PhD "Integration of flux measurements in groundwater models"
1 - Working at the VUB
For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and solidarity, and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike.
At the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities: innovators pur sang, but above all people who are 100% their authentic selves. With some 4,000 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels; an international city with which we are only too happy to connect and where (around) our 4 campuses are located.
Add to this our principle of free research - in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central - and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: the VUB all over again.
Moreover, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of like-minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves.
2 - Position description
The Faculty of Engineering, Department Water and Climate, is looking for a PhD-student with a doctoral grant.
More concretely your work package, for the preparation of a doctorate, contains:
For predicting impacts such as climate change and pumping on the groundwater system, as well as for understanding and quantifying groundwater drought resilience and adaptation, hydrogeologists use numerical groundwater flow models. Current groundwater flow models often exhibit important uncertainties related to input parameters and boundary conditions. Reducing this uncertainty is difficult if these models are only calibrated using groundwater level measurements. We know that measurements of groundwater fluxes are very sensitive to model parameters and boundary conditions and could reduce model uncertainty significantly. Unfortunately, it is challenging to measure groundwater fluxes in the field. A new iFlux sensor prototype to measure real-time groundwater fluxes in the field is a promising technique, but is a very local measurement compared to the spatial extent of groundwater flow models. It is therefore interesting to combine these local measurements with distributed measurements of fluxes that can reveal variations in space. The recently granted fully funded FWO project “Can we listen to groundwater?” aims to investigate the potential of (quasi-) distributed optical fibre sensing techniques for measuring groundwater fluxes through sensor development, lab and field experiments, modelling and uncertainty assessment with a focus on two case studies: a shallow unconsolidated aquifer and a fractured rock to assess to what extent and in which conditions (quasi-)distributed fibre-optic sensing can be used to estimate groundwater fluxes and result in uncertainty reduction in numerical groundwater flow models.
Within this context, we are looking for an excellent PhD candidate on “Integrating distributed fibre-optic sensing and local direct groundwater flux measurements into groundwater flow models for reducing uncertainty”. The research work will include:
- Field measurement and geostatistical analysis of groundwater fluxes;
- Transient 3D groundwater modelling;
- Integration of flux measurements in uncertainty quantification of groundwater models;
- Assessment of uncertainty reduction of groundwater models.
The selected candidate will join the Groundwater Group of the Research Group of Water and Climate of VUB. The candidate will be supervised by prof. Marijke Huysmans and co-supervised by Lara Speijer. Given that the PhD project is embedded in interdisciplinary collaboration between the research group of Water and Climate and the Brussels Photonics B-PHOT research group, the candidate will work in close collaboration with the B-PHOT team, including a PhD student working on the same project, ensuring synergy between photonics-based sensing and hydro-environmental applications. You will actively participate in project meetings, present your findings at international conferences, and publish in international scientific journals.
For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base.
3 - Profile
What do we expect from you?
- You have a demonstrable interest in hydrogeology and groundwater modelling.
- You have experience with groundwater modelling in MODFLOW, hydrogeological fieldwork and (groundwater) data analysis.
- You are proficient in programming in Python and have a good knowledge of statistics. Experience with FloPy is an added value for this position.
- You express yourself fluently in English and have excellent communication, writing and presentation skills.
- You are a team player and interested in collaboration with researchers from other disciplines and organisations.
- Knowledge of the (hydro)-geology of Flanders is an added value for this position.
- Knowledge of Dutch is an added value for this PhD position.
- A driver’s license is an added value for this PhD position.
- You have not performed any works in the execution of a mandate as an assistant, paid from operating resources, over a total (cumulated) period of more than 12 months.
- As a (non-)EEA national, meet the conditions for obtaining a valid permit for VUB and comply with the VUB residence requirements. More info here.
The VUB wants to be a reflection of the society where everyone's talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity.
4 - Offer
Are you going to be our new colleague?
You’ll be offered a full-time PhD-scholarship, for 12 months (extendable up to max. 48 months, on condition of the positive evaluation of the PhD activities), with planned starting date 15/08/2026.
You’ll receive a grant linked to one of the scales set by the government.
IMPORTANT: The effective result of the doctorate scholarship is subject to the condition precedent of your enrolment as a doctorate student at the university.
At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.
As well as this, you will also enjoy various other benefits:
- Extensive homeworking options, a telework allowance of 50 euros per month OR an internet fee of 20 euros per month;
- An open and informal working environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract), closure between Christmas and New Year and 3 extra leave days;
- Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
- Full reimbursement of your home-to-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, and/or compensation if you come by bike;
- A wide selection of meals in our campus restaurants at attractive prices;
- Excellent and affordable facilities for sport and exercise, a range of discounts via Benefits@Work (in all kinds of shops, on flights, in petrol stations, amusement parks...) and Ecocheques;
- Nursery near campus, discount on holiday camps;
- The space to form your job content and to continuously learn through our VUB learning platforms and training courses;
- And finally: great colleagues with a healthy drive.
5 - Interested?
Is this the job you’ve been dreaming of?
Then apply, at the latest on 20/03/2026, via jobs.vub.be, and upload the following documents:
- your CV;
- your motivation letter;
- your diploma (not applicable for VUB alumni).
Our application process is as follows (subject to change):
- step 1: an initial selection based on your application file;
- step 2: a job interview.
Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Marijke Huysmans at marijke.huysmans@vub.be or on 02/6293039.
Would you like to know what it’s like to work at the VUB? Go to jobs.vub.be, and find all there is to know about our campuses, benefits, strategic goals and your future colleagues.
Would you like more information about EUTOPIA? Go to eutopia-university.eu, and read more about the role of the VUB in the development of the EUTOPIA alliance.
