Key Skills

Job Description

River delta regions worldwide are increasingly threatened by sea-level rise and extreme hydrological events. Water managers must adapt to these hazards while balancing competing sectoral priorities, such as maintaining clean and affordable drinking water supplies, minimizing flood damage, and preserving ecosystems. Your job The Dynamic Adaptive Pathways Planning for Multi-Risk (DAPP-MR) framework helps decision-makers navigate these challenges by identifying low-regret near-term actions and avoiding costly decision lock-ins. Building on this framework, this position focuses on designing robust multi-risk pathways for complex multi-sectoral delta systems. Your job In this 2-year postdoc, you will explore new approaches for developing multi-risk adaptation pathways that inform robust decision-making while balancing multi-sectoral trade-offs. You will start by working with decision-makers and stakeholders in the Netherlands to characterize current and future risks in the Dutch delta and identify trade-offs between sectoral priorities. You will then develop methods for designing adaptation pathways that navigate these risks, and evaluate your approach against state-of-the-art adaptive pathway planning. You will share your results in stakeholder meetings, scientific conferences, and academic journals. Your work will help Dutch water managers plan adaptation under uncertainty and contribute approaches that can be transferred to deltas worldwide. Your qualities We are looking for an enthusiastic and collaborative postdoctoral researcher with a strong technical background and a motivation to make climate adaptation research useful to society. Must-have criteria: a PhD in Civil Engineering, Earth Science, Environmental Science, (Socio-) Hydrology, Physical Geography, or a related field; has proven knowledge and peer-reviewed publication record in one or more of the above-mentioned fields; shows a willingness to integrate insights from stakeholder engagement and participatory research with quantitative system modelling of our research group; experience with systems modeling and computer programming (e.g. Python); strong communication and scientific writing skills in English. Helpful Criteria experience with Dynamic Adaptive Pathways Planning or other methods from Decision Making Under Deep Uncertainty; experience using Multi-objective Optimization; experience working with stakeholders on climate adaptation decision-making; experience in river, coastal, or delta systems modelling; interest in highly interdisciplinary collaborations. Our offer We Offer a position ( 1.0 FTE) for 24-36 months. a working week of 36 - 40 hours and a gross monthly salary between €3.706 and €5.760 (salary scale 10 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU)). The salary is based on a 38-hour working week; 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus; a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU. In addition to the terms of employment set out in our collective labour agreement, we offer attractive additional benefits, including opportunities for personal and professional growth, flexible leave arrangements, and extra vacation days. Through the UU Terms of Employment Options Model, you can tailor your employment package to your needs. In this way, we encourage you to grow in what you do, both in your work and in your development. Read more about our terms of employment. About Us A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow. Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development. More information For more information about this position, please contact David Gold external link at [email protected] external link Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University. Apply now At Utrecht University, we strive to be a place where everyone feels at home. We value colleagues with different backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including differences in culture, religion or ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, disability and age. We are committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and contribute. Read more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion. external link If you have any questions about accessibility, for example regarding your workplace Vening Meineszgebouw A external link , the application process or your work, please contact us via our HR contact page external link Knowledge security screening can be part of the selection procedures of academic staff. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation, via the ‘apply now’ button. The first round of interviews will take place on the week of 30 November, 2026. If you have an international (non-Dutch) Master’s diploma, you will be requested to provide your Bachelor’s and Master’s diplomas as well as the corresponding grade lists (in English) if you are selected for this position. Note that international candidates that need a visa/work permit for the Netherlands require at least four months processing time after selection and acceptance. This will be arranged with help of the International Service Desk (ISD) of our university. Finding appropriate housing in or near Utrecht is your own responsibility, but the ISD may be able to advise you therewith. Unfortunately, we must warn that it is a tight market at the moment. In case of general questions about working and living in The Netherlands, please consult the Dutch Mobility Portal.

Core Responsibilities

Work with Dutch decision-makers and stakeholders to characterize current and future delta risks and identify trade-offs among sectoral priorities. Develop and evaluate robust multi-risk adaptation pathways, then communicate findings through stakeholder meetings, conferences, and academic publications.

Requirements

A PhD in Civil Engineering, Earth Science, Environmental Science, (Socio-)Hydrology, Physical Geography, or a related field is required, along with relevant knowledge and a peer-reviewed publication record. Candidates should have systems modeling and programming experience, strong English communication and scientific writing skills, and a willingness to integrate stakeholder and participatory research insights with quantitative modeling.

Benefits

• Holiday Pay
• Year-End Bonus
• Pension Scheme
• Partially Paid Parental Leave
• Flexible Employment Terms
• Personal and Professional Development Opportunities
• Flexible Leave Arrangements
• Extra Vacation Days