Department of Geography
PhD position in Hydrology 80 %
Start of employment August or September 2026The Hydrology and Climate group at the Department of Geography of the University of Zurich (UZH) invites applications for two PhD positions.
The appointees will conduct research in the international and interdisciplinary 'SSF Fast and invisible: Conquering Subsurface Stormflow through an Interdisciplinary Multi-site Approach' Research Unit.
One of the PhD positions at the University of Zurich will focus on the spatial and temporal variation in shallow groundwater levels across the study catchments, how these variations depend on soil and landscape characteristics, and how these data can be used in the calibration of hydrological models.
The other PhD position at the University of Zurich will focus on the interception of SSF by roads and tile drains and how this is then quickly routed to the streams. These new measurements of SSF interception will be compared with the responses at the trenches and model simulations.
Your responsibilities
- You will contribute to the organization and realization of the SSF Research Unit
- You will collect field data in three catchments in Germany, analyze the data and present and publish the project results at appropriate academic venues.
- You will collaborate with members of the SSF Research Unit and the Hydrology and Climate group
- You will contribute to teaching and services in the Hydrology and Climate group at UZH
Your profile
- You have a Diploma or MSc degree in hydrology, earth sciences, environmental sciences or in a closely related field.
- You enjoy fieldwork, including working outside in wet and cold conditions
- You enjoy working in a large research group and having a common goal, next to completing your own research. You are good at collaborating in a team, and you value diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
- You enjoy solving scientific puzzles, problem solving and data analysis.
- You have good data management and analysis skills. Knowledge of R or Python is a benefit.
- You have good time management skills and are self-motivated.
- You have good oral and written communication skills in English. You speak German or are willing to learn some basic German.
Your benefits
- You will work in a stimulating and supportive research environment, with ample opportunities for collaboration and exchange and be part of an international and collaborative research project.
- You will receive regular mentoring and support in pursuing your academic career
- You are part of a structured doctoral program.
- You will get paid according to the salary scale of the Swiss National Science Foundation.
- You will get a personal workplace with high-quality technical equipment (laptop and screen).
- You will be able to profit from the lively, culturally diverse and inspiring institute and campus environment, from the attractive working conditions and the manifold opportunities for further education at UZH. With around 30,000 students and 10,000 employees, UZH is the largest university in Switzerland. As a member of the “League of European Research Universities”, it counts among the leading European universities.
- You will be able to enjoy the excellent living environment of Zurich and its surroundings that offer a broad range of cultural activities and easy access to lakes, countryside and mountains.
Information on your application
To learn more about the SSF Research Unit, visit the website. To find out more about the research undertaken at the Hydrology and Climate group, visit our webpage. More general information about teaching and research in the Department of Geography is available here.For inquiries about the position, please contact Dr. Ilja van Meerveld.
To apply, please upload the following documents in English with the button "Apply now" below:
- A motivation letter, explaining why you are applying for a PhD position, which of the two positions you are most interested in, and how you fulfil the criteria listed above
- Your CV
- The contact details for three referees
- The transcripts of your academic degrees (bachelor, master, or equivalent)
- A sample of your writing in English that provides insight into your previous academic work (e.g., your MSc thesis)
UZH is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from individuals who are underrepresented in academic positions.
What we offer
Our employees benefit from a wide range of attractive offers. Find out more: https://www.uzh.ch/de/explore/work.html.
What we offer
Further information
Questions about the job
Dr. Ilja van Meerveld
Contact Form
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Working at UZH
The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers a range of attractive positions in various subject areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and currently 12 professional apprenticeship streams the University offers an inspiring working environment on cutting-edge research and top-class education. Put your talent and skills to work with us. Find out more about UZH as an employer!
More → https://www.uzh.ch/en/explore/work.html
Please apply via our job portal www.jobs.uzh.ch.
The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers a range of attractive positions in various subject areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and currently 12 professional apprenticeship streams the University offers an inspiring working environment on cutting-edge research and top-class education. Put your talent and skills to work with us. Find out more about UZH as an employer!
More → https://www.uzh.ch/en/explore/work.html
Please apply via our job portal www.jobs.uzh.ch.
Working at UZH
The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers a range of attractive positions in various subject areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and currently 12 professional apprenticeship streams the University offers an inspiring working environment on cutting-edge research and top-class education. Put your talent and skills to work with us. Find out more about UZH as an employer!
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