Are you passionate about environmental science and eager to contribute to cutting-edge research? The University of Twente, located in the Netherlands, is offering two fully funded PhD positions starting in September 2025. These positions are a fantastic opportunity for aspiring researchers to advance their academic careers while working on innovative environmental science projects. Read on to discover the details of these exciting opportunities!
1. PhD Position: Urban Water Quality Under Drought Conditions
Location: University of Twente, Netherlands
Duration: 4 years (Full-time, 38 hours per week)
Salary: €2,901 – €3,707 gross/month
Application Deadline: May 25, 2025
Project Overview:
Urban water systems face increasing pressure due to rising demands and extreme weather events, such as droughts, which threaten water quality and availability. This PhD project will focus on understanding and addressing the challenges posed by droughts in urban water systems.
Key research goals include:
- Modeling available urban water sources with an emphasis on water quality.
- Integrating water quality parameters into urban supply-demand systems.
- Developing alternative water allocation strategies during droughts.
Your Role:
- Conduct a comprehensive literature review and data analysis.
- Develop and apply innovative methods to monitor and model urban water quality under drought conditions.
- Collaborate with project partners in Dutch cities as part of the ‘Thirsty Cities’ project.
Your Profile:
- MSc in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related fields.
- Strong analytical, modeling, and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Proficiency in English (knowledge of Dutch is a plus).
What We Offer:
- Full scholarship with mentorship and professional development opportunities.
- 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end bonus.
- Solid pension scheme and a minimum of 29 vacation days/year.
Contact:
Dr. Lara Wöhler
Email: l.wohler@utwente.nl
2. PhD Position: Upscaling Drought Resilience from Species to Landscape Level
Location: University of Twente, Netherlands
Duration: 4 years (Full-time, 40 hours per week)
Salary: €2,901 – €3,707 gross/month
Application Deadline: May 31, 2025
Project Overview:
As part of the COMBINED project, this PhD position focuses on addressing biodiversity loss and enhancing climate resilience through integrated landscape governance. The project will analyze drought patterns and recovery using remote sensing technologies and spatial analysis.
Key research objectives include:
- Monitoring drought and recovery patterns via remote sensing.
- Integrating biodiversity data with remote sensing proxies.
- Evaluating landscape resilience strategies for future drought scenarios.
Your Role:
- Analyze spatial and temporal patterns using satellite imagery and remote sensing data.
- Combine biodiversity insights with geo-spatial data for landscape analysis.
- Collaborate with 24 societal organizations and research institutes to promote effective solutions.
Your Profile:
- MSc degree in Remote Sensing, Spatial Analysis, or Data Science.
- Proficiency in Python and/or R programming.
- Strong team collaboration skills and fluency in English (knowledge of Dutch is a plus).
What We Offer:
- Access to world-class research facilities and professional development opportunities.
- 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end bonus.
- 41 vacation days/year for full-time employment.
Contact:
Dr. Wietske Bijker
Email: w.bijker@utwente.nl
Prof. Wieteke Willemen
Email: l.l.willemen@utwente.nl
Why Choose the University of Twente?
- Join a vibrant, international research community.
- Work at one of Europe’s leading universities dedicated to sustainability, innovation, and diversity.
- Benefit from state-of-the-art research facilities and world-class mentorship programs.
- Located on a beautiful green campus in the heart of the Netherlands!
Don’t miss out on these incredible opportunities! Apply before May 25 and May 31, 2025, and take the next step in your environmental research career at the University of Twente.