Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, is an internationally networked aquatic research institute within the ETH Domain (Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology). Eawag conducts research, education and expert consulting to achieve the dual goals of meeting direct human needs for water and maintaining the function and integrity of aquatic ecosystems.
For an ETH Domain Joint Initiative project, at our site in Dübendorf ZH, we are looking for a
Hydroinformatics specialist (m/f/d) Expert on Geographic Information Systems in the water Sector (80-100%)
Urban digital twins are instrumental in addressing future urban challenges by creating virtual replicas of cities, offering a holistic view of complex urban environments. Urban water system digital twins can offer a comprehensive view of the urban water infrastructure, consumption patterns, and their potential risks. By taking a holistic view of the city, urban digital twins promote a better understanding on how the different urban systems are linked and how the different systems are affected by changes in other systems as well as changes in city dwellers behaviour.
Through data integration from sensors and IoT devices, digital twins enable data-driven decision-making for water resource allocation and optimization. Simulation and scenario planning capabilities of digital twins are especially valuable in assessing the impact of different water management strategies, such as stormwater management, distribution network improvements and demand patterns. This helps city planners and authorities to make informed decisions to ensure the efficient and sustainable use of water resources.
Job description
The Postdoctoral researcher will work at the interface of computer science and urban hydrology. The work will contribute to the development of a new urban water cycle model/urban water digital twin and to the integration across boundaries of not only different disciplines but also policy and practice, by: • Developing a total urban water cycle model that includes the various urban water streams, is spatially distributed and has an hourly temporal resolution • Evaluating the performance and efficiency of the developed urban water cycle model in a digital twin context
• Assessing urban water cycle modelling results of different climate change and user behaviour scenarios
• Investigating the water-energy nexus in urban areas, exploring the impacts of different behaviour pattern scenarios on water availability and demand
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop and apply innovative solutions for sustainable water and energy management
Your profile • PhD in Computer Science, Geography, Earth Science or Environmental Science or further education in the direction of applied computer science or data science
• Strong background in computational methods, machine learning, and data analysis
• Proficiency in object-oriented programming languages, in particular, Python
• Experience with GIS applications and spatial and temporal data management
• Experience with CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and machine learning can be an asset
• Proven track record of publishing high-impact research in relevant scientific journals • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
We expect the candidate will interact with multiple academic collaborators, including leading international researchers in the field. The position requires close collaboration with partners in the UrbanTwin project. Postdoctoral researcher funding is available for 12 months, with the possibility of extension. The candidate must be willing to work in a team environment. We offer a very dynamic and collaborative research environment which profits from state-of-the-art infrastructure and support. Project intended start date is flexible, dependent on availability of the candidate.
Your personality
Successful candidates must have earned an excellent PhD in Computer Science, Earth Science or Environmental Science and must have demonstrated theoretical and practical experience with interoperability of environmental monitoring data. We expect good integrative skills, and social and emotional intelligence. Fluency in English is required.
Who are we? Eawag is a modern employer and offers an excellent working environment where staff can contribute their strengths, experiences and ways of thinking. We promote gender equality and are committed to staff diversity and inclusion. The compatibility of career and family is of central importance to us. For more information about Eawag and our work conditions please consult www. eawag.ch and www. eawag.ch/en/aboutus/working/employment.
How to apply? We will evaluate applications on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. For further information, please contact Dr João P. Leitão.
We look forward to receiving your application including a letter of motivation, curriculum vitae and references, which we expect to obtain exclusively via our online application portal. Clicking on the button below will take you directly to the application form.
Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology