PhD Student

Job description

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15.000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities.

With its 11 faculties and more than 85 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

For the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Environment we are looking for a m/f/x:
Doctoral fellow

YOUR JOB

We are seeking a motivated PhD student (1+3 year appointment) for the project titled ‘Geophysics-Driven Digital Twins for Contaminated Soil and Groundwater Systems’, funded by the Ghent University Special Research Fund.
As a PhD candidate, you will dedicate at least 90% of your time to conducting scientific research with the primary goal of obtaining your doctoral degree. The remaining time of your appointment may involve supporting the Department of Environment through teaching, research, and service tasks.

The project
The project aims to enhance strategies for remediating soil and groundwater contamination by improving the quality and reliability of subsurface information. Traditional site investigations often rely on limited observations, which can lead to significant uncertainties in conceptual site models (CSMs) and risk assessments. This research will focus on the use of geophysical methods to collect high-resolution, spatially comprehensive subsurface data, complementing conventional techniques. By adopting a probabilistic approach and integrating multi-source datasets, we aim to develop advanced 3D subsurface models with improved accuracy and explicit uncertainty quantification. The ultimate goal is to create digital twins of contaminated soil and groundwater systems, providing robust decision-support for site investigation, monitoring, and remediation.
In your role as a PhD student, you will be supported by a multidisciplinary and international team of engineers, geophysicists, and geologists, along with collaboration with international academic partners to enhance the project's relevance and impact within the broader scientific community. Additionally, the project will involve collaboration with industry partners, including environmental and engineering consultants, to ensure practical applicability and industry relevance.

Your tasks as a PhD student

• You conduct research on the use of geophysical methods to gather high-resolution, spatially comprehensive subsurface data for characterizing and monitoring soil and groundwater contamination.
• You develop and refine advanced 3D subsurface models by integrating geophysical data with conventional techniques. This involves applying probabilistic (inverse) modelling approaches to enhance accuracy and quantify uncertainty.
• You interpret and integrate multi-source datasets to improve the understanding and prediction of subsurface conditions.
• You work towards the development of digital twins as dynamic and numerical complements to traditional conceptual site models.
• You participate in field surveys and laboratory work to collect and validate geophysical data. This may also involve contributing to or collaborating in projects of fellow researchers.
• You communicate research findings through scientific journals and presentations at national and international conferences, effectively conveying results to both academic and industry audiences.
• You are willing to travel for national and international fieldwork, conferences, and project meetings.
• You contribute to teaching and educational activities within the Department of Environment, including tutoring master’s thesis projects that align with your PhD research topic.

Job profile

• Degree, Knowledge, and Experience
• You have a Master’s degree in Bioscience Engineering, Geophysics, Geology, Physics, Environmental Sciences, or a related field.
• You have basic knowledge of or experience with geophysical methods and data analysis, and their application in environmental contexts, ideally from previous research projects, internships, or a master’s thesis.
• You have a basic understanding of modelling techniques; specific experience with inverse and/or probabilistic modelling is a plus.
• Knowledge of spatial data analysis or geostatistics is advantageous.
• You preferably have knowledge of soil and groundwater contamination and remediation, including an understanding of (modelling) processes related to contaminant distribution, fate, and transport.
• You have basic proficiency in scientific programming languages (e.g., Python, MATLAB) for data processing and modelling, and/or a willingness to develop these skills (further); knowledge of geographic information systems (GIS) is advantageous.
• You are capable of performing field surveys and laboratory work related to environmental geophysics.
• You are proficient in English, both written and spoken, with a demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly, and/or demonstrated C2 level of proficiency through a standardised test score (e.g. IELTS, TOEFL).
• You have a (European) driving license or are willing to obtain this during the first project year.
  
  

Skills and Attitudes

• You excel in both independent and collaborative research settings, working effectively within a multidisciplinary and international team.
• You are highly organized, detail-oriented, and methodical in your approach to research and data analysis.
• You have strong problem-solving skills and show creativity in developing innovative solutions and research methodologies.
• You actively engage in knowledge dissemination through writing scientific papers and presenting at conferences, and you are capable of translating technical findings to both academic and industry audiences.
• You are proactive in your work, with a positive attitude towards learning and adapting to new challenges within the scope of the project.
• You demonstrate strong communication skills, both written and verbal. A genuine interest in contributing to the teaching and educational activities of the department is a plus.

How to apply

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• We offer a full-time position as a doctoral fellow, consisting of an initial period of 12 months, which - after a positive evaluation, will be extended to a total maximum of 48 months.
• Start date preferably from December 1, 2024.
• The fellowship amount is 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances. The individual fellowship amount is determined by the Department of Personnel and Organization based on family status and seniority. A grant that meets the conditions and criteria of the regulations for doctoral fellowships is considered free of personal income tax. Click here for more information about our salary scales
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits (in Dutch).
  
  

How to apply
To apply for this position, please send your application file (as a single pdf) by November 15, 2024, to ervdevij.vandevijver@ugent.be, with e-mail subject ‘Application PhD Geophysics-driven Digital Twins’.

This pdf-file should include:
1) a motivation letter;
2) your CV;
3) copy of your diploma (if already in your possession);
4) an overview of your study results, listing all courses and the grades obtained for these;
5) contact information of two references (e.g., MSc thesis supervisor);
6) If you have a foreign diploma, provide evidence of English language proficiency.

Candidates that pass pre-selection through CV-screening, will receive further instructions on the selection process and will be invited for a job interview (live or online). Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Ellen Van De Vijver (ervdevij.vandevijver@ugent.be).