PhD in Delft, NL

PhD in Land and Water System Innovations at Delft University of Technology


Posted: 13 Jan 2009 08:58 AM CST
[Netherlands] PhD in Land and Water System Innovations at Delft University of Technology

Recently, an interdisciplinary research project was approved by the UNESCO-IHE Partnership Research Fund (UPaRF).
This project will form part of the broader successor programme of
SSI, in which the following institutes collaborate: UNESCO-IHE
Institute for Water Education (Delft, The Netherlands) , University of
Dar Es Salaam, University of KwaZulu Natal, Delft University of
Technology, the International Water Management Institute, Sokoine
University of Agriculture and the Stockholm Resilience Centre.



Within the current project a PhD positions is available, linked to the
themes described below. If successful, the PhD degree will be awarded
by Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands.
PhD position available at UNESCO-IHE (SSI-2 Project)Upscaling
small-scale land and water system innovations in dryland
agro-ecosystems for sustainability and livelihood improvements (SSI-2)
http://www.unesco-ihe.org/Research/PhD-Research/Available-PhD-Positions/PhD-position-available-at-UNESCO-IHE-SSI-2-Project


Project description

The project focuses on the semi-arid areas of sub-Saharan Africa, where
95% of the total agricultural land is used for rainfed agriculture,
water availability is scarce and highly variable, and average yields
often remain below 1 ton per ha. The resilience of the farming systems
is low as well, due the large (and increasing) variability of the
hydro-climatic conditions and a limited capacity to adapt. As a result,
crop failure is the norm. Water availability is a key entry point to
improve crop productivity in these regions (Falkenmark and Rockström,
2004).
The research and outreach programme of “Smallholder systems
innovations in integrated watershed management” (SSI-1, 2004-2008) thus
focused on the identification and application of innovative
agricultural water management practices that offer opportunities to
increase both food security and safeguard environmental integrity. The
impact of these innovations on food production and ecosystems has been
studied at field and watershed scale at sites in the Thukela river
basin in South Africa and the Pangani river basin in Tanzania.
There is a growing awareness that a real transformation of the
countryside will only be possible if innovative soil and water
technologies and land and water management practices are adopted, and
locally adapted, at a large scale and in combination with increased
fertilizer use (see e.g. Rijsberman, 2004; Polak, 2005; Rockström et
al., 2007). Only then will rural areas be able to transform from their
current position of marginalization and poverty to a motor of
socio-economic development (Prahalad, 2004).
Since the conditions under which such a transformation may occur, as
well as the potential impacts at different scales, are still
ill-understood, a new project will focus on the socio-economic and
bio-physical conditions and impacts of upscaling these innovations.
This new project (SSI-2, 2008-2012) will take note of some new drivers
that influence the opportunities for agricultural innovation and rural
socio-economic transformation: increasing food prices, increased access
to information in the rural countryside, climate change impacts, and
the limited access of farmers to energy sources in the face of an
increasing global demand for biofuels (e.g., de Wit and Stankiewics,
2006; Uhlenbrook, 2007). The two PhD research projects form part of the
broader SSI-2 programme.
PhD Project 1: Water processes at different spatial scales

This research theme addresses the hydrological implications for
up-scaling land and water system innovations. The objective is to gain
better understanding of the interactions between processes linking
local and larger scales.
The analysis focuses on how the dominant hydrological processes may
change at different spatial scales. The research builds on the
understanding of the hydrological processes gained during SSI-1, with a
stronger emphasis on groundwater- surface water interactions and
potential implications of/for land management changes.
It is hypothesised that surface-groundwater interactions are
critical to the impacts of water system innovations, and that it
impacts vary with scale and different physiographic characteristics.
This hypothesis will be verified in the field and the results used
for predictive modelling to determine impacts of up-scaled use of WSIs
on water quantity and quality for downstream users under different
scenarios. The surface-groundwater interactions (including wetlands)
are also crucial for the hydrological variability and water resources
availability at different scales and, consequently, for the provision
of ecosystem services.
Research question: What are the hydrological impacts of small scale
farming activities, incl. water system innovations, across different
scales? Particular attention will be paid to different types of
rainwater harvesting, supplementary irrigation and full scale
irrigation.
Methodology: Understanding the hydrological impacts of small scale
farming activities across different scales, requires the understanding
of the hydrological processes at these scales. This research will take
up the small scale hydrological understanding (project 3.1) and
investigate the large scale (500-5,000-45, 000 km2) hydrological
processes through the use of remote sensing data combined with field
observations (incl. hydro-chemical and tracers studies). Of particular
interest is the groundwater surface water interaction (incl. generation
of wetlands) and the impact of this on the downstream water
availability (PBWO, 2006). A process-based distributed hydrological
model will be developed to investigate different scenarios of uptake
and extent of the small scale farming activities.
This study will be supervised by Prof. Dr. Stefan Uhlenbrook, Dr.
Jan Willem Foppen, Dr Shreedhar Maskey (UNESCO-IHE) , Dr. T.A. Kimaro
(UDSM).
The following applies to the position:

- All topics will be carried out in a so-called sandwich construction
with different phases at UNESCO-IHE in the Netherlands and field
research in Tanzania (with regular contacts with Tanzanian and Dutch
supervisors).

- PhD positions are funded with a fellowship for which NUFFIC regulations apply.

- Starting date: April 1, 2009 for 4 years.

- Qualifications: M.Sc. degree (average mark: 80% or above) in a
discipline relevant to the topic, e.g. environmental engineering,
socio-economics of the water sector, hydrology and water resources.

- The applicants must demonstrate a strong interest and experience in conducting interdisciplinary research.

- The applicant should be willing to co-operated with other researchers in the SSI-2 programme

- The applicants should be willing to co-supervise MSc research projects.

- The applicants must be fluent in English.

- Preferred country of citizenship of the applicants is Tanzania.

- Age: 40 years and below.

- Work experience in relevant fields of studies is desirable.
The project it is jointly led by Dr. T.A. Kimaro (kimaro@wrep.udsm.ac.tz) and Ms. M.L. Mul (m.mul@unesco-ihe.org) of UNESCO-IHE.
Applications, including curriculum vitae, the names and contact
details of three contactable referees, and a motivation letter, should
be sent by email to both Dr. T.A. Kimaro and Ms. M.L. Mul before 31 January 2009.

Please mention the subject heading “PhD application SSI-2 project 1″.

We intend to contact short-listed candidates on or before 15 February 2009.