PhD position: Water-Mediated Cooling of European Cities and Citizens

Are you a highly motivated researcher passionate about urban hydrometeorology, climate modelling, heat-health interactions, and water-sensitive urban design? Do you want to work on a high-impact, international project that translates urban hydrometeorological science into real-world solutions protecting human health from extreme heat?

We are seeking a talented PhD candidate to join the Horizon Europe Innovation Action Project EUROASIS (EUROpean Adaptive, Systemic and Inclusive Solutions for heat resilience). This PhD position focuses on assessing whether innovative cooling interventions piloted in EUROASIS pilot cities will also perform in the project's replicator cities and regions across Europe's diverse hydroclimates. 

As our PhD candidate, you will model the urban water-energy balance underlying (evapotranspirative) cooling—e.g., how greening and water features impact hydrometeorological conditions and translate into reduced heat-health risk based on temperature- and humidity-based heat indices. You will simulate these effects in the replicator cities against field measurements in a subset of them, and quantify the water demand of sustaining this cooling under extreme heat conditions. Your work will directly culminate in international peer-reviewed journal papers and foundational project deliverables.

You will work here

The Hydrology and Environment Hydraulics (HWM) chair group, led by chairholder Martine van der Ploeg, aims to contribute to the improved understanding of catchment-scale hydrological processes through advanced measurement, modeling and assimilation techniques. You will be co-supervised by Dr. D. (Dragan) Milosevic and Dr. AJ (Ryan) Teuling.

• You hold (or are about to complete) a Master's degree in urban hydrometeorology, hydrology, meteorology, climate/atmospheric science, environmental science, civil/environmental engineering, (water-sensitive) urban design or a closely related field;

• Experience in land-surface, (hydro)meteorological, hydrological, or urban climate modelling (e.g. RANS and LES) — or strong motivation to learn these tools during your PhD — along with an affinity for surface energy/water balance, evapotranspiration, thermal comfort, heat-health interactions.

• Solid programming and data analysis skills (e.g. Python, R, GIS). 

• Willingness to travel for validation-related fieldwork in a subset of European cities;

• The ability to work independently while integrating into a large, transdisciplinary, multi-country EU consortium;

• Good organizational and communication skills.

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

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 PhD 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 € 3.059,- per month rising to € 3.881,-  in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well. The project is 4 years, with a intended starting date of 1 October 2026.

We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. 

Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees. 

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family. 

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account, dual career programs or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

For more information about the position, please contact Dragan Milosevic, assistant professor of urban hydrometeorology, via +31624585024 or email: dragan.milosevic@wur.nl.
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Jessa Rozema Corporate Recruiter, via jessa.rozema-stol@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. 3 pages in total ):

• Complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages);
• Motivation letter (max. 1 page).

The maximum length of the documents must not exceed 3 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 up to and including 10 August 2026.

Additional information form
For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below:

PhD position:  PhD position:  Water-Mediated Cooling of European Cities and Citizens – Fill out form

Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process.

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.

​The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!

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

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