KU Leuven (Belgium) and UMelbourne (Australia) are looking for 2 enthusiastic joint PhD researchers who will study total terrestrial water storage and how it changes in time and due to human water management. We will combine satellite data from gravimetry missions with process-based land surface modelling. The targeted gravimetry missions include the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and its follow-up mission (GRACE-FO). The main challenge is to differentiate between changes in groundwater, soil moisture, surface water, and snow in the GRACE observations through advanced data assimilation techniques.
The PhD researchers need to have a genuine interest in satellite-based remote sensing and modeling, as well as in water storage and fluxes. Both PhD students are expected to work both in Belgium and Australia, with one PhD student mainly based at KULeuven (and at least one year at UMelbourne), and the second PhD student mainly based at UMelbourne (and at least one year at KULeuven).
Both specific projects are briefly described here:
[for KU Leuven] https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/opportunity/1730-advancing-methods-to-integrate-spaceborne-terrestrial-water-storage-into-land-surface-models
[for UMelbourne] https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/opportunity/1729-observation-only-decomposition-of-global-terrestrial-water-storage-into-hydrologic-components
This specific advertisement wants to recruit the student with KU Leuven as main home institution, and a focus on GRACE data assimilation. However, you can apply for either position via either application system. Just clearly indicate your preference for the main host institution in the motivation letter.
You will be part of the KU Leuven Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Division Soil and Water Management, Research Group “Land Surface Remote Sensing, Modeling and Data Assimilation” (prof. Gabriëlle De Lannoy), and UMelbourne Department of Infrastructure Engineering (prof. Dongryeol Ryu). The KU Leuven team has a long history of data assimilation development and actively contributes to the NASA Land Information System (LIS), which will be used for this PhD project. The UMelbourne team is at the forefront of GRACE satellite data analysis. You are expected to work in a broad international context, collaborate with other researchers and students, and should be willing to contribute to open source code distribution (e.g. GitHub). The joint PhD projects are funded by KU Leuven and UMelbourne.
Website unit
Responsibilities
- Perform high quality research related to land surface modeling and GRACE satellite data assimilation
- Publish a PhD manuscript and peer-reviewed publications
- Develop methods for effective GRACE data assimilation and create open source code
- Supervise master thesis students
- Follow training in line with the doctoral school requirements
Profile
- MSc degree in Bioscience Engineering, Civil or Environmental Engineering, Hydrology, Meteorology, Remotely Sensed Earth Observation, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Sciences, or equivalent
- Excellent motivation to work on soil-plant processes, remote sensing and modeling
- Experience with data-processing or programming in Matlab, Python, IDL, GrADS, R, or other
- Interest in open source code distribution (e.g. GitHub)
- Excellent motivation and grades
- Creative, critical, analytical and innovative mindset
- Ability to work independently
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
Only students with grades above average can be admitted to the doctoral school. Please provide your grades in your resume.
Offer
- Fully funded PhD scholarship for 4 years; support and training through the Arenberg Doctoral School (https://set.kuleuven.be/phd) and the Melbourne graduate school; students graduating with a Msc degree in the summer 2026 are encouraged to apply
- The start date can be negotiated, but no later than 1 January 2027.
- Competitive salary, support in career development
- Multi-disciplinary and international professional environment
- Leuven is a charming historical university town, located in the heart of Western Europe
Interested?
Only scientists matching the above profile should apply. Please submit your resume, along with a motivation letter and two names for references via the online application tool. Please make sure to indicate whether you are willing to live and study at least one year abroad, and mention your study grades (obtained until now) in your resume. For more information please contact prof. dr. ir. Gabrielle De Lannoy, tel.: +32 16 37 67 13, e-mail: gabrielle[dot]delannoy[at]kuleuven[dot]be.
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