The PhD student will work together with two other PhD students and a postdoctoral researcher in the context of the two closely linked projects: “SSF Transform - Monitoring the generation and transformation of subsurface stormflow from hillslopes through the riparian zone” and “SSF Connect - Longitudinal Patterns of SSF-Stream Connections”. We are looking for a PhD student for the second project. The research will focus on quantifying subsurface stormflow on hillslopes, its transfer through the riparian zone, specifically investigating hillslope-riparian zone-stream connectivity at the reach to catchment scale. A novel experimental design is used to identify hillslope SSF and to follow its typical physical and chemical signatures during passage through the riparian zone and along the stream channel network based on hydrometric and tracer-hydrological measurements. The intensive experimental work will be conducted in four catchments in Germany and Austria. The joint field campaigns with the partners of the research unit will provide a unique chance of being embedded in an interdisciplinary and enthusiastic research network and to obtain insights into a diverse range of methodological approaches. The PhD candidate will be co-advised by the project leaders and a very close collaboration between the PhD students and project staff at both institutions (and partners at the Universities in Freiburg and Zürich) is expected.

Your responsibilities:

• Tracer experiments in the stream, including the evelopment of a novel monitoring system (this will include optimizing logger programs and developing calibration routines)
• Installation and maintenance of monitoring of equipment, including observation wells, stream gauging stations and sensors in the stream and the riparian zone
• Identification of hotspots of subsurface inflows through distributed temperature sensing using fiber-optic cables (DTS)
• In-depth data analysis using R, Python or Matlab, including the analysis of large data sets based on deep learning techniques
• Presentation and publication of the scientific results

Your qualifications:

• Applicants should have an MSc degree in hydrology, geosciences, environmental sciences, geography, engineering or a closely related field.
• We are seeking enthusiastic, curious, self-driven and committed candidates who enjoy working in the field as part of a larger team (field campaigns of several weeks are to be expected) and also enjoy programming as well as interacting with sensor hardware.
• Applicants should have some experience in environmental fieldwork.
• Excellent quantitative skills (data analysis, statistics, programming) are expected, as well as very good English writing and communication skills.
• Some knowledge of or interest in DIY environmental sensing based on Arduinos or similar is of advantage.
• German is an asset but not essential.
• A valid driver’s license (European Cat. B) is required.