Joint PhD position in JRC and University on Basel on “Quantifying the of role soil erosion on phosphorus loads and eutrophication in European freshwaters”

University of Basel, Switzerland

Updated: about 1 month ago
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 06 Apr 2026

12 Mar 2026
Job Information
Organisation/Company

University of Basel
Department

Environmental Science
Research Field

Environmental science » Natural resources management
Agricultural sciences » Soil science
Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)
Positions

PhD Positions
Application Deadline

6 Apr 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Amsterdam)
Country

Switzerland
Type of Contract

Temporary
Job Status

Full-time
Hours Per Week

40
Offer Starting Date

1 Jan 2026
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon Europe
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

This PhD project will develop integrated and reproducible approaches to quantify and reduce soil- and sediment-driven nutrient pollution in European catchments. It will assess the role of soil erosion and land management in phosphorus transport and eutrophication, using monitoring data from the EU Water Framework Directive to calibrate and validate advanced sediment routing and modelling approaches. The research will also design a European-scale turbidity and sediment monitoring framework combining in situ observations and satellite remote sensing.


Where to apply
Website
https://jobs.unibas.ch/offene-stellen/quantifying-the-of-role-soil-erosion-on-p…

Requirements
Research Field
Agricultural sciences » Soil science
Education Level
Bachelor Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

You have (or are near completion of) a Master in Ecology, Soil Science, Soil Conservation, Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geosciences, Bioscience (or a related field). 

• You have a strong interest in soil erosion mapping/modelling and eutrophication due to phosphorus losses. 

• Experience with soil monitoring of bio-physical properties and erosion processes.

 • Preferably, experience with erosion or/and biochemical models, data assimilation, spatial analysis and GIS approaches.

 • Programing skills (e.g. R or Python) for data manipulation and visualisation, and to perform statistical analysis (e.g. mixed models).

 • Experience in Remote Sensing (e.g. Sentinel-2, Copernicus) and large scale datasets 

• You work proactively and independently and have good communication skills. 

• You have a very good knowledge of English, both spoken and written.

 • If available, relevant publications in peer review journals should be highlighted. • You are highly motivated, ambitious and result-oriented.


Specific Requirements

Candidates should, prior to the start of the employment contract with the JRC: – have the nationality of a Member State of the EU or a country associated to the EU Research Framework Programme in force or being resident in a EU Member State since at least five years and – be enrolled in a PhD programme with the University of Basel.


Languages
ENGLISH
Level
Excellent

Research Field
Environmental science » Natural resources management

Internal Application form(s) needed
VACANCY_1_JRCBasel_Eutrophication_FINAL.pdf
English
(153.52 KB - PDF)
Download
Additional Information
Benefits

While employed at the JRC, the salary and benefits are those of a JRC Grantholder Category 20, following the Grantholder Rules. The annual gross salary will be around 45,000 Euro and is subject to national income tax. While employed at the University of Basel, the salary and benefits are those of University of Basel.


Eligibility criteria

Candidates should, prior to the start of the employment contract with the JRC: – have the nationality of a Member State of the EU or a country associated to the EU Research Framework Programme in force or being resident in a EU Member State since at least five years and – be enrolled in a PhD programme with the University of Basel. Candidates who are already enrolled in the doctoral study program with the University of Basel for fewer than 12 months and have the nationality as indicated above can also be considered eligible. The selected candidate will have no more than 6 months from the request for confirmation of interest in the position, to produce proof of enrolment in the doctoral study program.


Selection process

The University of Basel screens applications for eligibility and invites from the list of candidates for a first interview organised by the University of Basel. Based on the results of the first interview, the JRC invites 2 to 4 shortlisted candidates for a second and final interviews.


Additional comments

The place of employment is Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Switzerland (2 years) and the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), Via Enrico Fermi, 2749, 21027 Ispra (VA), Italy (2 years).


Website for additional job details

https://duw.unibas.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/duw/UGW/Team/VACANCY_1_JRCBasel_Eut…

Work Location(s)
Number of offers available
1
Company/Institute
University of Basel
Country
Switzerland
City
Basel
Geofield


Number of offers available
2
Company/Institute
European Commission - Joint Research Centre
Country
Italy
City
Ispra
Geofield


Contact
City

Basel
Website

https://jobs.unibas.ch/offene-stellen/quantifying-the-of-role-soil-erosion-on-phosphorus-loads-and-eutrophication-in-european-freshwaters/ea31a802-761c-4c70-8770-a9cad2f7eaed
E-Mail

christine.alewell@unibas.ch

STATUS: EXPIRED

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