Christine Alewell

The Environmental Geosciences group at the University of Basel is offering a PhD fellowship as part of the PhD Program Environmental Sciences, in collaboration with the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC). This position, starting from June 2026 or later, focuses on leveraging artificial intelligence to support the achievement of healthy soils by 2050, particularly through the implementation of EU policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Soil Monitoring Law, and CRCF. The research will involve developing AI tools to map and predict soil health across spatial and temporal scales, accelerating literature reviews, extracting best management practices from long-term experiments, and designing innovative methods to evaluate soil health. The project also aims to translate outcomes from Soil Living Labs into actionable policy recommendations and conduct scenario analyses relevant to policy development. This PhD is part of the Collaborative Doctoral Partnerships programme, which trains researchers at the interface of science and policy, providing a unique international training environment between Basel (Switzerland) and the JRC in Ispra, Italy. Applicants should hold or be close to completing a Master's degree in Environmental or Soil Sciences, AI, Data Science, or Geosciences. Essential skills include basic knowledge of soil science, strong interest in AI and soil health, experience with data analysis, modelling, and programming (R or Python). Additional skills such as geostatistics, digital soil mapping, remote sensing, GIS, big data or cloud tools are advantageous. Candidates must be EU Member State or associated country nationals (or have at least 5 years residency in the EU) and be eligible to enroll in a PhD programme at the University of Basel (with no more than 12 months enrolled at the start). Proactive working style, strong communication skills, and excellent English are required. Relevant publications are considered a plus. Funding is provided according to JRC Grantholder Category 20 during JRC periods (approximately €45,000 gross/year) and University of Basel conditions during university employment. The position offers participation in an international, policy-relevant doctoral programme focused on soil health and AI-based tools. To apply, submit your complete application documents, including a motivation letter, statement of research and teaching interests, CV, and contact details of at least two references via the online recruiting platform. Applications via email will not be accepted. The application deadline is 26th March 2026, 23:59 CET. For further information, visit the Environmental Geosciences group website or contact Professor Christine Alewell at [email protected]. Additional details about the application process and requirements can be found in the application guide provided by the Joint Research Centre.

The University of Basel invites applications for a PhD fellowship in Environmental Geosciences, focusing on the quantification of soil erosion's role in phosphorus loads and eutrophication in European freshwaters. This position is part of the PhD Program in Environmental Sciences and is available from June 2026 or later. The research addresses a critical environmental challenge: soil erosion by water is a major source of phosphorus, contributing to eutrophication in rivers and lakes across Europe. Despite widespread assumptions about the erosion–eutrophication link, quantitative evidence across spatial scales remains limited, and this project aims to fill that gap. The PhD project will develop integrated and reproducible approaches to quantify and reduce soil- and sediment-driven nutrient pollution in European catchments. It will assess how soil erosion and land management influence 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. The project directly supports EU policies including the Common Agricultural Policy, Soil Monitoring Law, and Nitrates Directive, and contributes to the European Green Transition. This is an international collaboration between the University of Basel and the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) under the Collaborative Doctoral Partnerships programme. The place of employment will be both Environmental Geosciences at the University of Basel, Switzerland, and the JRC in Ispra, Italy. While employed at the JRC, the annual gross salary will be around 45,000 Euro (Grantholder Category 20), subject to national income tax. At the University of Basel, salary and benefits follow university rules. Applicants must hold or be close to completing a Master's degree in ecology, soil science, agricultural, environmental or related sciences. A strong interest in soil erosion modelling and phosphorus-driven eutrophication is required, with experience in soil monitoring and erosion processes preferred. Skills in GIS, spatial analysis of large scale data, modelling, remote sensing, and programming (R or Python) are desirable. Candidates must be fluent in English, able to work independently, communicate effectively, and be highly motivated and results oriented. Eligibility requires nationality of a Member State of the EU or a country associated to the EU Research Framework Programme, or residency in an EU Member State for at least five years prior to contract start. To apply, submit your complete application documents, including a motivation letter, statement of research and teaching interests, CV, and contact details of at least two references via the online recruiting platform. Applications via email will not be accepted. The application deadline is 26 March 2026, 23:59 CET. For further information, visit the Environmental Geosciences website or contact Professor Christine Alewell at [email protected]. Please review the application guide for mandatory attachments and requirements.

This joint PhD position between the University of Basel and the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) offers an exciting opportunity to advance research on the quantification and mitigation of soil- and sediment-driven nutrient pollution in European freshwater systems. The project focuses on understanding the role of soil erosion and land management in phosphorus transport and the resulting eutrophication, a critical environmental issue affecting water quality across Europe. The successful candidate will develop integrated and reproducible approaches to monitor, model, and reduce nutrient pollution, leveraging data from the EU Water Framework Directive. The research will involve calibrating and validating advanced sediment routing and modelling techniques, as well as designing a European-scale turbidity and sediment monitoring framework that combines in situ observations with satellite remote sensing technologies such as Sentinel-2 and Copernicus. The position is fully funded through the Horizon Europe programme. While employed at the JRC, the candidate will receive a JRC Grantholder Category 20 salary (approximately 45,000 Euro gross per year, subject to national income tax). During the University of Basel employment period, salary and benefits will follow the university's standards. The PhD will be based for two years at the Environmental Geosciences department, University of Basel (Switzerland), and for two years at the JRC in Ispra, Italy, providing a unique international research environment and access to leading European research infrastructure. Applicants should hold or be near completion of a Master's degree in a relevant field such as Ecology, Soil Science, Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geosciences, or Bioscience. Essential skills include a strong interest in soil erosion mapping/modelling, experience with soil monitoring and erosion processes, and proficiency in programming (R or Python), spatial analysis, and GIS. Experience with remote sensing and large-scale datasets is highly desirable. Candidates must have excellent English communication skills, be proactive, and able to work independently. Eligibility is restricted to nationals of EU Member States or associated countries, or those resident in an EU Member State for at least five years, and candidates must be enrolled in a PhD programme at the University of Basel prior to contract start. The application deadline is 6 April 2026. The selection process involves an initial screening by the University of Basel, followed by interviews with both the university and the JRC. For further information and to apply, visit the University of Basel job portal or contact Professor Christine Alewell at [email protected].