PhD position in Experimental Soil Hydrogeochemistry

UNIL is a leading international teaching and research institution, with over 5,000 employees and 17,000 students split between its Dorigny campus, CHUV and Epalinges. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, individual recognition and responsibility.

The Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics (IDYST ) is inviting applications for a fully-funded
Ph.D position in Experimental Soil Hydrogeochemistry within the Hydrology group (Principal Investigator : Prof. Paolo Benettin).

Expected start date in position : 01.01.2027/ to be agreed

Contract length : 1 year initially, extension up to 4 years

Activity rate : 100%

The Ph.D. candidate will design and perform a series of experiments at the Unil Ecotron facility , to investigate
how vegetation regulates soil water fluxes and geochemical reactions
, expecially during dry periods. The facility already includes a programmable climate chamber with three soil columns and a range of sensors, and additional sensors can be acquired during the project. Depending on the candidate's interests and skills, the work may combine a range of methods, including analyses of major and trace elements, measurements of vegetation activity, tracer experiments and hydrogeochemical modelling.

As climate change increases the frequency and severity of droughts, this Ph.D. project offers the opportunity to understand and anticipate drought impacts on water resources and ecosystem degradation, while developing expertise at the interface of hydrology, soil geochemistry, and ecosystem science.

80% of the employment time will be dedicated to completing the doctoral thesis (PhD research); the remaining 20% will be dedicated to teaching assistant and support duties within the institute.

You are expected to :

• Design and conduct innovative experiments
• Operate the Ecotron facility and its network of ~80 sensors throughout the project
• Lead scientific articles in international peer-reviewed journals
• Participate in international conferences and project meetings in lausanne and Paris
• Participate in approximately one week of fieldwork per year at the Critical Zone Observatory of Mt Lozère, France
• Make your research workflow (data, code, protocols...) open and reproducible
• Openly discuss research obstacles and seek advice/help in the group
• Actively participate in creating a collaborative and inclusive culture
• Background in disciplines like Environmental Science, Soil Science/Physics, Biogeochemistry, Experimental Ecology, Hydrology, Civil/Environmental Engineering, or closely related disciplines.
• Previous experience with experimental work. Examples may include deploying sensors, collecting soil/water/vegetation samples from the field, conducting laboratory analyses.
• Strong quantitative and data handling skills (e.g. in R or Python).
• Good written and spoken English communication skills.
• Knowledge of French is an asset but is not required.

• Annual salary of CHF 55'000 for up to 4 years (until graduation).
• A friendly and cohesive culture at the Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics (IDYST ) including 1-day Summer and Winter retreats, usually in the Alps.
• A shared office in the pleasent Géopolis building, on campus.
• Fully-funded personal research equipment (laptop, desktop computer, monitor, etc.) and research-related travel (conferences, collaborations, etc.).
• Opportunity for co-supervision of the Ph.D. program by a second Principal Ingestigator.
• International collaboration network and opportunities to spend research periods abroad.
• Opportunity (but not obligation) to attend doctoral schools and take classes.
• Access to laboratories and platforms (analytical platform, geochemistry, stable isotopes) as well as workshops (wood, metal, 3D print).
• Support in your future career choices, throug the IDYST Careers group and Graduate Campus activities.
• Access to Unil Campus facilities (Sports center with 100+ recreational options, restaurants, etc).
• The University of Lausanne is committed to equal opportunity and stands firm against all forms of discrimination.

All questions related to the application can be adressed by email to the Unil Hydrology Group : hydrology

Deadline : 15.09.2026

• Your professional goals in the next 6-7 years, and how this position might further them
• A ~250-word description of a topic you felt passionate about in the last ~2 years
• Description of the methods you feel more comfortable with and why (e.g. numerical modeling, sensor deployment, sample collection, lab analysis, statistics, spatial analyses, programming, etc.)
• A disclosure of how Artificial Intelligence was used to prepare your application
• Copy of all university degree certificates and transcripts
• Copy of one first-author research report (can be a manuscript, a thesis, or an assignment report)
• Names, affiliations, and emails addresses of at least 2 references (e.g. Master thesis advisor, academic staff who have read your work, previous employers)

UNIL is committed to:

• equality,…