PhD Position in Microclimate Sensing - Experimental Research

Help solve a key challenge in greenhouse horticulture: design high resolution microclimate observation networks to enable energy savings by optimizing the growth microclimate for greenhouse crops.

Job description

Crop microclimate plays a vital role in optimizing productivity of greenhouse crops, yet accurate knowledge of microclimate remains limited. Sensing microclimate variability and gradients in greenhouses and vertical farms comes with specific scientific challenges: sensors must be accurate enough to capture small-scale microclimate variations and representative of the local microclimate without altering it by their presence. In this PhD project you will help advance novel experimental and theoretical approaches to uncover the complex heat, CO2 and moisture transfer dynamics in greenhouses and vertical farms.

Your PhD research will focus on experimental work, developing new microclimate sensing setups probing the microclimate in and above greenhouse canopies. You will build and test multiple versions of microclimate boxes using different shield configurations and absorbance/reflection material and compare against reference sensors, such as a fine-wire thermometer and a high-accuracy hot-wire anemometer for low airflows, in a microclimate sensing setup at Unifarm (WU). Eventually the goal is to design and implement a network of autonomous climate boxes for radiation, temperature, relative humidity and CO2, including IoT solutions for data communication.

In addition to the experimental work, you will analyze in-canopy temperature, water vapor and CO2 profiles and vertical gradients to identify flux-gradient relationships in and above the canopy. You will address questions such as whether the resistance analogy for flux-gradient relationships holds inside the canopy, what the role of leaf-scale resistance (stomata, boundary layer) is relative to aerodynamic resistance (in-canopy airflows), how these can be represented in a multi-layer approach, and how to implement source and sink terms of water vapor and CO2.

In this project you will work in close collaboration with a team of PhD researchers and postdocs as well as project partners from industry and the horticulture sector. Therefore, communication skills and proven ability to work productively in a team are important. You will work closely with two supervisors – Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis (experimental expertise) and Bas van de Wiel (theoretical expertise) – and a dedicated technician. This team-oriented supervision approach has proven effective in previous projects, with weekly joint whiteboard sessions.

You will be hosted by the Water Management Department in the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences at TU Delft. As part of our diverse and dedicated team of professors, lecturers, PhD and postdoc researchers, you will have the opportunity to work closely with leading experts and industry partners at the national and international level.

Job requirements

• You hold an MSc in applied physics, atmospheric science, or a related field.
• You have proven relevant project or thesis experience in experimental work.
• You are a team player and enjoy interdisciplinary collaboration.
• You have a good command of written and spoken English.

TU Delft

Delft University of Technology 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. Its engineers are known for being entrepreneurial problem-solvers in both business and social contexts.

The Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences is committed to outstanding international research and education in civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our 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. The faculty is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science into their research practice.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, in the form of 2 employment contracts: an initial 1.5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months, followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

If you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job, TU Delft offers support to help make your move as smooth as possible, including relocation information, events to help you settle in Delft, and support for an accompanying partner through a Dual Career Programme.