Belgium: PhD Student Positions in Modelling the Distribution of Sediment, Water, Carbon and Energy Fluxes Along the Hillslope

PhD Student Positions in Modelling the Distribution of Sediment, Water, Carbon and Energy Fluxes Along the Hillslope, Belgium
Ph.D. student position
Starting January 2010, the laboratory of Environmetry and Geomatics (UCL/AGRO/MILA/ENGE) is looking to appoint an enthusiastic Ph.D. student in the framework of a joint research project entitled “Modelling the distribution of sediment, water, carbon and energy fluxes along the hillslope”.

About the project
A recent key area of interest is the characterization of linkage between masses and energy fluxes of water, carbon, and energy fluxes at the geomorphologic hillslope level, as their coupling induce spatially and temporally structured patterns with non negligible attached uncertainties. The final objective is to obtain a reliable model at the hillslope scale, with possible extensions at the regional level.
Working environment
The successful candidate will lead the statistical/physical data analysis and modeling part of the project, among a team of three Ph.D. students. He/She will work mainly inside the Environmetry and Geomatics (UCL/AGRO/MILA/ENGE) research team of the Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium (http://www.uclouvain.be/mila).
Expected candidate profile

• master diploma in bioengineering, civil engineering, physics, mathematics (statistical orientation) or equivalent diplomas.
• great fondness for statistical data analysis and modelling. Sound knowledge in physical and statistical modeling for environmental sciences is a clear benefit.
• good practice and mastering of computer software’s in statistics and mathematics (especially Matlab, but additional knowledge in SAS, R, S+ and C++ are welcome as well)
• a clear interest for a research work and for the perspective of a Ph.D. work
• good communication skills in English (written reports, oral presentation, etc.). Additional knowledge in French/Dutch is welcome as well.

Candidates will submit their detailed curriculum vitae, along with a motivation letter and two reference letters. Correspondence should be sent with the clear mention “ARC Project_Bogaert” through e-mail or regular mail to the following address:
Professeur Patrick BOGAERT
Email : patrick.bogaert[ at ]uclouvain.be
Université catholique de Louvain UCL/AGRO/MILA/ENGE
Tel : +32 10 47 36 82
Fax: +32 10 47 88 98
Croix du Sud, 2, Boîte 16,
1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgique.