Postdoc Researcher for Monitoring in-Situ Root Growth in Urban Settings

Challenge: Increasing the number of trees in cities is a viable approach to adapt to the changing climate. Although trees bring many benefits, they also come with challenges. Tree roots, for example, often lead to damaged infrastructure as roads, sewers and foundations.

Impact: Prediction of tree root growth will enable more resilient greening of cities, and therefore reduce the impact of climate change.

This role is for a Postdoc Researcher for Monitoring in-Situ Root Growth in Urban Settings.

Job description

The ambition of this project is to create a “digital twin” of the ecosystem services of the urban soil/subsoil in Amsterdam required for optimal tree growth. Ecosystem services include: storing water in the unsaturated zone; draining water via groundwater; sequestering carbon; filtering and breaking down contaminants in groundwater; providing a growth environment for soil and plant roots; providing carrying capacity for infrastructure; providing biological activity for biological soil improvement.

The digital twin aims to be a tool that provides insight into where tree roots grow and what impact these roots have on the local environment. The presence of active tree roots influences water flow, water content and nutrient transport. In addition, as tree roots grow, they apply stresses on infrastructure such as roads, foundations and sewers. This often leads to damages requiring expensive repair measures and often the tree is then removed. The aim of this project is to understand how tree roots grow in the urban context and use these insights to predict how they will damage infrastructure, but also to develop approaches to prevent damage. In the project we aim to develop a numerical model to predict root growth.

Your task as a Postdoc researcher is to develop a measurement and monitoring strategy at a number of sites in Amsterdam to quantify tree root growth from in-situ measurements. This should provide the team with data which can be used as site-specific boundary conditions for running model scenarios, and data which can be used to test the developed models. Measurements will include, for example, water content, and pressure head with local in-situ sensors. In addition we aim to carry out spatially distributed measurements with for example shallow-depth geo-radar.

You will be based at the department of Geoscience & Engineering (GSE) within the faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences in Delft. There will be a close working relationship with the AMS-institute in Amsterdam. Field sites will be provided by the city of Amsterdam.

GSE has an excellent laboratory and field measurement capacity with very experienced support staff for high level geotechnical and geophysical measurement setups.

At TU Delft, we offer a supportive working environment that values international collaboration, innovation, and work-life balance. If you’re enthusiastic about combining science, innovation, and societal impact, we’d love to hear from you.

Job requirements

You are an engineer looking to use your analytical and technical skills and innate curiosity to create an impact for a more sustainable urban environment. You also thrive in a complex trans-disciplinary team with many stakeholders.

In addition you have:

• An MSc and PhD in Geosciences, Environmental Science or Engineering, with a focus on Soil Physics, Geotechnical Engineering, or Geophysics;
• Strong experimental skills and experience with field experiments;
• Experience with soil physical measurement and monitoring techniques;
• Experience with shallow depth geophysical measurement techniques;
• Ability to manage automated high frequency measurements and the resulting data streams;
• Knowledge of plant physiology;
• A driving license valid in the Netherlands;

As the position requires you to work independently on site in Amsterdam, Dutch proficiency is important as well.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 2 years (temporary).
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• 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.