PhD and Postdoc positions on Global delta modelling

River deltas have been growing for thousands of years, but their future is uncertain. Internal geomorphological feedbacks may push deltas past a tipping point, leading to rapid land loss. This project aims to quantify the life expectancies of global deltas. We offer two positions — a PhD on Holocene delta modelling and a PhD or postdoc on human impact — funded by an NWO VIDI grant.

Your job

In addition to the risks that sediment deficits and sea-level rise pose on modern ‘anthropocene’ deltas, there is a larger, mostly unknown risk that arises from internal geomorphological feedbacks within natural deltas. These feedbacks could lead to a tipping point in delta growth, called autobreak, after which follows rapid land loss. It remains unknown, however, if deltas will reach this tipping point within the next decades, centuries, or millennia. Some deltas even may have already passed it. In other words: river deltas have life expectancies but we do not know what they are. In this project we will quantify the life expectancies of all global deltas.

There is a PhD position (1) available on Holocene delta modelling and data assimilation. In this position you will:

• integrate available paleogeographic data of several deltas globally;
• operate, test, and improve a novel numerical delta evolution model that simulates geomorphological tipping points;
• simulate deltas from their ‘birth’ in the Middle Holocene under known sea level rise and sediment delivery;
• compare simulation results to reconstructed delta growth to track their development over time;
• investigate the proximity of deltas to their intrinsic autobreak tipping point.

There is a PhD or postdoc position (2) (to be determined) available on the effect of human activities on global delta growth. In this position you will:

• integrate available data on the effect of human activities on delta geomorphology (e.g., dredging, land reclamation, subsidence);
• operate, test, and improve the same delta model as in position (1);
• assess the influence of human activities on the proximity of delta tipping points.

To support academic and personal development, PhD candidates also follow courses and assist in teaching Earth Sciences at Bachelor's and Master's level. Together these activities amount to twenty percent of the contracted time.

Both positions are funded by an NWO – VIDI grant called LOST: Testing the limits to delta growth.

Your qualities

One of these positions may be the right fit for you, if you have:

• a MSc (when applying for a PhD position) or a recent PhD (for the Postdoc position) in earth sciences, physical geography, hydrology, civil engineering, or a related field;
• affinity with numerical modelling, preferably geomorphological modelling or sedimentological modelling;
• prior knowledge in handling large scale datasets and enthusiastic about working with diverse sedimentological and geomorphological datasets;
• for position (1): knowledge of Holocene-timescale development of deltas, and for position (2): affinity with human influence on delta sediment budgets;
• strong teamwork skills
• excellent English oral and writing skills

Our offer

For the PhD position(s) we offer:

• a position for one year, with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period;
• a working week of 36 to 40 hours with a full-time gross salary between €2,872 in the first year and €3,670 in the fourth year of employment in scale P of the Collective Labor Agreement Dutch Universities;
• 8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible employment conditions based on the Collective Labor Agreement Dutch Universities.