag conducts research, education and expert consulting to achieve the dual goals of meeting direct human needs for water and maintaining the function and integrity of aquatic ecosystems.

To support research in the Urban Water Management department (SWW) at the site in Dübendorf, ZH, we are looking for a

Research assistant in Urban Water Management (m/f/d) 80-100 %

Climate change, urbanization, and digitalization are transforming urban water management, requiring innovative, solution-oriented approaches. The Urban Water Management (SWW) at Eawag employs advanced sensors and IoT technology to monitor material flows in urban stormwater and wastewater systems. We aim to gain actionable insights that improve urban water systems through field and laboratory experiments and by using diverse external datasets from climate models, industrial controls, geodatabases, and remote sensing. We offer an opportunity to work at the interface of field monitoring, data management, and modelling in a dynamic, technology-driven environment. 

To support our research activities, we seek a motivated research assistant to support us with data management, fieldwork, and research projects. The position is at the interface between monitoring, data management, and modelling, and it is highly diverse and dynamic due to our constantly changing research environment. 

Responsibilities: 

  • Data Analysis and Interpretation: Analyse and interpret data from smart urban water systems, state-of-the-art climate models, and urban living labs, assessing data quality, identifying trends, and proposing improvements. 
  • Collaboration with stakeholders and fieldwork: Work with interdisciplinary teams – including engineers, urban planners, and policymakers – and support the setup, maintenance, and operation of urban living labs. 
  • Data Stewardship: Creating data pipelines and organizational processes for data collection, ensuring project data is appropriately managed and readily accessible. 
  • Knowledge Dissemination: Contribute to publications, present findings at conferences, and support workshops to share research outcomes with academic and professional communities. 

Your profile:

  • Education: MSc in environmental engineering, environmental sciences, geographical information science, information and communications technology or a related field. Important to note: this is not a post-doc position. 
  • Programming and data analysis skills: Experience in data collection, analysis, and interpretation; strong skills in Python or another high-level programming language; knowledge in R, Julia, and SQL are advantageous. 
  • Technical Expertise: Experience with urban water management tools (e.g., hydrodynamic or rainfall-runoff modelling, GIS) is beneficial. 
  • Experimental and fieldwork experience would also be very welcome. 
  • Commitment to Open Science: Interest in open science and open research data principles, with a willingness to advance these practices within the team. 
  • Languages: Written and verbal proficiency in English; communication skills in German or French would be a strong asset.

About the position 

The selected candidate will work closely with Eawag researchers and national/international collaborators. This position requires an independent team player with organizational and time-management skills. We provide a vibrant, collaborative research environment with cutting-edge infrastructure, offering opportunities for personal growth and skill development. The position is offered for an initial term of 2 years, with an expected start date in Spring 2025. 

Your personality

We seek a responsible person who can adapt to changing circumstances and work independently in different environments and teams. We expect good integrative skills and social and emotional intelligence. 

Who are we? 

Eawag is a modern employer and offers an excellent working environment where staff can contribute their strengths, experiences and ways of thinking. We promote gender equality and are committed to staff diversity and inclusion. The compatibility of career and family is of central importance to us. For more information about Eawag and our work conditions, please consult www.eawag.ch and www.eawag.ch/en/aboutus/working/employment

How to apply?

We will evaluate applications on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. For further information, please contact Prof. Dr Max Maurer

We look forward to receiving your application, which includes a curriculum vitae, transcripts of your study grades, any work confirmations/reference letters, and two addresses of references. Please send it through this webpage, as any other way of applying will not be considered. A click on the button below will take you directly to the application form.


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