About us
We invite applications for a PhD position on hydrological storylines co-supervised by Olivia Martius (University of Bern) and Manuela Brunner (ETH Zurich, WSL). The position will be hosted at the Mobiliar Lab for natural risks at the University of Bern (https://www.mobiliarlab.unibe.ch) and will be part of the NCCR CLIM+ programme (www.nccr-climplus.ch). which is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). The NCCR CLIM+ supports Switzerland in the transformation towards a climate-resilient society. Together with stakeholders, the interdisciplinary NCCR CLIM+ research community tackles unexplored solution spaces to the climate crisis and develops a blueprint for actionable climate research worldwide. NCCR CLIM+ broadly communicates and shares knowledge, and trains a new generation of experts with the necessary domain and transdisciplinary knowledge.
You will be enrolled at the Climate Science graduate school of the Oeschger Centre. See here for details on the graduate programme: https://www.climatestudies.unibe.ch/study_programs/phd/index_eng.html.
Job description
Within this PhD project, you will quantify water availability and demand under current and future climate conditions, identify situations that might challenge water cooperation, and propose and evaluate suitable adaptation options. To do so, you will run a hydrological model with different storylines, climate scenarios, and adaptation options and closely collaborate with stakeholders and you will provide data and expertise to project partners across the NCCR CLIM+. You will be part of the NCCR CLIM+ programme and benefit from its extensive exchange and training in inter- and transdisciplinary research. You will publish your results in scientific journals and present them at national and international conferences.
Your profile
You hold a MSc degree in hydrology, environmental sciences or engineering, climate sciences, or a closely related field. Experience with hydrological modeling and large datasets are desired and we seek candidates that have previous experience with programming (e.g., in Python, R). We encourage applications from enthusiastic and dedicated individuals who have very good oral and written communication skills in English. Command of one of the national languages is desired. You are motivated to work in an interdisciplinary and international working environment, have a collaborative mindset, and are motivated to interact with a diverse range of stakeholders.
More InformationJob-AboApplication Process
Your Benefits
The salary follows University of Bern and Swiss National Science Foundation regulations
International reputation
Strong research infrastructure and international network
Collaborative environment and ambitious team
Your Salary
Your annual gross salary for the year 2026 amounts to 50’042 Swiss francs for full-time employment, including the 13th month salary.
Working at the University of Bern
The University of Bern not only offers exciting tasks but also an environment that actively promotes development, diversity, and equal opportunities. Discover what makes us stand out as an employer and how you can grow with us.
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Application and Contact
We look forward to receiving your application containing the following documents: a cover letter, your CV, diploma certificates and transcripts, a link to your MSc thesis (draft or final version), and the contact infor-mation of two professional references. The application is open immediately and will remain open until 30 April 2026. Interviews will take place in May 2026. Please submit one PDF containing all documents to jobs.giub@unibe.ch.
Questions about the position?
Olivia Romppainen
E-Mail: olivia.romppainen@unibe.ch
Questions about the application?
E-Mail: jobs.giub@unibe.ch
