Key Skills

Job Description

Career at WUR About Us Plenty of variety and challenges Pleasant working atmosphere Time for personal development Proper work-life balance Internationally leading Your job Are you interested in the role of mountains in the global hydrological cycle? And in what happens to downstream water supply when mountains change? Do you like working with numerical models? Then this PhD might be your next step! A large part of the freshwater that sustains human societies is generated in the mountains. The seasonal melting of snow and ice supports agriculture, industries, households and the environment downstream. However, mountainous regions are changing rapidly, as they are hit hard by climate change. The impact of these changes on downstream water users is poorly understood. Global hydrological models rarely account for complex mountain processes. However, understanding how mountain processes influence global water availability is important to address sustainable water use. We are looking for a PhD student who is interested in the link between changing mountain processes and increasing water use downstream. This position is part of the project ‘MountAInWater’ in which a consortium of international, interdisciplinary researchers collectively aims to answer the question How is the water supply from the world’s mountain ranges changing and which non-linear feedbacks may cause unprecedented societal impacts? As a PhD student at Wageningen University you will apply a large scale hydrology-crop model in river basins that are originating from snow and ice covered mountains. Your Duties And Responsibilities Include Analyse how missing complex mountain processes in global precipitation products and hydrological models affect water availability estimates. Quantify the importance of mountainwater for agriculture and ecosystems globally, by analyzing how meltwater flows interact with crop growing seasons and environmental flow requirements in basins with large irrigation demand and high meltwater flows. Run the hydrology-crop model in combination with mountain streamflow (from high resolution mountain hydrology models) for selected basins to analyse mountain water contributions to downstream river flow, agricultural water use, and sustaining ecosystems for hotspot areas. Using a global mountain reanalysis dataset to evaluate for all mountain areas globally their contribution to downstream river flows, agriculture and ecosystems. You will publish your research findings in high ranking scientific journals and present it at conferences. You will also be asked to contribute occasionally to education, by helping in the supervision of MSc students that work on their thesis projects, and supporting in courses. You will work here The research is embedded within the chair Water Systems and Global Change. You will be supervised by Prof. Dr. Hester Biemans, Dr. Manoj Khaniya and a third supervisor tbd. Your qualities You Are / You Have enthusiasm for the research topic; a MSc degree in the field of Hydrology, Crop Science, Earth System Science, Environmental Science, Climate Science, or a related field; a MSc thesis related to quantitative assessment of water- and/or food security; demonstrated experience in working with large datasets and large-scale numerical modelling in context of global change; experience with scripting and programming, eg in R, Python or Matlab and the willingness to learn a new programming language (C); creativity in communication and visualisation of model results in maps and figures; some experience with numerical modelling on High Performance Computing Platforms is a pre; willingness to work in multidisciplinary and internationally teams; a high level of English, both oral and written. For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level . Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here . We offer Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment . A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include: Partially paid parental leave; working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance; there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee; a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%; excellent pension scheme. In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team. The gross salary for the first year is € 3.204,- per month rising to € 4.051,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well. We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help. You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. Coming from abroad Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees. Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family. Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account, dual career programs or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands. Important information For more information about the position, please contact Hester Biemans, via [email protected] Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Jessa Rozema, Corporate Recruiter, via [email protected]. Ready to apply? You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered. To apply, please send the following documents (max. 3 pages in total for both documents): Complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae; Motivation letter. The maximum length of the documents must not exceed 3 pages. If it exceeds, applications will not be considered. Additional files such as grades and transcripts are not required during this stage and will not be considered. You can apply up to and including 26 October 2026. Additional Information Form For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below: PhD: The link between mountains, downstream agriculture and ecosystems globally – Fill out form Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process. Welcome, safe, and valued Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization. We are The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines. Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus! We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated. Locations Wageningen Professional field PhD & EngD Educational level Masters degree Apply before 3-11-2026 Salary range €3204 - €4051 Hours 38 - 38

Core Responsibilities

Apply hydrology-crop models and mountain streamflow datasets to assess how changing mountain processes affect downstream water availability, agriculture, and ecosystems. Publish and present research findings, and occasionally support MSc thesis supervision and teaching.

Requirements

Applicants must have a master's degree in hydrology, crop science, earth system science, environmental science, climate science, or a related field, with a thesis related to quantitative water or food security assessment. They should have experience with large datasets and large-scale numerical modeling, programming or scripting, and strong English; high-performance computing experience and willingness to learn C are preferred.

Benefits

• Partially Paid Parental Leave
• Flexible Working Hours
• Campus Sports Facilities
• Year-End Bonus
• Pension Scheme
• Fully Funded PhD Position
• Tailored Training Program
• Immigration and Visa Application Support
• International Welcome Center Support