This fully funded PhD opportunity at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven) and the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) invites applications from motivated candidates interested in environmental science, hazards, and remote sensing. The position is part of the BELSPO STEREO IV HOMER project and focuses on unravelling the dynamics of urban gully expansion in Central Africa, a rapidly growing but often overlooked hazard in tropical cities. The research will employ cutting-edge remote sensing and modelling techniques, with opportunities for impactful fieldwork in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The project is highly relevant for disaster risk reduction and urban planning, aiming to provide actionable insights for managing urban erosion hazards. Applicants should hold a Master’s degree in geography, environmental science, or a related field, and possess strong quantitative skills. An interest in remote sensing or modelling is essential, and candidates should be motivated to engage in fieldwork in Central Africa. The research team is led by Associate Professor Matthias Vanmaercke (KU Leuven), with co-supervision from Olivier Dewitte and Antoine Dille (RMCA). The position offers a collaborative environment at the intersection of environmental science, geography, earth science, and urban planning. The PhD is fully funded, though specific details on stipend and tuition are not provided in the announcement. The application deadline is 20 January 2026. For more information and to apply, candidates should visit the official KU Leuven job site. This opportunity is ideal for those passionate about environmental hazards, quantitative research, and making a difference in urban sustainability and disaster risk management in Africa.

A fully funded PhD position is available at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven) and the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) as part of the BELSPO STEREO IV HOMER project. The research focuses on unravelling the dynamics of urban gully expansion in Central Africa, a rapidly growing but often overlooked environmental hazard in tropical cities. The successful candidate will employ advanced remote sensing and modelling techniques to study urban gully erosion, with opportunities for fieldwork in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The project is highly relevant for disaster risk reduction and urban planning, offering direct societal impact. The position is based at KU Leuven’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, in collaboration with RMCA. Supervisors include Associate Professor Matthias Vanmaercke, Olivier Dewitte, and Antoine Dille. The research environment is interdisciplinary, combining expertise in environmental science, geography, earth science, and remote sensing. Applicants should have a Master’s degree in geography, environmental science, or a related field, with strong quantitative skills and a keen interest in remote sensing or modelling. Motivation for fieldwork in Central Africa and a passion for environmental hazards are important. The position is fully funded, though specific stipend details are not provided. The application deadline is 20 January 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the KU Leuven job site. This opportunity is ideal for candidates interested in environmental science, hazards, remote sensing, and contributing to sustainable urban development in tropical regions.

The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Division of Geography & Tourism at KU Leuven, Belgium, invites applications for a fully funded 4-year PhD position focused on assessing urban gully erosion and its impacts in Central Africa. This opportunity is part of a collaborative research project with the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA), specifically within the Earth surface processes and climate research group and the Natural Hazards Unit. The project is embedded in the BELSPO STEREO IV initiative “HOMER” (Geo-hydrological Hazards in the changing African trOpics: sediments, dynaMics and intERactions). The successful candidate will monitor and model the expansion dynamics of urban gullies, primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Urban gullies are a significant and growing hazard in tropical cities, often resulting from inadequate urban planning and infrastructure. The research will develop and apply advanced satellite remote sensing techniques to track gully expansion at high temporal resolution, analyze time series to identify rainfall thresholds, and build predictive models for gully occurrence and magnitude. The project also includes scenario analysis using current and future climate and land use data to assess both present and projected impacts of gully erosion. Field missions to the DRC are anticipated for contextual understanding and validation of remote sensing results. Supervision will be provided by Prof. Matthias Vanmaercke (KU Leuven), Dr. Antoine Dille, and Dr. Olivier Dewitte (RMCA), all experts in geomorphic processes, geo-hydrological hazards, and remote sensing. The research group is interdisciplinary, combining fundamental and applied research with capacity building and long-term collaborations with African institutions. Office space will be available at KU Leuven’s Arenberg campus and the Royal Museum of Central Africa. Applicants should hold a master’s degree in geography, bio-engineering, or a related environmental science discipline, with excellent academic records. A strong interest in quantitative research methods is essential, and experience with remote sensing, programming, geomorphic or geostatistical modelling is preferred. Familiarity with gully erosion, geo-hydrological hazards, hydrology, urban planning, or disaster impact assessment is advantageous. Fluency in English is required; proficiency in Dutch or French is a plus. Candidates must be willing to relocate to Belgium and participate in short fieldwork campaigns in the Global South. As part of the PhD, students will assist with teaching and supervise master’s theses. The position offers a fully funded scholarship for one year, renewable up to four years upon positive evaluation. KU Leuven and RMCA provide a dynamic, inclusive, and interdisciplinary research environment. The expected start date is March 1, 2026 (negotiable). The application deadline is January 20, 2026. To apply, submit your CV, academic records, motivation letter, and a letter of recommendation. Additionally, provide the reference and abstract of an inspiring academic work and a brief explanation of its relevance to this PhD project. Only pre-selected candidates will be invited for an interview and will be asked to submit a three-page research proposal. For further information, contact Prof. Matthias Vanmaercke at [email protected]. KU Leuven is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity, welcoming applicants from all backgrounds. For questions about accessibility or support, assistance is available via the provided contact email.

This PhD opportunity focuses on the dynamics of urban gully expansion in Central Africa, a critical but under-researched hazard affecting millions in tropical cities, especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The project is part of the BELSPO STEREO IV HOMER initiative, which investigates geo-hydrological hazards and their interactions under rapid environmental change. The successful candidate will join a collaborative team at KU Leuven and the Royal Museum for Central Africa, working with experts in urban gully processes and satellite remote sensing. The research aims to develop advanced tools for tracking gully evolution using optical, radar, and drone-based remote sensing, with the goal of understanding the controls on gully dynamics and modeling future impacts. Fieldwork in the DRC will validate findings and foster collaboration with African partners, directly contributing to disaster risk reduction and urban planning strategies. The project leverages recent high-impact research, including a Nature study mapping the extent and societal impact of urban gullies in the DRC, which found that over 118,000 people have been displaced by these hazards since 2004. Applicants should have a master's degree in geography, environmental science, or a related discipline, with strong quantitative and geostatistical skills. Experience in programming or modeling is advantageous. Fluency in English is required, and knowledge of Dutch or French is helpful. Candidates must be willing to relocate to Belgium and participate in short field campaigns in the Global South. The position is fully funded for four years, offering a dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment at KU Leuven and RMCA, with opportunities to publish high-impact research. The application deadline is January 20, 2026. Interested candidates should apply via the KU Leuven job portal or LinkedIn, submitting a CV, motivation letter, and relevant documents. For more information, see the provided links to the supervisors' profiles and project details. Keywords: urban gully erosion, remote sensing, environmental science, geomorphology, geo-hydrological hazards, Central Africa, disaster risk reduction, urban planning, satellite imagery, geostatistical modeling.