Postdoctoral Researcher, Fluvial Research
Postdoctoral Researcher, Fluvial Research
Aalto University
Espoo, Finland
The Water and Environmental Engineering research group, and its fluvial dynamics research team (lead by Research Fellow and Assistant Professor Eliisa Lotsari), has 1 (or 2, depending on the applications) vacancies for a highly talented and motivated postdoctoral researcher, who is specialist fluvial research, including experiments and/or field work and hydro-morphodynamic modelling in different type of northern river systems. The postdoctoral researcher candidate will study river ice – flow characteristics – sediment transport interactions at different spatial and temporal scales. Methodologically the work can include: (1) harmonized and integrated datasets with field measurements in different northern European river systems, (2) new experimental settings in laboratory flume experiments (with ice), and (3) modelling for upscaling to larger temporal and spatial scales. In doing so, the postdoctoral researcher(s) will overcome the limitations of current data, and tools for analysing and modelling the interactions of river ice, river flow characteristics and sediment transport processes in seasonally ice-covered rivers.
The postdoctoral researcher(s) will work in close collaboration with Digital Waters (DIWA) Flagship, whose PI at Aalto University is Assistant Professor Eliisa Lotsari (Funded by the Research Council of Finland). DIWA will form, facilitate and foster a new generation of the water sector. We enable a transition towards the digital representation of real-world water systems (Digital Twin) to reproduce hydrological storages, their states, fluxes and processes, as well as ecosystem responses with novel options for improved scenario analysis, planning and governance. The candidate would become a part of a multidisciplinary team of experts. In addition to Aalto University, DIWA Flagship includes experts from several Finnish universities and institutes, e.g. University of Oulu, University of Turku, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), Finnish Geospatial Research Institute, and Finnish Meteorological Institute. The work within DIWA will aim for enhancing water security through digital models, and Digital Twins created from the supersites of the consortium.
The post-doctoral researcher would overall concentrate on Research Theme 1 “Hydrosphere processes” of DIWA Flagship, more precisely related to “Surface water processes and environment”. The post-doctoral researcher would be analysing the hydro-morphodynamic changes in seasonally ice-covered river channels and participate in field measurements (incl. during ice-covered winter season), but also conduct flume experiments with ice-covered conditions. In particular, the post-doctoral researcher would concentrate on analysing and modelling open-channel and ice-covered flow and sediment transport magnitudes and changes in different types of river channels within Finland (from South to North). The field data gathered from ice-covered and open-channel flow seasons in Finnish rivers would be applied for the refinement of the model parameterization, but also, if necessary, of their code and application approaches. Thus, the candidate would be part of constructing the Digital Twins at Finnish river systems and watersheds.
Requirements
The position requires a strong theoretical background in fluvial research, and experimental and computational methods. Thus, applicants should have a doctoral degree in water and environmental engineering, hydrological sciences, environmental sciences, physical geography or other relevant fields of science regarding fluvial research and computational methods. The doctoral degree should be awarded within past 5 years. We accept applications from persons at the final stage of their doctoral studies, but we expect you to have your doctoral degree completed before starting in the position.
For this position, the candidate should have skills fluvial (geomorphology) research and experimental (field and/or laboratory) studies. Skills in programming (Python or similar), geoinformatics, and quantitative analysis will be an asset. Experience of computational fluid dynamics and their codes are considered as an asset.
The candidate must have high motivation and aptitude for research and must enjoy working as part of a team. Fluent written and verbal communication skills in English are essential. A driver’s license (valid in Finland) is needed during the field campaigns with the research team. The candidate must be able to generate bright scientific ideas and propose new methodological solutions. We also expect the candidate to work independently, and write research funding proposals and scientific articles, and participate in teaching and presenting their results in conferences.
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