Postdoctoral position in Water Resources Engineering with focus on the hydrologic cycle in a watershed - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Lund University, The Faculty of Engineering, The Department of Department of Building and Environmental Technology, Division of Water Resources Engineering will employ a postdoctoral fellow for three years starting from 1 February 2024. The position is a part of the Lund University-wide Interdisciplinary program focusing on Agenda 2030 and sustainable development. Within LU4Water, six postdoctoral fellowships at six faculties (Law, Social Science, Humanities, Science, Economics and Engineering) will be announced.

Agenda 2030

The 2030 Agenda is the framework for sustainable development signed by the world's countries to end extreme poverty, reduce inequalities, solve the climate crisis, promote peace and justice and much more. To achieve the agenda's sustainability goals, research has several important roles: identifying challenges and goal conflicts, contributing new solutions, creating dialogue, and learning between different social actors and critically analyzing the goals included in Agenda 2030. 

Lund University wants to be part of the solution and has therefore started a research program for sustainable development with postdoctoral positions in various interdisciplinary projects. The projects should not only form platforms for the postdocs' career development but should also form a basis for national and European applications and for future environments for excellence and profiling. Within the program, the postdocs' higher education teaching skills must also be developed.  For more information about the programme, please visit Excellence Programme for Sustainable Development | Sustainability Forum (lu.se)

Description of the workplace

The current postdoctoral fellowship will be placed at the Division of Water Resources Engineering, in the Department of Building and Environmental technology. Here, research and teaching pursue the understanding of how water resides and is transported in nature and in urban systems. This includes, but is not limited to, studies on the movement of rainwater, how rain and melted snow reach rivers, flooding and systems to reduce the consequences of flooding, water flows, factors affecting water quality, and erosion along open coasts, rivers and lakes. At the division, there are around 30 employes and in total 20 PhD students.

The current position is within the water management group that covers research in integrated water reource management, hydrology, groundwater recharge, modelling, source water quality and contaminaton. The position involves creative and varied work, and the Postdoc will become a member of a dynamic and multifaceted research group. 

Subject description

Researchers from six faculties, Science, Engineering, Law, Economy, Humanities and Theology and Social Sciences will collaborate on developing a new framework for implementing Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) built on digitalisation, big data, remote sensing, and water governance following the legal and economic structures within the family of EU water directives. 

Water is a dynamic resource which can be reused many times in a catchment. Together with the other postdocs employed in the project, all water needs will be identified and given priority. The consequences if the water needed for each use becomes restricted will be analysed. Risks of floods or drought, as well as low water quality, will be uncovered. Innovative aspects such as state-of-the-art wastewater treatment and water reuse methods will be related to balanced measures between urban and rural areas as well as equitable measures between different socioeconomic layers of society, inspiring a transfer to a circular economy. Innovative applications of online sensor technologies for data collections and watershed digital twins for the description and modelling of water availability will be developed. Collaboration with water utilities and software companies to improve efficiency and decrease pollutant transport will be elaborated. 

Work duties

The purpose of the position is to develop the independence as a researcher and to create the opportunity of further development. The main duties involved in a post-doctoral position is to conduct research. Teaching may also be included, as well as administrative tasks (including coordination of the laboratory and analytical work), with an extent up to 20% of working hours. The position includes the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning. 

Work is carried out in a transdisciplinary environment and involves a close cooperation with industry and the civil society, as well as water utilities, authorities, municipalities, regional administrative boards, and water districts. An important aspect of the work includes communication of the research outcomes with the stakeholders. 

The postdoc is expected to present results at international conferences, produce high quality scientific papers, and play a role in disseminating the results. The postdoc is also expected to actively participate in and contribute to the general scientific discussion in the research groups and relevant project proposal development.

The work duties include:

• Research within the subject area.
• Teaching in the first, second and third cycles of studies.
• Supervision of degree projects and doctoral students.
• Administration related to the work duties listed above.
• Collaboration with agencies, institutions, and municipal authorities.
• Compilation of the task specific protocols and recommendations for authorities.
• Actively seek for external research funding.

Qualification requirements 

Appointment to a post-doctoral position requires that the applicant has a PhD, or an international degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, within the subject of the position. The certificate proving the qualification requirement is met, must be received before the employment decision is made. Priority will be given to candidates who have graduated no more than three years ago before the last day for application. Under special circumstances, the doctoral degree can have been completed earlier.

Additional requirements

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• Documented expertise in working with GIS-systems for management of large data sets.
• Documented experience in hydrologic modelling
• Knowledge of the Swedish water management system.
• The project requires close collaboration with local, regional and national placed on research skills within the subject authorities, as well as Swedish and foreign researchers, and accordingly, the applicant should be able to work both independently and collaboratively.   

Assessment criteria 

This is a career development position primarily focused on research. The position is intended as an initial step in a career, and the assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and potential as researchers. Particular emphasis will be.

For appointments to a post-doctoral position, the following shall form the assessment criteria:

• A good ability to develop and conduct high quality research.
• Teaching skills.

Other qualifications:

• A demonstrated broad interest in societal sustainability aspects is qualifying as well as interest in public management and economics

Consideration will also be given to how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen the total LU4Water project with the other five postdocs from other faculties at Lund University and complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee Work at Lund University. 

Further information

This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of 3 years. The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement “Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor” (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral fellow”).

How to apply

Applications are to be submitted via the University’s recruitment system. The application should include a CV including a publication list and a personal letter justifying your interest in the position and how it matches your qualifications. The application should also include a degree certificate or equivalent and any other document to which you would like to draw attention (copies of grade transcripts, details of referees, letters of recommendation, etc.)” 

Welcome to apply!