PhD - Hydrogeology/Environmental Sciences

Technische Universität Darmstadt

Darmstadt, Germany

Application deadline: 11/12/2013

Description

The Hydrogeology Group at the Institute of Applied Geosciences, Technische Universität Darmstadt in Germany, is seeking two highly motivated PhD students (Hydrogeology/Environmental Sciences) willing to be actively involved in a recently funded FP7 Project, MARSOL, which deals with managed aquifer recharge (MAR) as a solution to combat water scarcity in Mediterranean regions. For this, several pilot sites - distributed within the Circum-Mediterranean - have been selected where different MAR techniques will be studied.

The PhD tasks will include principally the development of the groundwater model (both for the saturated and unsaturated zone) for the Lavrion site located in S. Greece (Athens region). Some field work can also be expected, but the main data collection will be conducted by the local partners.

The Lavrion site involves the employment of infiltration basins which will be using waters of impaired quality as a recharge source. This system is complemented by new technological developments, which will provide continuous monitoring of the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of infiltrating groundwater through all hydrologic zones (i.e. surface, unsaturated and saturated zone) and in different aquifer types (karst and granular). The model developed will provide a tool to:

• Demonstrate the potential of the unsaturated zone to geo-purify waters of impaired quality during infiltration by continuous monitoring with tailored sensors and techniques.
• Demonstrate the feasibility of MAR to combat seawater intrusion and water scarcity in coastal karst aquifers.
• Evaluate the system's performance to maintain effective infiltration rates with special focus on precipitation/clogging processes through advanced monitoring schemes.
• Show the potential quantitative and qualitative impact of MAR on the groundwater system by modelling the hydrological processes in the vadose zone and the groundwater.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master degree in related disciplines and have a background on groundwater modeling, programming skills with common programming languages such as Fortran, C++, or Matlab are an asset, as well as some knowledge of GIS. Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English are required. 

More information and applications

The position is available starting in January and for three years.

Please send your application by e-mail, including a detailed CV, contact details of two referees to Prof. Dr. Christoph Schüth, Technische Universität Darmstadt, schueth@geo.tu-darmstadt.de. For further information contact Prof. Schueth or Dr. Laura Foglia, foglia@geo.tu-darmstadt.de.