Doctoral student on the impacts of climate and hydrological extremes on water quality

The Doctoral Student position investigates how climate and hydrological extremes affect water quality. It is based at ETH Zurich's Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science and the WSL‑Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, within the NCCR CLIM+ programme funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. The programme supports Switzerland's shift toward a climate‑resilient society by developing actionable climate research. Daily work involves analysing the impact of events such as heatwaves, droughts and floods on water‑quality parameters like nutrients and oxygen. You will translate these process insights into data‑driven models that forecast water quality under future climate scenarios, and you will disseminate findings through scientific papers and presentations at national and international conferences. The ideal candidate holds a Master's degree in hydrology, climate science, environmental science or a closely related discipline. You should possess solid knowledge of hydrological processes, proven experience in statistical or data‑driven modelling, and strong programming abilities, preferably in Python and/or R. Experience with large‑scale hydrological, meteorological or climate datasets is required, as are excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Fluency in one of Switzerland's national languages is considered a valuable addition. The role offers an interdisciplinary, international setting and encourages collaborative work within a forward‑looking research community. What the role asks for: - MSc in hydrology, climate or environmental sciences - Strong knowledge of hydrological processes - Experience in statistical or data‑driven modelling - Proficient programming in Python and/or R - Experience with large hydrological/meteorological/climate datasets - Excellent oral and written English communication - Proficiency in a Swiss national language (nice‑to‑have)