Vacant job

Description of the Department

The position is located at the Division of Technical Water Resources Science (TVRL), Department of Civil Engineering. Our research and teaching focus on understanding how water is generated and transported in natural and urban systems, based on investigations and modeling of various aspects of the hydrological cycle from source to sea, including both water quality and quantity as well as issues regarding water management and regulation. This includes, but is not limited to, studies of surface and riverine water movements, floods and droughts, systems to mitigate their consequences, factors affecting water use and quality, and erosion along open coasts, rivers, and lakes.

The Coastal Engineering research group focuses specifically on the development and application of numerical models to simulate hydro- and morphodynamic coastal processes. The group also conducts field studies and develops nature-based coastal protection in close collaboration with Swedish municipalities and national authorities.

TVRL has the largest research group on water in Sweden. We maintain a world-class research level in a stimulating, diverse, and international environment consisting of PhD students, postdocs, and researchers from many parts of the world. The UN University Water Hub in the Nordics is also located at TVRL. Here, research and teaching take place in an open and progressive environment in collaboration with academic and industrial partners, both nationally and internationally. The work environment is characterized by engagement, collaboration, creativity, and personal responsibility.

Being a PhD Student

As a PhD student, you are both admitted as a student and employed by Lund University.

As a doctoral student, you are trained in a scientific approach. This can be briefly described as gaining practice in critical and analytical thinking, solving problems independently using appropriate methodological choices, and developing research ethics awareness. Additionally, as a PhD student, you are given the opportunity to work on projects, develop leadership skills, and enhance your pedagogical abilities. Throughout your studies, you are guided by supervisors. The doctoral studies conclude with a thesis and a doctoral degree.

More about being a PhD student at LTH can be found on lth.se.

Subject and Project Description

This PhD position is part of the Horizon Europe project HARCCA – Hotspot Resilience: Co-Construct Approaches to Coastal Climate Adaptation, coordinated by Lund University. HARCCA brings together an international consortium consisting of 22 research institutions, universities, and public authorities from Europe. The project develops and demonstrates innovative solutions for climate resilience in vulnerable coastal areas by combining advanced risk assessment, nature-based solutions, and co-creation of knowledge and climate adaptation measures with local communities in so-called living labs. The project also includes the development of digital tools to support risk-informed decision-making and long-term adaptation planning.

The doctoral thesis will focus on two study sites in Sweden (Trelleborg) and Poland (Hel Peninsula), both located along low-lying coasts of the Baltic Sea that are exposed to erosion and flooding risks. The work involves analyzing data and applying and developing advanced modeling methods, including but not limited to the PCR model and SFINCS, to quantify current and future coastal risks. The candidate will also evaluate how nature-based adaptation strategies can reduce risks under future climate scenarios.

The PhD student will collaborate with other activities within the project, including support for visualization and communication of results via digital tools. The position involves interdisciplinary research collaboration and interactions with local communities within the case study areas.

The PhD student will be supervised by Associate Professor Caroline Hallin (main supervisor) and Dr. Björn Almström from Lund University, as well as Dr. Piotr Szmytkiewicz from the Institute of Hydro-Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IBW PAN). IBW PAN is a Polish scientific institute founded in 1953 and involved in all major hydrotechnical projects in Polish rivers and along the southern Baltic coast, including coastal protection measures, ports, locks and dams, nuclear power, and offshore wind farms. IBW PAN conducts scientific research (numerical, laboratory, and field research) to support design and operation processes.

Job Duties

You will primarily focus on your doctoral education, which includes participation in research projects, doctoral courses, seminars, and conferences. You are expected to participate in at least 3–4 international trips per year for project meetings, courses, and conferences. Additionally, you will conduct several research visits to IBW PAN in Poland.

The duties include:

• Collect, analyze, and process data from hydrodynamic and morphological coastal processes from the Swedish and Polish case study sites
• Apply and further develop risk assessment models for coastal flooding and erosion under current and future climate scenarios, taking coastal protection measures into account
• Quantify and evaluate the risk reduction potential of climate adaptation strategies, focusing on nature-based solutions and the combined effect of beach nourishment and hard structures
• Contribute to the development of reproducible modeling workflows (e.g., coding, data management, documentation)
• Produce and interpret maps and indicators of hazards, impacts, and risks
• Contribute to the visualization and communication of results, including integration into digital tools and platforms
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary research teams and project partners in Europe
• Participate in stakeholder engagement (e.g., workshops, Living Labs) within the case study areas
• Disseminate research results through scientific publications, reports, and conference presentations
• The duties may also include participation in teaching and other departmental activities (however, max 20% of working time).

For the full advertisement, please see: https://lu.varbi.com/se/what:job/jobID:949022/ (https://lu.varbi.com/se/what:job/jobID:949022/)