Join a leading research institute and help advance proactive urban water asset management by studying the hydraulic impacts of pipe sediment accumulation and blockages. You will work on bridging the gap between Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and risk-based sewer pipe cleaning and inspection, aiming to optimize operational strategies and increase network resilience.

• Quantify the hydraulic impacts of sewer pipe sediment accumulation and blockages by calibrating hydraulic resistance functions using CFD simulations validated with lab experiments.
• Conduct exploratory analysis to predict the most critical pipes in a drainage network by transferring CFD results into one-dimensional probabilistic models under variable rainfall scenarios.
• Develop and validate a risk-based pipe inspection and maintenance methodology.
• Explore your own ideas and collaborate closely with researchers at Eawag, ETH Zurich, and partner institutions.
• Publish research results in scientific journals and present at conferences.
• Contribute up to 10% of your time to teaching or supporting other activities within Eawag.

• MSc degree in data science, physics, environmental engineering, hydrology, civil or mechanical engineering, or a related field.
• Strong foundation in computational fluid dynamics (CFD), hydrodynamic modelling of urban drainage systems (e.g., EPA SWMM), machine learning, and time series analysis.
• Excellent English writing and communication skills.
• Programming skills in Python or similar languages.
• Interest in urban water systems, asset management, and the impacts of climate change and urbanisation on water infrastructure.
• Ability to think critically, work independently, and demonstrate reliability and self-organization.
• Communication skills in German and/or French and a collaborative mindset are a plus.

• Work in an internationally networked aquatic research institute within the ETH Domain.
• Collaborate with leading experts and partner institutions.
• Opportunity to publish and present your work in scientific forums.
• Supportive environment that promotes participation, exchange, and work-life balance.
• Flexible workplace, working hours, and job design solutions available to meet individual needs.
• PhD degree awarded by ETH Zurich.