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EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, is one of the most dynamic university campuses in Europe and ranks among the top 20 universities worldwide. The EPFL employs more than 6,500 people supporting the three main missions of the institutions: education, research and innovation. The EPFL campus offers an exceptional working environment at the heart of a community of more than 17,000 people, including over 12,500 students and 4,000 researchers from more than 120 different countries.

PhD position at the Catchment Hydrology and Geomorphology Lab

Your mission

The Catchment Hydrology and Geomorphology Lab (CHANGE) led by Prof. Sara Bonetti at EPFL in Sion is looking for a PhD student to work on the SNSF-funded project SOCscape (Assessing soil carbon dynamics in landscapes of complex topography).

 

Mountain regions are hotspots of land cover and climatic changes where the interactions of climate, parent material, topography, and biota define key ecosystem services tied to the cycling and storage of carbon in soil. Yet, our ability to quantify and predict soil carbon stocks and lateral fluxes across such highly heterogeneous landscapes is still limited. By integrating field monitoring, soil biogeochemical analysis, and numerical modeling of coupled ecohydrological and geomorphological processes, SOCscape will evaluate the dynamics of lateral soil carbon redistribution across environmentally complex and geochemically distinct landscapes.

 

As a PhD student, you will have the opportunity to further current understanding in this field through a combination of field monitoring, data analysis, and numerical modeling. The project is a joint collaboration between EPFL, ETH Zürich (ETHZ), University of Lausanne (UNIL), and the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), with a team encompassing (eco)hydrologists, soil scientists, and geomorphologists.

Main duties and responsibilities

  • Perform original research in the area of ecohydrology and soil carbon cycling.
  • Lead and contribute to publications for high-impact journals.
  • Contribute to broad Lab activities (including co-supervision of MSc students and teaching assistance).
  • Attend and present at international conferences.

Your profile

  • A MSc in Environmental Sciences or Engineering.
  • Strong interest in ecohydrological research.
  • Experience with ecohydrological and/or geomorphological field monitoring is valued.
  • Hands-on experience with numerical modeling and analysis of large datasets.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
  • Ability to work independently as well as in a team.
  • Creative, enthusiastic, and willing to learn.
  • Self-motivated and have a sense for scientific novelty.
  • Experience with scientific writing is valued.

We offer

  • A stimulating and international working environment in the new EPFL-Valais campus in Sion.
  • Competitive salary and excellent educational conditions.
  • Opportunity to perform state-of-the-art research in one of the most dynamic scientific institutions in Europe.
  • Opportunity to closely collaborate with PhD students, postdocs, and a technician at CHANGE, as well as with our collaborators at ETHZ, WSL, and UNIL.

Contact

Interested applicants should supply the following documents:

  • CV
  • A brief (max 1 page) letter of motivation/interest in the project
  • Grades from master and bachelor studies
  • Contact details of 2-3 references

Screening will start on Nov. 1st but the position will remain open until filled. To be eligible for a PhD at EPFL, note that candidates also need to apply to the Doctoral Program in Civil and Environmental Engineering (EDCE). If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Prof. Sara Bonetti (sara.bonetti@epfl.ch). Applications sent to this address will not be considered.

Informations

Contract Start Date : 03/01/2025 

Activity Rate : 100,00 

Contract Type: PhD Student

Duration: 1-year fixed-term contract, renewable for 4 years according to EPFL rules. 

Reference: 1147 










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