The Department Estuarine and Delta Systems (EDS, Royal NIOZ Yerseke) is looking for a highly motivated Postdoc with a keen interest in coastal hydrodynamics and sediment transport to join our work in the multi-disciplinary STW project “Sediment for salt marshes: physical and ecological aspects of a mud motor”.
Location: Royal NIOZ Yerseke (NL)
Vacancy ID: 2016-38
Closing date: July 15th, 2016
The department
The department of Estuarine and Delta Systems (EDS, NIOZ-Yerseke) aims to understand how the interplay between benthic organisms, water flow, and sedimentation shapes the physical environment as well as the habitats that can support diverse natural communities. Central to our department is a multidisciplinary approach that combines state-of-the-art biophysical measurements, remote sensing, and manipulative experiments with mathematical and numerical modelling to create in-depth understanding of the processes that form estuarine, delta and coastal systems.The Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems is a research partner in the STW funded project “Sediment for salt marshes: physical and ecological aspects of a mud motor”. This project is executed in close cooperation with the Technical University of Delft, Deltares and IMARES as well as the Royal NIOZ department of Coastal Systems at Texel.
The research project
Worldwide, harbors need maintenance dredging. The dredged sediments are generally regarded as waste material. The STW project “Sediment for salt marshes” aims to develop the scientific knowledge needed to assess the impact and cost effectiveness on maintenance dredging volumes and development of salt marshes by a multi-year semi-continuous mud nourishment. The pilot site is the Port of Harlingen and the neighboring salt marshes.
The mud motor is an innovative way of beneficial re-use of such dredged sediments, in which salt-marsh development is stimulated by using natural processes. Hence, the mud motor is an excellent example of the Building with Nature approach. The potential economic and ecological benefits are that the application of a mud motor will simultaneously reduce the necessity for dredging and create and extend salt marshes, which are valuable both from the point of view of ecology and coastal protection. The project will not only unravel the fundamental processes of mud transport and sedimentation in tidal areas and salt marshes, but also quantify the benefits in terms of ecosystem services.
The potential effects of a mud motor on salt-marsh vegetation and benthic infauna are studied, and the influence the biota exert on the deposited sediment. The cross-shore and long-shore dispersal of large-scale frequent mud nourishments in response to tides, waves, storms, and vegetation are quantified, and their contributions to saltmarsh development. This will be based on field observations (on the salt-marsh as well as by additional ship measurements) and model development.
The candidate
You will study the transport of suspended sediment in a gulley close to Harlingen Harbor by means of in-situ measurements and numerical modelling. The measurements are carried out in bi-yearly cruises with a NIOZ research vessel, in which you will participate, studying the hydrological conditions and suspended sediment transport over a tidal cycle as well as their seasonal variability. You will work with a set-up of the numerical model GETM/GOTM to complement these measurements and study the driving forces for net sediment transport in a systematic way.
We are looking for an enthusiastic postdoc with a background in physical oceanography, civil engineering or physical geography. Affinity with seagoing work and numerical models is essential as is a cooperative spirit. The candidate will closely collaborate with two PhD's in the project.
Conditions
We offer you a fulltime position for 2 years, a pension scheme, a yearly 8% vacation allowance, year-end bonus and flexible employment conditions. Our labour policies are based on the Collective Labour Agreement of Research Centers. Cost of relocation and help with housing is provided by Royal NIOZ.
Additional information about this vacancy: Dr. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For additional information about the procedure, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., senior HR advisors. Interviews with pre-selected candidates will take place in Yerseke. Only applications that meet the profile and that are received in time will be taken into consideration. Apply to job online via: https://www.workingatnioz.com.
