Doctoral student in Water Resources Engineering with a focus on GeoAI and Remote Sensing in Hydrology

Lund University, Faculty of Engineering, Building & Environmental Technology

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universities. The University has around 47 000 students and more than 8 800 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard gender equality and diversity as a strength and an asset.

Description of the workplace

The current position will be placed in the Division of Water Resources Engineering, Department of Building and Environmental Technology. Here, research and teaching pursue the understanding of how water resides and is transported in nature and urban systems from an engineering perspective. This includes but is not limited to, comprehension and modeling of the components of the hydrological cycle as well as geospatial modeling of water quality and quantity in agricultural systems. At the division, there are about 35 employees and around 20 PhD students. The current position is within the Remote Sensing and AI in Hydrology research group.

The Department of Building and Environmental Technology has a stimulating and international environment consisting of PhD students, postdocs, and teachers from many parts of the world. Here, research and teaching take place in an open and progressive climate with challenges and collaborations both within academia and with industry partners, both nationally and internationally. The work environment is characterized by commitment, collaboration, creativity, and personal responsibility.

Being a doctoral student 

As a doctoral student, you are both admitted as a student and employed at Lund University. 

As a doctoral student, you will be trained in a scientific approach. In short, you will be trained to think critically and analytically, to solve problems independently using the right methods, and to develop an awareness of research ethics. In addition, you will have the opportunity to work on projects, to develop your leadership and pedagogical skills. Throughout your studies, you will be guided by supervisors. Doctoral studies end with a thesis and a doctoral degree.

More about being a doctoral student at LTH on lth.se.

Subject and project description

The Remote Sensing and AI in Hydrology research group within the Division of Water Resources Engineering focuses on integrating various satellite remote sensing and AI technologies for monitoring, modeling and forecasting hydrological elements such as precipitation, evapotranspiration, floods, wildfire, etc.

The present PhD project will focus on developing an AI-based decision support system for more informed water resources management and policymaking to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change and human impacts in the nexus of water-food-climate. This includes modelling water quality and quantity and assessing the impact of climate and anthropogenic impacts on these elements. The scale of the project will be at different levels from case study and country level to continental and global level. 

Work duties

You will primarily devote yourself to your doctoral programme, which includes participation in research projects as well as third cycle courses, seminars and conferences. 

The work duties include:

• You will work on multiple projects developing AI-based technologies for water resources management. 
• You will travel abroad to attend general assemblies of a European project and also attend conferences.
• You will work in a team working on a DSS which requires code and data sharing and good team work.
• The duties may also include participation in teaching and other departmental work (however, a maximum of 20% of working hours).

Qualifications 

To be eligible for admission and employment as a doctoral student, you must fulfil the requirements below.

Admission requirements 

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant: 

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or 
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or 
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in Water Resources Engineering if the applicant has: 

• At least 120 credits in subjects of relevance to the field of research, including at least 75 second-cycle credits in a relevant field for the subject area, or
• a second-cycle degree in civil engineering, environmental engineering, or similar 

Additional requirements

In order to complete the doctoral programme in question, the following are also required: 

• Documented experience of application of artificial intelligence including machine learning and deep learning algorithms.
• Documented programming skills in Python, R, or MATLAB.
• Very good knowledge of English, spoken and written.
• Good ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems. 
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Good ability to work in a team.

Other qualifications 

For the doctoral programme in question, the following are considered as other qualifications: 

• Hands-on experience with Linux environments, SQL/database management, and backend or frontend server systems, particularly for geospatial data processing and deploying analytical or predictive models
• Documented experience of analysis of remote sensing (RS) data, satellite image processing, or google earth engine in water-related subjects.

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme.

More about working at Lund University on lu.se. 

About the employment 

The employment is a fixed-term employment at full time, starting  as soon as possible. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. In the case of teaching and other departmental duties, the employment is extended accordingly. Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

More about terms of employment for doctoral students on Lund University’s Staffpages.

How to apply

Applications shall be written in English and include: 

• CV and a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the doctoral programme/employment and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. 
• Copies of issued study certificates and/or awarded degree certificates. These must confirm that you meet the general and specific admission requirements for the doctoral programme and show that you have the subject knowledge required for the doctoral programme project. 
• Other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.)

We welcome your application.

LTH is Lund University’s Faculty of Engineering. At LTH we educate people, build knowledge for the future and work hard for the development of society. We create space for brilliant research and inspire creative advancements in technology, architecture and design. We have nearly 10,000 students. Every year, our researchers – many of whom work in world-leading profile areas – publish around 100 theses and 2 000 scientific findings. In addition, many of our research and degree projects are transformed into innovations. Together we explore and create – to benefit the world.

We kindly decline all sales and marketing contacts.