PhD Positions in Reservoir Sedimentation at Hydropower Dams
École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL
Prendre contact
Liens Importants
Offre >
Entreprise >
EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, is one of the most dynamic university campuses in Europe
and ranks among the top 20 universities worldwide. The EPFL employs more than 6,500 people supporting the three main
missions of the institutions: education, research and innovation. The EPFL campus offers an exceptional working
environment at the heart of a community of more than 18,500 people, including over 14,000 students and 4,000
researchers from more than 120 different countries.
PhD Positions in Reservoir Sedimentation at Hydropower Dams
Mission
The Sustainable River Engineering, Energy, and Morphodynamics (STREEM) Lab at EPFL, led by Prof. Mirko Musa , is
looking for a PhD student to contribute to research on reservoir sedimentation within the context of hydropower
operations. Dams profoundly alter sediment continuity, leading to reservoir accumulation, infrastructure risks, and
downstream ecological impacts—challenges that are expected to intensify under climate change. This project aims to
advance the understanding of sediment transport processes at both watershed and reservoir scales and to develop an
integrated modelling framework capable of evaluating sediment routing, deposition, and release strategies at hydropower
dams.
As a PhD student, you will investigate the physical mechanisms governing reservoir sedimentation while evaluating
strategies to mitigate its impacts. You will contribute to the development of modelling approaches that support
optimized dam operations, balancing infrastructure protection, energy production, storage capacity, and environmental
objectives. The research will explore sediment management strategies—including controlled releases—to enhance
downstream continuity while minimizing turbine abrasion and reservoir infilling. Through this work, you will help
generate actionable knowledge for more resilient and sustainable hydropower systems.
This PhD project is part of the HORIZON Europe collaborative project TIES—Transforming Hydropower: Integrating
Flexibility, Ecosystem Health, and Societal Needs . The project aims to develop an integrated innovation framework that
enhances operational flexibility, climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and societal acceptance. It brings
together a large consortium of academic partners—TU Wien, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Università degli Studi
di Padova, Università degli Studi di Torino, Univerza v Ljubljani, and IST-ID Portugal—along with several non-academic
organizations.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Conduct original research on reservoir sedimentation and sediments connectivity under the guidance of Prof. Musa.
- Develop a modelling framework to study sediment dynamics within reservoirs and sediment routing through dams.
- Lead and contribute to academic publications and conference presentations.
- Have full responsibility for your own dissertation
- Complete coursework as required by the doctoral program.
- Contribuite to lab activities, including co-supervision of MSc students and teaching assistance.
Profile
- Strong interest in hydraulic engineering, sediment transport, and hydropower.
- Experience numerical modelling and programming (e.g., MATLAB, Python).
- Familiarity with hydrological and sediment routing modeling (e.g., SWAT, CASCADE, etc.) is considered an asset.
- Self-motivated with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
- Creative, enthusiastic, and willing to learn new things.
- Strong written and oral English communication skills, with willingness to further develop them in an academic
environment.
- Experience with academic research and publication is a plus
We offer
- World-class and international learning/working environment at EPFL main campus
- Competitive salary and excellent educational conditions
- Opportunity to perform state-of-the-art research in one of the most dynamic scientific institutions in Europe.
- Opportunity to be part of a European-sponsor project in collaboration with several other European institutions
- Opportunities to attend and present work at international conference.
Informations
For the application via the EPFL recruiting platform, please submit:
- CV with a publication list (if applicable)
- A brief (max 1 page) letter of motivation/interest in the project
- Grades from bachelor and master degrees
- Contact details of 2-3 references
Important: Your application should demonstrate a genuine interest in the advertised topic or the broader research
themes of the lab. Generic cover letters that merely copy the text of this position or the lab's research overview will
not be considered . In your cover letter, please clearly articulate why you would a strong fit for this position or for
the lab in general.
Pre-screening will start immediately and will continue until suitable candidates have been found. The selection
process involves multiple stages, and short-listed candidates will be requested to apply to a specific EPFL Doctoral
Program to qualify for a PhD at EPFL, i.e. Civil and Environmental Engineering (EDCE) and/or in Mechanics (EDME) .
Please check this page for additional information on admission. Please note that this is a separate application process
necessary to be eligible to complete your PhD at EPFL.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Prof. Mirko Musa (mirko.musa@epfl.ch). NO APPLICATION SENT TO
THIS ADDRESS SHALL BE CONSIDERED.
