The WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF in Davos, Switzerland, is seeking a motivated doctoral candidate for a fully funded three-to-four-year PhD position in mountain hydrology, environmental sensing, and runoff forecasting. The project is funded by the Swiss National Competence Center Muoniverse and belongs to the ETH Domain.
Project Context: Alpine Snowpacks and Downstream Hydrology
Alpine snowpacks act as critical “water towers,” storing winter precipitation and slowly releasing it as meltwater during spring and summer. This meltwater determines seasonal river discharge, feeds lakes, and maintains cold-water habitats essential for wild salmonids and other aquatic species. Accurately measuring **Snow Water Equivalent (SWE)** is vital for water resource management, flood prediction, and hydropower planning. This PhD project focuses on developing, validating, and applying cosmic-ray muon sensors to monitor snowpack water content in steep alpine catchments. Key research areas include:
- Validating and calibrating novel muon-based SWE sensors in rugged mountain environments.
- Integrating real-time SWE measurements into process-based snowmelt and watershed runoff models.
- Assessing how changing alpine snowpacks influence downstream water availability, river temperature regimes, and catchment hydrology.
Key Responsibilities
- Deploy and maintain environmental sensors in alpine field sites in Davos and the Swiss Alps.
- Process and analyze large-scale sensor networks, meteorological data, and hydrological records.
- Develop and couple physical snow models with catchment hydrological models.
- Write peer-reviewed publications and compile a PhD dissertation at ETH Zurich.
Stipend and Research Environment
- Fully funded PhD position (standard Swiss National Science Foundation salary scale for doctoral students).
- Based at the world-renowned SLF institute in Davos, offering state-of-the-art labs and field research sites.
- Enrollment and academic supervision at ETH Zurich, one of the world’s top universities.
- Collaborative, interdisciplinary atmosphere with access to Switzerland’s high-performance computing networks.
Preferred Qualifications
- M.Sc. degree in Hydrology, Environmental Engineering, Physics, Geophysics, Physical Geography, or related quantitative sciences.
- Solid programming skills (Python, R, MATLAB, or C++) and experience handling large environmental datasets.
- Strong physical fitness and enthusiasm for conducting field research in challenging alpine winter conditions.
- Excellent written and spoken English communication skills.
How to Apply
Interested candidates must submit their application online through the WSL e-recruiting portal. Please upload a motivation letter, CV, university transcripts, and contact info for two references before the application deadline of 31 July 2026.