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KU Leuven is offering a fully funded PhD position in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Division of Geography and Tourism, focused on monitoring soil erosion indicators using remote sensing. This opportunity is part of the EUROSION project (HORIZON-MISS-2024-SOIL-01-03), a collaborative initiative involving 24 research institutes across 12 countries, aimed at developing a dynamic monitoring system for soil erosion across Europe. The successful candidate will work on developing high-resolution indicators of soil erosion using multi-temporal satellite data (optical and radar, including Copernicus products). The research will involve characterizing field parcel boundaries and connectivity, calibrating and validating indicators with field-based data from multiple European monitoring sites, and integrating these indicators into dynamic, process-based soil erosion models. The project covers erosion by water, wind, and tillage, and includes collaboration with EUROSION partners for trend analysis and predictive modeling. Applicants should hold or be near completion of a Master’s degree in Geography, Earth Sciences, Soil Science, Bioscience Engineering, Agricultural Sciences, Remote Sensing, or a related field. Essential skills include a strong interest in soil erosion research, experience with large-scale spatial datasets and spatial modeling, proficiency in GIS and Python scripting, and excellent communication skills. Fluency in English and a proactive, independent work style are required. The position offers a full-time doctoral scholarship for 4 years, providing a stimulating international research environment in Leuven, Belgium. The role includes teaching involvement (about 10% of time), such as supervising practical sessions, field trips, and bachelor/master theses. The candidate will benefit from integration into high-impact research projects and access to modern research infrastructure. To apply, candidates must submit a detailed CV, academic grades, a motivation letter, a bibliography of three relevant international papers (with DOI and short description), and contact details of two academic referees. Applications should be submitted via the KU Leuven job portal by 16 March 2026. For further information, contact Prof. dr. Gert Verstraeten at [email protected]. Keywords: Soil Erosion, Remote Sensing, GIS, Python, Environmental Science, Geography, Earth Sciences, Spatial Modeling, EUROSION, Satellite Data.

This PhD position at KU Leuven focuses on the development and monitoring of soil erosion indicators using advanced remote sensing techniques. Hosted within the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, the Division of Geography and Tourism has a longstanding reputation in soil erosion research, including the quantification and modelling of erosion and sediment fluxes at various spatial scales. The research is embedded in the EUROSION project, a large European Union-funded initiative that unites scientists from 24 institutes across 12 countries to create a dynamic monitoring system for soil erosion at the European scale. The successful candidate will develop indicators to monitor soil erosion at high temporal and spatial resolution, particularly at the field parcel scale. This involves assessing the sensitivity of vegetation cover to erosion processes and characterizing field boundaries that influence connectivity along runoff and sediment delivery pathways. The project leverages multi-temporal satellite data, combining optical and radar remote sensing Copernicus products, and integrates field-based data from multiple monitoring sites across Europe for calibration and validation. The resulting indicators will inform trends in landscape sensitivity to erosion and serve as input parameters for dynamic, process-based soil erosion models, including modelling of erosion by water, wind, and tillage. Applicants should hold (or be near completion of) a Master’s degree in Geography, Earth Sciences, Bioscience Engineering, Soil Science, Agricultural Sciences, Remote Sensing, or a related field. Demonstrable experience in soil erosion research and remote sensing is essential, with additional assets including spatial analysis of large-scale datasets, spatial modelling of earth surface processes, proficiency in GIS, and Python scripting. Candidates must be proactive, independent, possess strong communication skills, and have excellent English proficiency. Motivation, ambition, and a result-oriented approach are highly valued. The position offers a full-time doctoral scholarship for four years, providing a stimulating research environment in Leuven, Belgium—a vibrant university town with access to major European cities. The candidate will collaborate with international partners and contribute to teaching activities (up to 4 hours per week) and co-supervision of bachelor and master thesis students. KU Leuven is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity, fostering a respectful and socially safe academic environment. To apply, candidates should submit a detailed CV, grades from bachelor and master courses, a motivation letter, links and short descriptions of three relevant international papers, and contact details of two referees. For further information, contact Prof. dr. Gert Verstraeten at [email protected]. The application deadline is March 16, 2026.