Postdoctoral Researcher in Hydrological Modeling

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is consistently ranked among the world's top universities. It has approximately 47,000 students and more than 8,800 employees in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We are united in our pursuit to understand, explain, and improve our world and the conditions of people.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Equality, equal opportunities, and diversity are fundamental principles for all parts of our operations.

About the Position

This postdoctoral position focuses on promoting hydrological modeling in reservoir-regulated rivers.

The research will explore innovative approaches to improve the representation of reservoir operation within hydrological models (such as HYPE and SWAT), with particular emphasis on integrating satellite observations and machine learning techniques with process-based modeling frameworks. The successful candidate will work on developing methods to derive rules for reservoir operation and estimate reservoir outflow from historical measured data and satellite observations, incorporating these into existing hydrological models to enhance the predictive accuracy of downstream flow. The research will primarily focus on regulated rivers in Sweden, but regulated rivers with good data availability from other countries will also be considered for method development and evaluation.

Responsibilities

The main responsibilities of the postdoctoral researcher include conducting research. Teaching may be included in the responsibilities, but no more than one-fifth of the working time. Within the framework of the employment, there will be an opportunity for three weeks of higher education pedagogical training.

• Collection and analysis of hydrological data and information on reservoir operation from regulated river systems
• Developing and testing machine learning methods and satellite-based approaches to derive rules for reservoir operation and reservoir outflow
• Integrating derived operational rules and reservoir outflow into hydrological models (HYPE or SWAT) to improve flow simulation
• Publishing results in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at relevant conferences
• Assisting in the supervision of PhD and master's students
• Collaborating with stakeholders, including water management authorities and hydropower operators

Eligibility

Eligible for employment as a postdoctoral researcher is someone who has obtained a doctoral degree, or a foreign degree assessed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree, in the subject area of the employment and who has obtained the degree no more than three years prior to the date of the employment decision. If there are special reasons, the doctoral degree may have been obtained earlier.

Other Requirements:

• Doctoral degree in hydrology, water resources engineering, remote sensing, or a closely related field
• Knowledge of reservoir operations and regulated river systems
• Strong background in hydrological modeling, preferably with experience using HYPE, SWAT, or another model with reservoir modules
• Documented experience in machine learning applications in time series data analysis
• Documented experience in programming languages (Python, R, or Fortran) for data analysis and modeling
• Excellent oral and written skills in English
• Merits from scientific publications on hydrological modeling in peer-reviewed journals
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary research team
• Demonstrated experience in satellite remote sensing and its application in hydrological modeling would be an advantage

Assessment Criteria

This is a merit-based position primarily focused on research. The employment is intended as an initial step in the career, and the assessment of applicants will primarily be based on their scientific merits and potential as researchers.

Particular emphasis will be placed on scientific ability within the subject area.

When hiring a postdoctoral researcher, the following will form the basis for assessment:

• Good ability to develop and conduct high-quality research.
• Pedagogical ability.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive, and independence, as well as how the applicant is assessed to complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department and contribute to its future development.

Conditions

The employment is temporary for a maximum of 2 years and is full-time. The employment is limited according to the agreement, “Agreement on temporary employment as a postdoctoral researcher,” between the labor market parties dated 2022-02-01 (The Swedish Agency for Government Employers, OFR, and Saco-S).

The announced position will be placed in 2025 at the Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science within the Faculty of Science, to be transferred from January 1, 2026, to the newly formed Department of Environmental and Geological Sciences within the same faculty.

By gathering previous activities from the Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, the Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, and the Geological Institute, the new department will strengthen the connection between different research fields, develop new educational programs, and promote collaboration with society.

Application Instructions

Applications should be written in English and include:

• CV, including a list of publications,
• A general description of previous research and future research interests (maximum three pages),
• Contact details for at least two referees,
• A copy of the doctoral degree certificate and other certificates/grades you wish to be considered.
• A personal letter explaining your motivation and suitability for the position (how you meet the specified requirements)
• Copies of 2-3 of your most relevant publications
• A concise research proposal (1-2 pages) describing your method for improving hydrological modeling in rivers with regulated reservoirs
• Documentation of programming and modeling skills (e.g., code samples, descriptions of relevant projects, or links to GitHub repositories)

Welcome to apply!

At the Faculty of Science, research and education are conducted in biology, astronomy, physics, geosciences, chemistry, mathematics, and environmental science. The activities are conducted at eight departments located within the northern university area. The faculty has about 1,500 students, 330 doctoral students, and 700 employees.

We kindly decline all contacts from advertisement sellers, recruitment, and staffing companies due to government procurement regulations.