Postdoc in Wadden Sea and Estuaries: System Dynamics and Sediment Management under Climate Change

We are seeking a Postdoc candidate for WadSED, a large NWO project on the Wadden Sea tidal basins and the Western Scheldt estuary.

Challenge
Can the Wadden Sea survive the accelerating sea level rise?

Change
Predict the long-term morphological development of the tidal basins.

Impact
Sustainable management of tidal basins.

Job description
We seek to understand these systems and predict their morphodynamics and long-term morphological development under the influence of natural dynamics, human interference and sea-level rise. Multiple PhDs and Postdocs are working on this challenge and linking new insights to societal challenges regarding sediment management, ecology and flood safety. The topic of this Postdoc project focuses on the response of the Wadden Sea and other tidal basins to accelerating sea level rise.

Position at Delft University of Technology
The objective of the Postdoc at TU Delft is to develop and apply morphodynamic models for predicting long‑term morphological development of tidal basins like the Wadden Sea and estuaries like the Western Scheldt, under the influence of sea level rise and human interferences. Specifically,

Develop a next‑generation model combining the best of the reduced‑complexity model ASMITA and the process‑based model Delft3D.

Upgrade the ASMITA software by adding multiple sediments, exchange over tidal divides, exchange with salt marshes, river flow, and recalibration.

Apply the models to predict the response of the Wadden Sea, Western Scheldt and other international systems to sea‑level rise and subsidence using probabilistic simulations.

In collaboration with Deltares, investigate the impact of morphodynamic changes on ecology and flood safety.

You will be part of a larger team of PhDs and postdocs from Wad Sed and be encouraged to collaborate on common topics, mutually exchange new insights, and where possible incorporate them into your research. At TU Delft, you will be part of the Coastal Engineering section, where research on hydrodynamics, morphodynamics, and human interventions to the coast is combined using numerical modelling and field measurements.

You will primarily work with Zeng Bing Wang (TU Delft/Deltares), Bram van Prooijen (TU Delft), Ymkje Huismans (Deltares), and Quirijn Lodder (RWS), who look forward to collaborating and supervising with enthusiasm and dedication.

Job requirements
Required conditions

A PhD in a relevant field, such as Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Marine Geology, Oceanography, Physical Geography, Physics, or Mathematics.

A record of scholarly contributions, such as publications or software products, commensurate with this career stage.

Excellent communication skills, written and oral, including proficiency in English.

In addition

You have demonstrated an affinity and a strong interest in numerical model development and application.

You look forward to diving into the fundamental mechanisms behind hydrodynamics and sediment transport and translating that into concepts for numerical modelling.

You have a passion for doing interdisciplinary research in teams.

You like to finish what you start.

TU Delft as an employer
TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world‑class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society.

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences
The Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Its research feeds into educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions.

CEG supports its scientists in integrating open science into their research practice.

Conditions of employment

Duration of contract is 2 years. Temporary.

An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.

The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.

Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.

Flexible working week.

Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.

Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.

Partially paid parental leave.

Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

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