Engineering Doctorate (EngD) position: developing a hydrological database for the Netherlands (CAMELS-NL)

Your job

Are you interested in bringing catchment hydrological science and Dutch water management practice together? Are you sufficient in both Dutch and English? Do you like data science as well as communication with different stakeholders? Then we may have the perfect opportunity for you!

We are currently looking for a highly motivated Engineering Doctorate (EngD) Candidate (two years, fully funded) to join our team at the Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group at Wageningen University.

Scientific insights and innovation in the water management sector depend on reliable, accessible data which cover the entire range of Dutch water systems. As EngD candidate you have the unique opportunity to create a highly anticipated new database for hydrological data in the Netherlands, which contributes to the world-wide CAMELS (Catchment Attributes and Meteorology for Large-sample Studies) datasets. This dataset will form the basis of many hydrological studies in the future, making this project an endeavour with high impact.

Your role
You will design a new hydrological data set by collecting and processing hydrological and meteorological time series, as well as spatial data representing catchment characteristics. You will do this for many catchments and set up and publish an openly available database. This database will allow you to analyse these data sets in terms of hydrological variability. To collect data and for quality check, you will be in close contact with water authorities in the Netherlands. When developing the database, you will need to make design choices informed by stakeholders from water authorities, the Waterschapshuis, consultancy firms, research institutes and scientists. In addition, you will work within the Dutch hydrological science network to exchange data and knowledge with hydrological groups at other Dutch universities.

The two-year EngD programme is tailor-made and drawn up in close consultation with external organisations. The programme offers academic research and design in a professional context by combining training and research. More information can be found here: Engineering Doctorate ‘Design for AgriFood and Ecological Systems’ - WUR.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Collect and process hydrological data for the Netherlands, including quality check
• Collaborate with water authorities and Dutch universities
• Report on the database and provide basic analysis
• Set up a Training and Supervision Plan that aligns with the assignment of the EngD

You will work here
We are the Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group (HWM), a dynamic and committed team of 15 academics, 5 support staff, 4 postdocs and 28 PhD researchers. We aim to advance fundamental understanding and prediction of hydrological processes in river basins, aquifers, and deltas in support of water management. We develop novel sensing techniques, create models and perform field and lab experiments to advance process understanding.

You will be supervised by Svenja Fischer, Ryan Teuling and Claudia Brauer.

Your qualities

You are thorough, evaluate critically, and work organized. You have a collaborative, curious, and creative mindset. You enjoy organizing large datasets, have experience with processing data and are motivated to further develop skills in data management. You can communicate constructively with water authorities and stakeholders in the Netherlands, as well as scientists world-wide.

You also have:

• An MSc degree in Earth and Environment, Earth Sciences, Hydrology or a similar research area with a focus on hydrological studies
• Experience in processing and/or managing data
• Affinity with Dutch water systems and water management practice
• Command of the English and Dutch language at C1 level Since communication with people from Dutch water management practice is an important part of the job, it is necessary that you are fluent in Dutch and applicants who are not fluent in Dutch will not be considered. 

We offer you

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• Partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded EngD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.

The gross salary for the first year is € 3.029,- per month according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale TOIO). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 6 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.
Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

Do you want more information?

For more information about the position, please contact Svenja Fischer, Assistant Professor, via email: Svenja.Fischer@wur.nl.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Jessa Rozema, Corporate Recruiter, via recruitment.support@wur.nl.

Ready to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

To apply, please send the following documents (max. 2 pages in total for both documents):

• Complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae;
• Motivation letter in English.

The maximum length of the documents must not exceed 2 pages. If it exceeds, applications will not be considered. Additional files such as grades and transcripts are not required during this stage and will not be considered.

You can apply until 24 November 2025. The first interviews are scheduled approximately two weeks after the application deadline.

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

We are

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’.

We pursue this mission through a synergistic approach between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research Foundation (applied research). Our research focuses on questions within the domains of food, living environment, and society. With approximately 30 locations, 7,700 staff members, 2,500 PhD candidates, and over 13,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is among the world’s leading knowledge institutions in its domain. The integral approach to challenges and the collaboration across various disciplines form the core of the unique Wageningen approach.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR.


We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.