Doctoral student in the field of soil hydrology 100% (f/m/d)
PhD @The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL posted 2 days agoJob Description
The Mountain Hydrology and Mass Movements research unit develops new methods for observing and analyzing hydrological processes in the landscape. One focus is on developing adaptation measures for future drought situations. In this field, we are seeking  a
You will investigate the effects of open drainage ditches (keyline systems) and trees (agroforestry) on water retention on agricultural plots. You will conduct comprehensive soil moisture measurements using drone-based remote sensing methods and in-situ measurement systems, and use numerical soil hydrological models to explain the observed soil moisture patterns. A methodological challenge of your work will be the combination of various measurement techniques with different spatial resolutions and measurement ranges to derive detailed soil moisture patterns. You will publish your analyses and results in scientific journals and communicate them at scientific conferences and to interested environmental and agricultural experts.
You hold a master’s degree in soil physics, hydrology, or a similar field in geosciences or engineering, preferably with a specialization or a specific interest in measurement technology or remote sensing. You are also curious, committed, and interested in both practical agricultural issues and detailed soil hydrological processes. With your practical commitment, you will actively participate in field assignments. You communicate fluently in English, ideally also in German. Basic programming skills (R, Python, and/or Matlab) are required. Your workstation and primary supervision will be at the Swiss Federal Institute for Soil Research (WSL) in Birmensdorf (approximately 20 minutes outside of Zurich). You will also be enrolled as a doctoral student at ETH Zurich (Soil Physics and Terrestrial Ecosystems).
Please send your complete application (cover letter, CV, and any qualifications) to Beatrice Lamprecht, Human Resources, WSL, by submitting the required documents via our application portal. Applications via email or mail will not be considered.  Manfred Stähli will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Diversity and inclusion are deeply rooted values at WSL. We are committed to gender equality and to promoting an open and inclusive work environment.
