Do you want to improve weather forecasts and climate projections for Equatorial East Africa, a region facing frequent floods, landslides, and droughts? Then this PhD position may be something for you!
Job description
The project "African convective systems in a changing climate (ANVIL)", funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and the Flemish Research Council (FWO), aims to address critical uncertainties in our understanding of rainfall systems over Equatorial East Africa (EEA) and how they may change in the future. It is a collaborative project between TU Delft, KU Leuven and Ghent University.
The successful PhD applicant will be involved in the work package "African precipitation variability from raindrop to continental scales", led by TU Delft. This WP leverages new observational capabilities (from disdrometers, rain gauges, radars, satellites and commercial microwave links) to study EEA precipitation variability from the smallest (raindrop) to the largest (near-continental) scales. This will provide an evaluation benchmark for the cloud and precipitation-modelling efforts in ANVIL's other WPs. Concretely, the successful PhD applicant will work on: (1) Parameterizing rainfall variability from the micro-γ to the meso-β scale; (2) Lagrangian properties of EEA rainfall for the period 1979 – 2025; (3) Eulerian properties of EEA rainfall for the period 1979 – 2025; (4) Statistical rainfall analysis of EEA rainfall under warming, urbanisation and aerosol scenarios. This will provide unprecedented insights into factors affecting African rainfall and identify key areas for future model development.
Job requirements
A completed MSc in hydrology, atmospheric sciences, remote sensing, (environmental) physics, civil engineering, environmental engineering or related field and affinity with the application of remote sensing and numerical models in the field of weather and water. Strong quantitative and communication skills (written and oral) are a prerequisite, as well as a motivation to work with (BSc and MSc) students.
TU Delft
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.
At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.
Challenge. Change. Impact!
The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences
The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.
Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.
Conditions of employment
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.
Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from €3059 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.
The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.
Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.
Additional information
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Remko Uijlenhoet (R.Uijlenhoet@tudelft.nl).
Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before 22 April 2026 via the application button and upload:
You can address your application to Remko Uijlenhoet.
Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.
Please note:
- You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
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