PhD Environmental Engineering 1

Overview

ID der Anzeige: 1824

Forschungsverbund: N/A

Lehrverpflichtung: Ja

Bewerbungsfristende:

Voraussichtliches Startdatum:

The Department of Multiscale Environmental Process Engineering at the Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management (ISWA) at the University of Stuttgart is delighted to announce an open PhD position for an enthusiastic researcher who will work on:

“Real-Time Monitoring and Modelling of Wastewater Treatment Plant Impacts on Water Quality in a Receiving River”

The researcher will have access to a unique, full-scale research wastewater treatment facility at ISWA, field equipment, and advanced chemical and microbiological laboratories. This research supports the Department of Multiscale Environmental Systems Modelling’s broader ambition of enabling data-driven, dynamic management of the urban water cycle to reduce direct and indirect environmental impacts in a changing climate.

The EU’s Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD), published in 2025, aims to minimize the impacts of wastewater treatment plant discharges on receiving rivers. However, river water quality is highly variable and influenced by multiple pollution sources. In addition to treated wastewater, rain driven discharges from stormwater overflows, runoff from roads and roofs, and agricultural runoff from farmland all contribute to river pollution.

The task for the researcher will be to implement a monitoring scheme for water quality and flow in a river upstream and downstream of a wastewater treatment plant. The aim is to quantify for variable meteorological conditions how much treated wastewater discharges contribute to the pollution load transported by a small river. Real-time sensor measurements of flow and basic water quality parameters will be combined with targeted autosampling during weather events for more detailed laboratory analysis of chemical and microbial water quality.

Using the collected data, the researcher will apply machine-learning methods to anticipate the real-time impact of the treatment plant on the river for variable weather conditions.

The position provides the opportunity for the candidate to be creative and innovative, and to work on a challenging topic that combines various fields within environmental engineering.

Ihr Profil

Ideal candidates should have a solid background in engineering or the natural sciences and a keen interest in environmental protection. Applicants must have the ability to work independently and in a team, have excellent management and communication skills and should be highly motivated and committed to pursuing interdisciplinary research. Very good computer skills are necessary. In addition to English, German is desirable for collaboration with other staff at ISWA.

Employment (TV-L E 13, 75%, 3 years) will be arranged by the administration of the University of Stuttgart.