Ph.D. position in Experimental Soil Hydrogeochemistry University
Listed on 2026-09-15
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Science
Research Scientist, Environmental Science, Biology -
Research/Development
Research Scientist, Biology
University of Lausanne, , Switzerland
PositionPh.D. position
The Hydrology Group (https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).) at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, is seeking candidates for a fully funded Ph.D. position in Experimental Soil Hydrogeochemistry. Expected start between January-April 2027.
PostingPh.D. position
Tracing vegetation impacts on watershed hydrochemistryDroughts and water shortages are becoming more frequent and severe, with important consequences for water quality and ecosystem functioning. One emerging observation is that the chemical composition of soil and stream waters changes markedly during prolonged dry periods, potentially serving as an indicator of ecosystem response to stress. This Ph.D. project aims to unravel the mechanisms underlying these changes, and to improve our understanding of how ecosystem functioning propagates into watershed-scale effects.
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, especially 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.
The position is part of the Swiss-US project Dry Spell, a four-year international collaboration investigating how vegetation stress affects river geochemistry. The Dry Spell team includes 6 collaborators among Unil, the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, providing opportunities for international, multidisciplinary research.
Of interest for:- Terrestrial Working Group
- Hydrology Focus Research Group
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