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

Apply Now →

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

Apply Now →

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.

Location:

Position Type:

Start Date:

Are you passionate about remote sensing, snow and ice dynamics, and Earth observation technologies? ETH Zurich is offering a fully funded PhD opportunity in the field of cryosphere research using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). This prestigious doctoral position is hosted by the Institute of Environmental Engineering (IFU) at one of the world’s top technical universities.

About the Project: Remote Sensing of Snow & Ice with SAR

This PhD project focuses on using multi-modal high-frequency SAR data to analyze and monitor snow and glacier behavior in the cryosphere. The research is structured around two primary themes:

1⃣ Glacier Elevation Change & Mass Balance Estimation

• Generate time series of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) using SAR interferometry
• Quantify large-scale glacier and ice sheet volume changes
• Estimate glacier mass balance using spatial-temporal datasets
• Apply validated methods to new geographic locations and time frames

2⃣ Glacier Crevasse Detection & Ice Dynamics

• Develop cutting-edge techniques for crevasse identification using high-resolution SAR
• Explore SAR modes including polarimetry, interferometry, and tomography
• Integrate airborne and satellite SAR data for advanced cryosphere research

This interdisciplinary project includes access to:

• International snow and glacier test sites
• Ground validation datasets
• Collaborations with global experts in remote sensing and climate science

Eligibility & Candidate Requirements

ETH Zurich is looking for an enthusiastic and skilled researcher with the following qualifications:

• A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Electrical Engineering, Geomatics, Geophysics, Computational Science, Physics, or a related technical field
• Strong programming skills in Python, C/C++, or similar languages
• Experience in remote sensing, SAR, large-scale data processing, or snow/ice modeling is advantageous
• Excellent English communication skills (both written and spoken)
• Possession of a valid European Category B driving license

Why Join ETH Zurich?

ETH Zurich offers a vibrant and inclusive research environment with:

• Access to world-class facilities and expert mentorship
• A collaborative, international team culture
• Equal opportunity policies promoting diversity and innovation
• Strong support for doctoral researchers in academic and career development

How to Apply

To apply for this exciting PhD opportunity in remote sensing at ETH Zurich, submit your complete application online via the official ETH Zurich career portal. Email applications will not be accepted.

Your application should include:

• A cover letter detailing your motivation and relevant experience
• Your updated CV
• Copies of academic transcripts (including ongoing coursework)
• A PDF version of your Master’s thesis
• Contact details of two academic references

Apply Online Now

For further inquiries (not applications), you may contact Prof. Irena Hajnsek at:
ihajnsek@ethz.ch

About ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich is globally recognized as a leader in science, engineering, and innovation. With over 30,000 students and staff from more than 120 countries, ETH Zurich is dedicated to solving real-world challenges through cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary collaboration. From its base in Zurich, Switzerland, the university contributes to sustainable global development with local impact.

Are you passionate about remote sensing, climate science, and aquatic ecosystems? Eawag – the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology – invites applications for a Postdoctoral Position in Remote Sensing of Lake Tipping Points. Based in Switzerland and part of the prestigious ETH Domain, Eawag is internationally known for research, innovation, and sustainable water management.

About the Postdoc Research Project

This postdoctoral fellowship is part of an innovative research initiative focused on ecosystem tipping points in lakes using advanced Earth observation and remote sensing techniques. You will work with high-resolution climate datasets from the European Space Agency’s Climate Change Initiative (ESA CCI) to investigate:

• Environmental indicators in freshwater systems
• Catchment-level variables affecting water quality
• Time-series archives of Essential Climate Variables (ECVs)
• Regional lake case studies with a focus on long-term changes

The project is highly interdisciplinary, combining expertise in remote sensing, limnology, and environmental modeling to understand changes in aquatic ecosystems.

Key Responsibilities

As a postdoctoral researcher, your core tasks will include:

• Designing and refining remote sensing algorithms for aquatic applications
• Analyzing satellite-based ECV datasets and deriving insights
• Assessing and quantifying uncertainty in remote sensing outputs
• Leading research on two lake-region case studies
• Collaborating with experts across multiple scientific disciplines

Candidate Requirements

We’re looking for a driven and detail-oriented researcher with:

• A completed PhD in Remote Sensing, Environmental Science, or a closely related field
• Solid programming experience in Python, MATLAB, or similar languages
• Proficiency in data analysis, statistical modeling, and uncertainty quantification
• Excellent communication skills in English
• Strong organizational and independent research capabilities

Position Details

• Duration: 12 months (with potential for 12-month extension)
• Start Date: Flexible – as per mutual agreement
• Application Deadline: Open until filled (rolling reviews)
• Location: Eawag, Dübendorf, Switzerland

Application Requirements

To apply, submit the following documents via Eawag’s online application portal:

• A motivation letter
• Your updated CV
• Two reference letters

Only online applications will be accepted.

Why Work at Eawag?

At Eawag, you’ll be part of a forward-thinking, inclusive, and collaborative research environment that values:

• Interdisciplinary teamwork and open innovation
• Diversity, equity, and a healthy work-life balance
• Opportunities to contribute to sustainable water science with real-world impact

Contact for inquiries:
Dr. Daniel Odermatt – daniel.odermatt@eawag.ch

Apply Now via Eawag’s Online Portal – Applications are reviewed continuously, so apply early!