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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 18,500 people, including over 14,000 students and 4,000 researchers from more than 120 different countries.

Postdoc position at the Catchment Hydrology and Geomorphology Lab 1

Mission

The Catchment Hydrology and Geomorphology Lab (CHANGE) led by Prof. Sara Bonetti at EPFL in Sion is looking for a postdoctoral researcher in the area of hybrid ecohydrological modeling.

 

At CHANGE, we seek to improve current understanding and forecasting capabilities of multiple catchment processes both in natural and managed ecosystems. The main research themes of the Lab include landscape evolution and soil erosion dynamics, ecohydrological modeling, and sustainable use of soil and water resources. We are looking for a highly motivated candidate to work on the development, testing, and validation of physically-based emulators.

 

Specific tasks will include:

  1. Building surrogate emulators for several components of the Tethys-Chloris model.
  2. Testing and benchmarking of emulators against reference models and experimental data.
  3. Quantifying accuracy, stability, and efficiency of the developed schemes.
  4. Overseeing model deployment (i.e., integration of emulators in the project’s modeling ecosystem).
  5. Ensuring code maintenance (i.e., ensure maintainable and well-documented code and collaborate with the rest of the team to support reproducibility and reusability).
  6. Assessing model uncertainty and performing sensitivity analyses.

Modeling and quantitative skills are a prerequisite for this position.

Main duties and responsibilities

  • Perform original research in the area of (eco)hydrology modeling.
  • Lead and contribute to publications for high-impact journals.
  • Contribute to broad Lab activities (including co-supervision of PhD and MSc students).

Your profile

  • You have (or are close to completing) a PhD in Environmental Engineering, Physics, or related disciplines.
  • You have astrong background in numerical modeling for hydrological applications (knowledge of surrogate modeling is a plus) and experience with uncertainty and sensitivity analysis.
  • You have a strong publication record (relative to your career stage) in internationally leading journals.
  • You have excellent written and oral communication skills in English

We offer

  • A stimulating and international working environment in the new EPFL-Valais campus in Sion.
  • Competitive salary and excellent working conditions.
  • Opportunity to perform state-of-the-art research in one of the most dynamic scientific institutions in Europe.

Required materials

Only applications submitted through the online platform are considered. You are asked to supply your CV, a brief research statement (max 2 pages), and contact details of 3 references.

 

Contact

Screening will start on January 15th, but the search will be open until the position is filled. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Prof. Sara Bonetti (sara.bonetti@epfl.ch). NO APPLICATION SENT TO THIS ADDRESS SHALL BE CONSIDERED.

Informations

Contract Start Date : 05/01/2026 

Activity Rate : 80-100%

Contract Type: CDD

Duration: 1 year with potential renewal up to 4 years 

Reference: 1919 










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