PhD Position in Reservoir Sedimentation Modeling for Hydropower at EPFL École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland

EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) in Switzerland is recruiting a PhD student in Reservoir Sedimentation Modeling, with a focus on hydropower applications. The position is based within the STREEM Lab and is part of the Horizon Europe project TIES – Transforming Hydropower: Integrating Flexibility, Ecosystem Health, and Societal Needs, involving a large European consortium.

The research will address sediment transport at both watershed and reservoir scales, aiming to develop an integrated modeling framework for evaluating sediment routing, deposition, and release strategies at hydropower dams. Key objectives include incorporating dam operations into watershed-scale sediment routing models and using advanced numerical tools to analyze sediment deposition dynamics in reservoirs.

The ideal candidate will have a background in hydraulic engineering, strong numerical modeling and programming skills (MATLAB or Python), and familiarity with sediment transport models such as SWAT or CASCADE. The project values self-motivation, collaboration, and strong English communication abilities. The position offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge environmental science and civil engineering challenges, contributing to sustainable hydropower and ecosystem health.

Funding is provided through the Horizon Europe TIES project, though specific stipend and tuition details are not listed. The application process is ongoing, with pre-screening already started and continuing until a suitable candidate is found. Interested applicants should apply via the EPFL careers portal.

Keywords: Reservoir Sedimentation, Hydropower, Sediment Transport, Numerical Modeling, Hydraulic Engineering, Watershed Modeling, MATLAB, Python, SWAT, CASCADE, Ecosystem Health, EPFL, Horizon Europe.