Wageningen University & Research is seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join the Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group for the NWO-funded VIDI project “FutureFlood - Future-proof flood prediction.” This fully funded, four-year position focuses on developing and comparing tailored rainfall-runoff models that incorporate different flood types and their generating processes. The research will involve analysing and adapting hydrological models such as HBV, WALRUS, and LISFLOOD for global case studies, with a strong emphasis on model parametrisation, robustness, and sensitivity under various climate change scenarios. The successful candidate will develop a flood classification framework, compare machine learning algorithms, and create open-source program code, preferably as a software package. The project includes regular collaboration with the VIDI project team and communication with stakeholders in case study regions to ensure the practical applicability of the developed models. The research aims to advance the prediction and modelling of extreme flood events by integrating deterministic modelling and stochastic classification, ultimately contributing to improved flood risk management. Applicants should hold a completed MSc degree in hydrology, earth systems, water management, or a related field, with advanced programming skills (preferably in R or Python) and experience in hydrological modelling. Knowledge of extreme value statistics and proficiency in English at C1 level are required. The position offers a competitive salary (€3,059–€3,881/month), excellent benefits, and support for international candidates, including visa and relocation assistance. The application deadline is 15 January 2026. For more information, contact Assistant Professor Svenja Fischer ([email protected]). To apply, submit a CV and motivation letter (max. 3 pages total) via the Wageningen University vacancy page. No additional documents are required at this stage. Wageningen University & Research is committed to diversity and inclusion, providing a welcoming and innovative environment for all staff and students.

Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is offering two fully funded PhD positions focused on flood forecasting, hydrology, and machine learning. These positions are part of the NWO-funded VIDI project “FutureFlood - Future-proof flood prediction,” aiming to develop advanced models and classification frameworks for predicting and understanding extreme flood events and their generating processes. The first PhD project centers on the incorporation of flood types in tailored rainfall-runoff models. The candidate will compare hydrological models (such as HBV, WALRUS, and LISFLOOD) for global case studies, develop new model versions tailored to specific flood types, and analyze robustness and sensitivity. The research will also involve testing models under climate change scenarios and applying them to estimate design flood events. The second PhD project focuses on ML-based prediction of flood types using atmospheric and catchment attributes. The candidate will test various machine learning algorithms (ANNs, WNNs, SVM, CART, and possibly fuzzy-based algorithms) to predict flood types and analyze their performance across diverse climate zones and catchments worldwide. Both positions are based in the Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group at WUR, a dynamic team engaged in cutting-edge research on hydrological processes, environmental hydraulics, and the development of novel sensing and modelling techniques. Supervision will be provided by Svenja Fischer, Ryan Teuling, Josh Ho, and Claudia Brauer. The research environment is international, inclusive, and supportive, with a strong focus on collaboration and innovation. Eligibility: Applicants must hold a completed MSc degree in hydrology, earth systems, water management, statistics, or a related field. Advanced programming skills (preferably in R or Python), experience with hydrological modelling or data analysis, and proficiency in English (C1 level) are required. Knowledge of statistics, clustering, pattern analysis, and machine learning is advantageous. Candidates should be collaborative, creative, and able to communicate with diverse partners. Funding: The positions are fully funded for up to four years, with a gross salary starting at €3,059 per month and rising to €3,881 in the fourth year (full-time, 38 hours/week). Benefits include partially paid parental leave, year-end bonus, excellent pension scheme, and access to sports facilities. International staff may be eligible for tax exemptions. The initial contract is for 18 months, with extension upon satisfactory performance. Application: The deadline for applications is January 15, 2026. Applicants should submit a CV and motivation letter (maximum 3 pages total) via the WUR vacancy website. Only applications submitted through the website will be considered. No additional documents are required at this stage. For more information, contact Svenja Fischer (Assistant professor for Stochastic Hydrology) at [email protected]. For procedural questions, contact Jessa Rozema at [email protected]. Keywords: flood forecasting, hydrology, machine learning, rainfall-runoff models, hydrological modelling, climate change, statistics, extreme events, water management.

Wageningen University & Research is seeking two highly motivated PhD candidates to join the Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group as part of the NWO-funded VIDI project “FutureFlood - Future-proof flood prediction.” The research focuses on improving flood forecasting by advancing the understanding and modelling of flood-generating mechanisms using both stochastic and machine learning approaches. The first PhD position centers on the ML-based classification of flood-generating processes, comparing various algorithms (ANNs, WNNs, SVM, CART, and potentially fuzzy-based methods) to predict flood types based on atmospheric and catchment data. The research will analyze how flood-generating processes differ across global case studies, including the Netherlands, New Zealand, Germany, and Brazil, and will extend to climate change scenario analysis. The second PhD position focuses on incorporating flood types into tailored rainfall-runoff models, comparing hydrological models (HBV, WALRUS, LISFLOOD) and developing type-specific parametrizations to improve flood prediction under changing climate conditions. Both positions are embedded in a dynamic, international team and offer opportunities for collaboration with stakeholders and regular exchange within the project. The research group is renowned for its work in hydrology, environmental hydraulics, and the development of novel sensing and modelling techniques. Eligibility: Applicants must hold a completed MSc in hydrology, earth systems, statistics, water management, or a related field. Advanced programming skills (preferably R or Python), experience in data analysis, and knowledge of statistics, clustering, pattern analysis, and hydrological modelling are required. Experience with machine learning is a plus. Candidates should be collaborative, analytical, and possess strong communication skills. English proficiency at C1 level is mandatory. Funding: The positions are fully funded for up to four years, with a starting gross salary of €3,059/month, rising to €3,881/month in the fourth year (full-time, 38 hours/week). Benefits include flexible working hours, sports facilities, an 8.3% year-end bonus, and an excellent pension scheme. International staff may receive tax exemptions and support with relocation and visa procedures. Application: Apply via the official Wageningen University & Research vacancy pages by submitting a CV and motivation letter (max 3 pages total). The deadline is January 15, 2026. Only applications submitted through the website will be considered. Supervision will be provided by Svenja Fischer (Assistant Professor), Ryan Teuling, Claudia Brauer, and Huu Loc (Josh) Ho. For more information, contact Svenja Fischer at [email protected].