PhD student in Tectonic geomorphology in Zürich

The Earth Surface Dynamics research group in the department of Earth Sciences at ETH Zurich is hiring a PhD student to study the feedbacks between landscape morphology and channel hydraulics in mountain rivers. This position is part of an SNF-funded project to study riverbed geometry in steep, boulder-mantled rivers. Using autonomous aerial vehicles and structure from motion photogammetry we will create 3D models of the channel, taking advantage of recent advances in 3D image segmentation techniques to automatically identify features such as individual clasts and bankfull channel geometry.

The position is within the Earth Surface Dynamics group of ETH. The ESD group seeks to understand the drivers and shapers of mountainous landscapes, untangling their tectonic, climatic and ecological histories by integrating field observations, geospatial analyses, and geochemical dating techniques supported by theoretical and modeling work.

You will be responsible for planning, conducting and interpreting results from field work. This includes:

• Developing a workflow for acquiring, processing and segmenting 3D channel models.
• Putting the data in context of the geology and geomorphology of the field sites.
• Interpreting observations in light of modern theories of bedrock river incision and landscape evolution.
• Communicating these findings at an international level through scientific papers and participation in international conferences.

The duration of the project is three years and will start fall 2022.

You should have an excellent MSc degree with a background in geology, geophysics, engineering, or physics. While the exact project can be tailored to your skillset to some degree, experience with scientific programming and interest in bringing together a wide variety of data and techniques is highly valued. Experience working in the field is helpful. Proficiency in English is required.

Excellent facilities in a relaxing work atmosphere with many opportunities for collaboration within and beyond the group. Our research team is multicultural, inclusive and shares an excitement for understanding the landscapes we all inhabit. English and German are the working languages of the institute and English is the working language of the research group.

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