Applications are being invited from highly-motivated PhD candidates for two Fellowship positions
under the project Adaptive Delta Management: development, acculturation, and dissemination
in Bangladesh and Indonesia. This project, funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific
Research (NWO), is being implemented by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
(BUET), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Delft University of Technology (TU-Delft), the University of
Twente (UT) and the University of Utrecht (UU) along with private sector partners Deltares, CEGIS
and PUSAIR.
The project focuses on the urgent problem of long-term planning in highly dynamic deltas under
deep uncertainty for which model based adaptive delta management (MB-ADM) is considered a
promising approach. MB-ADM uses an interactive, interdisciplinary approach at the interface of
natural, socio-economic and policy sciences to develop adaptive delta management plans. The
project works from a comparative perspective on delta management in Bangladesh, Indonesia and
The Netherlands to further develop and disseminate ADM, both through local researchers and
research activities, and through the development and organisation of post-academic courses.
Project Structure
The project research team will consist of two postdoctoral researchers on ADM based at TU-Delft
and two full-time PhD researcher teams on Integrated Assessment Modelling based at BUET and
ITB. Each PhD team will consist of two researchers focusing on Physical Systems Modelling and
Socio-economic Systems Modelling of the delta systems. In close cooperation with the
postdoctoral researchers and under the supervision of senior staff of the academic and private
sector consortium partners, the two PhD teams will develop integrated assessment models
addressing the salient issues in the Ganges-Brahmaputra and Ciliwung deltas. Model activities will
be embedded in a participatory approach to MB-ADM design and implementation under the
responsibility of the postdoctoral researchers and senior staff. Furthermore, the PhD candidates
will support the senior staff in developing ADM plans using exploratory modelling and assist in the
development of ADM courses. To enhance synergy and consistency, the PhD researchers are
required to spend a few months per year at the respective Dutch universities. The candidates will
be formally registered at the Dutch universities. The physical systems oriented candidates will
receive their co-supervision and PhD from UT or UU. The socio-economic systems oriented
candidates will receive their PhD from TU-Delft while Professors from BUET or ITB will act as their
co-promotors.
Qualifications
General Qualifications:
- Excellent MSc results demonstrated by grades and thesis
- Academic credentials acceptable to the Dutch universities for admission into their PhD programs; an IELTS score of 7.0 or better will be preferred
- Affinity and interest in academic work
- Outstanding analytical skills
- Good conceptual and formal modeling skills
- Good communication skills, ability to work with stakeholders in politically sensitive environments
- International orientation
- A good command of the English language, in addition to the local language
- Ability and interest to work in The Netherlands for a number of months per year
- Competence and experience in crossing disciplinary boundaries
- Ability to work and share knowledge in an interdisciplinary team
- Motivation to contribute to knowledge dissemination
- Experience with GIS and integrated modelling is considered an asset
- Publications will be considered an added qualification
Specific Qualifications:
Physical Systems Modelling
MSc degree Civil engineering /Water management /Water resource engineering, Hydrological
/Environmental sciences, Physical geography, Systems engineering or another relevant
interdisciplinary degree at the interface of environment and public policy analysis.
Scio-economic Systems Modelling
MSc degree in Socio-environmental sciences, Socio-economic geography, Spatial economics,
Development studies, Systems engineering, Water management and policy, Water resource
development or another relevant interdisciplinary degree at the interface of environment,
society and public policy analysis.
Conditions of employment
Successful applicants will be appointed at BUET Dhaka or ITB Bandung under the salary and
secondary conditions offered by the respective universities in Bangladesh and Indonesia. These can
be obtained from the respective institutions.
Information and application
All application documents should be in English and should respond specifically to the qualifications
and requirements for the positions. All documents including a motivation letter clearly specifying
the position applied for, curriculum vitae (with three references) and list of publications, if any,
should be sent by email (as one PDF file with your family name as the filename) by 30 June 2014 to:
Prof. Dr. M. Shah Alam Khan (Email: msalamkhan@iwfm.buet.ac.bd)
For more information about this position and a more detailed description of the project, please
contact: Prof. Dr. M. Shah Alam Khan, IWFM, BUET (Email: msalamkhan@iwfm.buet.ac.bd)
To get in PDF: PhD Fellowship ADM BUET 03062014
