Your job
Are you interested in how the water cycle changes and how these changes connect to society? Do you want to know how hydrological extremes manifest and which consequences they have for water availability and food security? Do you want to be part of an interdisciplinary research team? Then we may have the perfect opportunity for you!
We are currently looking for a highly motivated, recently graduated PhD to join our team (one year with the intention for extension to up to three years, full time, fully funded) at the Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group (in collaboration with the Water Resources Management and Earth System Change groups) at Wageningen University. The position is based within the Sector-plan project “New perspectives on the Water Cycle” to develop novel methods for understanding changes in the water cycle (incl. the modeling of hydrological extremes, adaption strategies etc.) and their related uncertainties, and to quantify their consequences for different groups in society in terms of water security, water quality, water justice and food security as well as their relation to decision-making.
As a postdoctoral researcher you will develop a case study on the above-mentioned topic under the supervision the three senior researchers from the chair groups. Together you will select a representative area (e.g. a delta region) to explore and demonstrate possible improvements based on a proposed approach. This will serve as starting point for a joint proposal of the chair groups under your coordination. You will obtain the opportunity to develop own research proposals and contribute to the ongoing work in the chair groups. A special focus will be put on the transfer of model knowledge to practice, i.e. the improvement of communication with decision-makers and the investigation of the impact of model choices. For this purpose, the work will go beyond traditional rainfall-runoff analyses. Special attention will be paid to uncertainty analyses the role of data and model choices and modeling in decision-making.
You will coordinate the joint work between the three chair groups in this project and investigate new paths of collaboration.
Your duties and responsibilities include:
- Develop a case study to model changes within the water cycle;
- Set-up a framework to quantify consequences of extreme events of water availability and food security;
- Coordinate joint research proposals;
- Establish a network of relevant stakeholders, inside and outside of academia
Your team
This position is part of the project “New perspectives on the water cycle” within the Earth and Environment Sector plan that aims to understand the changes in the water cycle and the different ways it connects to society. You will work with researchers from the three chair groups Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics (HWM), Water Resources Management (WRM) and Earth System Change (ESC) at Wageningen University (WU), where you will work with experts on stochastic hydrology, agricultural water management and hydrological modelling. There is also considerable expertise in the groups with regard to the different relevant aspects of water management in river basins, delta’s, and other areas with ongoing research through partnerships with local partners (e.g. cases in Asia, Africa, Latin America).
Your qualities
For this interdisciplinary project, we are looking for a highly motivated and skilled postdoctoral researcher with a recent university PhD degree (or equivalent) in hydrology, water management, earth sciences, or a similar research area. You have relevant experience in the field of hydrology or a related field involving hydrological modelling (stochastic, conceptual or computational). You have experience in interdisciplinary work and interaction with stakeholders and you are motivated to connect people from different disciplines and backgrounds. You are able to communicate model outcomes to different groups in society, and highlight impacts on water security, water justice, and food security. You are also familiar with complex simulation models and the quantification of uncertainty for these models, e.g. through Bayesian techniques, sensitivity analysis or similar.
You also possess:
- A PhD in Hydrology, Earth Sciences, Water Management or a similar research area;
- Well-developed programming skills;
- Strong analytical skills and innovative attitude;
- Experience and the motivation to expand interdisciplinary team-work, collaborating with stakeholders, and making advances through intense collaboration;
In our international working environment there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level C1.
We offer you
Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:
- sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
- working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
- there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
- a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
- excellent pension scheme.
In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.546,- and € 5.538,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended – if possible within (company) organizational circumstances – on good performance. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this.
Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.
You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the “best university” in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.
Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.
Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research’s International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account, dual career programs or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.
Do you want more information?
For more information about the position, please contact Svenja Fischer, Assistant professor for Stochastic Hydrology, via email: Svenja.fischer@wur.nl.; Huu Loc (Josh) Ho, Assistant professor for Nature-based Solutions, via email: josh.ho@wur.nl; or Gerlo Borghuis, Lecturer Agricultural Water Management, via email: gerlo.borghuis@wur.nl
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Jessa Rozema, corporate recruiter, by email: jessa.rozema-stol@wur.nl
Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.
You can apply until October 13th, 2025. The first interviews will be scheduled around three weeks after.
Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure
Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone’s unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.
We are
You will work here
We are the Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group (HWM), a dynamic and committed team of 14 academics, 5 support staff, 3 postdocs and 29 PhD researchers. Our focus is on hydrology and environmental hydraulics, which we combine to understand and quantify hydrological processes in catchments, aquifers, rivers and deltas. We develop novel sensing techniques, create models and perform field and lab experiments to advance process understanding
You will work together with the Earth Systems and Global change Group (ESC) where we focus on profound humans influence on Earth’s systems: land, water, climate, and nature. Through our work, we contribute to a better understanding of the challenges and to pioneer actionable solutions. For this position, experience with Nature-based Solutions within Earth systems is preferred.
You will also work with the Water Resources Management Group (WRM), which is engaged in interdisciplinary research and education at the intersection of water, technology and society. We study integrated water resource management and governance questions in both the global South and North. Central in our study are questions as to how patterns of allocation and use of water can be explained as the combined outcome of technological choices, socio-ecological dynamics and cultural-political negotiation processes and other forms of socio-political interaction.
Wageningen University & Research
The mission of Wageningen University & Research is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’.
We pursue this mission through a synergistic approach between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research Foundation (applied research). Our research focuses on questions within the domains of food, living environment, and society. With approximately 30 locations, 7,700 staff members, 2,500 PhD candidates, and over 13,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is among the world’s leading knowledge institutions in its domain. The integral approach to challenges and the collaboration across various disciplines form the core of the unique Wageningen approach.