Start date: as soon as possible
Activity Rate: 100.00
Contract Type: PhD Student
Duration: 4 years
Reference: 2037
and ranks among the top 20 universities worldwide. The EPFL employs more than 6,500 people supporting the three main
missions of the institutions: education, research and innovation. The EPFL campus offers an exceptional working
environment at the heart of a community of more than 18,500 people, including over 14,000 students and 4,000
researchers from more than 120 different countries.
PhD Positions in Reservoir Sedimentation at Hydropower Dams
Mission
The Sustainable River Engineering, Energy, and Morphodynamics (STREEM) Lab at EPFL, led by Prof. Mirko Musa , is
looking for a PhD student to contribute to research on reservoir sedimentation within the context of hydropower
operations. Dams profoundly alter sediment continuity, leading to reservoir accumulation, infrastructure risks, and
downstream ecological impacts—challenges that are expected to intensify under climate change. This project aims to
advance the understanding of sediment transport processes at both watershed and reservoir scales and to develop an
integrated modelling framework capable of evaluating sediment routing, deposition, and release strategies at hydropower
dams.
As a PhD student, you will investigate the physical mechanisms governing reservoir sedimentation while evaluating
strategies to mitigate its impacts. You will contribute to the development of modelling approaches that support
optimized dam operations, balancing infrastructure protection, energy production, storage capacity, and environmental
objectives. The research will explore sediment management strategies—including controlled releases—to enhance
downstream continuity while minimizing turbine abrasion and reservoir infilling. Through this work, you will help
generate actionable knowledge for more resilient and sustainable hydropower systems.
This PhD project is part of the HORIZON Europe collaborative project TIES—Transforming Hydropower: Integrating
Flexibility, Ecosystem Health, and Societal Needs . The project aims to develop an integrated innovation framework that
enhances operational flexibility, climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and societal acceptance. It brings
together a large consortium of academic partners—TU Wien, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Università degli Studi
di Padova, Università degli Studi di Torino, Univerza v Ljubljani, and IST-ID Portugal—along with several non-academic
organizations.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Conduct original research on reservoir sedimentation and sediments connectivity under the guidance of Prof. Musa.
- Develop a modelling framework to study sediment dynamics within reservoirs and sediment routing through dams.
- Lead and contribute to academic publications and conference presentations.
- Have full responsibility for your own dissertation
- Complete coursework as required by the doctoral program.
- Contribuite to lab activities, including co-supervision of MSc students and teaching assistance.
Profile
- Strong interest in hydraulic engineering, sediment transport, and hydropower.
- Experience numerical modelling and programming (e.g., MATLAB, Python).
- Familiarity with hydrological and sediment routing modeling (e.g., SWAT, CASCADE, etc.) is considered an asset.
- Self-motivated with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
- Creative, enthusiastic, and willing to learn new things.
- Strong written and oral English communication skills, with willingness to further develop them in an academic
environment.
- Experience with academic research and publication is a plus
We offer
- World-class and international learning/working environment at EPFL main campus
- Competitive salary and excellent educational conditions
- Opportunity to perform state-of-the-art research in one of the most dynamic scientific institutions in Europe.
- Opportunity to be part of a European-sponsor project in collaboration with several other European institutions
- Opportunities to attend and present work at international conference.
Informations
For the application via the EPFL recruiting platform, please submit:
- CV with a publication list (if applicable)
- A brief (max 1 page) letter of motivation/interest in the project
- Grades from bachelor and master degrees
- Contact details of 2-3 references
Important: Your application should demonstrate a genuine interest in the advertised topic or the broader research
themes of the lab. Generic cover letters that merely copy the text of this position or the lab's research overview will
not be considered . In your cover letter, please clearly articulate why you would a strong fit for this position or for
the lab in general.
Pre-screening will start immediately and will continue until suitable candidates have been found. The selection
process involves multiple stages, and short-listed candidates will be requested to apply to a specific EPFL Doctoral
Program to qualify for a PhD at EPFL, i.e. Civil and Environmental Engineering (EDCE) and/or in Mechanics (EDME) .
Please check this page for additional information on admission. Please note that this is a separate application process
necessary to be eligible to complete your PhD at EPFL.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Prof. Mirko Musa (mirko.musa@epfl.ch). NO APPLICATION SENT TO
THIS ADDRESS SHALL BE CONSIDERED.
Start date: as soon as possible
Activity Rate: 100.00
Contract Type: PhD Student
Duration: 4 years
Reference: 2037