PhD position: Acoustic sensing of underwater plastic pollution in rivers and estuaries

Your job

Are you interested in tackling the global plastic pollution problem through science? Do you want to develop and test new measurement methods to quantify plastic pollution in rivers? Are you motivated to work on impact-oriented research in an emerging field with high societal relevance? We are currently looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to join our team (4 years, full time, fully funded) at the Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group at Wageningen University.

Plastic pollution has become a worldwide problem. Rivers play a crucial role in the transport of land-based plastic pollution towards the ocean. Moreover, large quantities of plastic are retained in and around river systems. Monitoring is key in understanding how to reduce pollution. To date the main focus has been on the most visible plastics, floating on the water surface or deposited on riverbanks. A large part of the problem may however reside below the water surface. Underwater measuring techniques are labour intensive, expensive and invasive. In this project, we aim to reveal the hidden plastics using a new sound-based detection method. Improved understanding of the underwater plastic transport will help improve current mitigation strategies.

In this PhD research project you will develop a new method for measuring underwater plastic, by collecting and analyzing Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) data from experiments under (semi-)controlled, and natural conditions. You will use this to (1) detect and distinguish the most common plastic items rivers, (2) estimate total plastic transport with ADCP and validate with reference net sampling measurements, and (3) estimate trends using long-term historical ADCP datasets. You will do this for rivers in the Netherlands and Asia. You will present the project results during meetings with project partners, at (inter)national conferences, and through peer-reviewed publications.

For this position, we are looking for enthusiastic candidates who have a background in Earth sciences, (environmental) hydraulics, or (environmental) engineering. Prior experience with collecting experimental observational data under field conditions is highly preferable. Experience in coding skills are highly preferable but not a strict must. The project is a collaborative effort together with partners from the government, non-profit organizations, and industry. Your project is imbedding in a broader research line on plastic and sediment transport in rivers and estuaries around the world, and you are expected to collaborate with other team members on related topics. As a PhD candidate in our group, you will join the PhD program of the WIMEK graduate school. The selected candidate is expected to finish the 4 year project by writing a PhD thesis that contains a series of peer-reviewed journal articles.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Developing your own research proposal;
• Conducting experiments under laboratory and natural conditions in field sites in the Netherlands and beyond;
• Develop a method to use acoustic backscatter from ADCPs to quantify river plastic pollution;
• Writing scientific publications as part of your PhD dissertation;
• Taking part in (international) workshops and conferences, and engage in the organization of activities related to the research project;
• Engaging actively in the activities and collaborations of the research team;
• Spending up to 10% of your time on education and supervision of BSc/MSc students;

Your qualities

You have:

• a completed (or about to be completed) MSc degree in Earth Sciences, (Environmental) Hydraulics, Hydrology, Environmental Sciences, Civil or Environmental Engineering, or similar;
• passion to work on an emerging research topic with high societal relevance;
• motivation to plan and conduct (field) experiments in the Netherlands and beyond;
• demonstrated enthusiasm and proficiency in working with (complex) observational datasets;
• preferably some experience with (micro)plastic measurements, sedimentology, geomorphology, and/or experimental environmental hydraulics;
• good organizational and communication skills;
• enthusiasm and ability to publish research results in peer-reviewed academic journals.

You also possess:

• affinity with fieldwork in the Netherlands and/or outside Europe;
• experience in or willingness to learn working with ADCP instrumentation, tools, and software;
• proven skills or willingness to learn coding for data analysis (e.g. Python, R, or Matlab);
• a mix of team player mentality and the ability to work independently;
• excellent proficiency in written and spoken English. Proficiency in Dutch is not required, but will be encouraged to develop;
• the entry requirements of the WUR PhD Programme.

You will work here
Your PhD research will be embedded within the Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group, where a lot of research is done on plastic and sediment transport in rivers and estuaries. The group has a strong (international) network with academic and societal partners that will benefit your PhD research. You will be supervised by dr. Tim van Emmerik, dr. Kryss Waldschläger and prof.dr. Ton Hoitink.

We offer you

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.

The gross salary for the first year is € 2.872,- per month rising to € 3.670,-  in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 19th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. We can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

Do you want more information?

For more information about this position, please contact  Tim van Emmerik, tim.vanemmerik@wur.nl

For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, corporate recruiter, noorien.abbas@wur.nl .

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.

For your application, please upload a motivation letter (max 1 page) and CV (max 2 page) only. Other documents will not be reviewed. In your motivation letter, please elaborate on (1) your motivation to do a PhD, (2) your motivation for this project, and (3) why you are a suitable candidate (with examples).

This vacancy will be listed up to and including 15 November, 2024. We will organize two interview rounds. The first round is scheduled on between 25 November and 6 December 2024. The second round is scheduled between 12 and 18 December 2024. The intended starting date is Q1 2025, but this is not a strict requirement.

Additional information form
For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below:

https://forms.office.com/e/JiZmM3MLEb

Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process.

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

We are

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!


We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.