Postdoctoral Researcher in Ecohydraulics and Drift in Riverine Systems / Postdoctoral Researcheress in Ecohydraulics and Drift in Riverine Systems

Postdoctoral Position in Ecohydraulics and Drift in Riverine Systems

100%, Zurich, fixed-term

The Chair of Groundwater and Hydromechanics at the Institute for Environmental Engineering (IfU), ETH Zürich, is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher for an interdisciplinary research project focused on riverine ecosystems. This position is funded by a Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) project led by Dr. Luiz G. M. Silva within the group of Prof. Roman Stocker. The project aims to develop and deploy a next-generation underwater imaging device that revolutionizes drift studies in riverine environments. This initiative is supplemented by collaboration with Associate Professor Jenni Raitoharju from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

Keywords: ecohydraulics, Riverine Organism Drift Imager, artificial intelligence, imaging, aquatic biota

Project Background

Numerous small riverine organisms depend on flow-mediated processes to complete their life cycles. One essential process is drift, a fundamental mechanism for the downstream dispersal of aquatic invertebrates and fish larvae. Although the significance of drift is well recognized, many of its underlying dynamics—particularly its spatial and temporal variability—remain poorly understood. This knowledge gap largely arises from current sampling methods, which primarily rely on drift nets that are labor-intensive and limited in resolution.

The project addresses these limitations by advancing a non-invasive, cost-effective, and broadly deployable technology for long-term, high-resolution data collection on species presence, abundance, and movement patterns in rivers and streams. By realizing the Riverine Organism Drift Imager (RODI), our group aims to establish a fully operational, camera-based underwater imaging system designed to continuously detect, classify, and quantify drifting organisms in situ. This innovative approach seeks to transform the study, monitoring, and application of riverine drift through interdisciplinary collaboration in engineering, imaging, and aquatic ecology.

Job Description

The successful candidate will primarily focus on applying the Riverine Organism Drift Imager (RODI) to address pressing scientific questions related to macroinvertebrate and fish larval drift. Key research themes include drift dynamics under varying flow regimes, hydropower impacts, mitigation and restoration measures, and drift-related foraging strategies.

Responsibilities include:

• Deploying, operating, and maintaining RODI at selected field sites in Switzerland and internationally, with particular emphasis on Finland.
• Developing and leading innovative research ideas that utilize RODI for fundamental and applied drift studies.
• Testing, benchmarking, and validating RODI against traditional sampling methods.
• Contributing to the development and application of machine-learning models tailored to RODI data in collaboration with project partners.
• Designing and implementing an advanced image-based database to manage and curate data from organisms sampled with RODI.
• Actively contributing to ongoing improvements of RODI, including both hardware and software enhancements.
• Authoring and co-authoring peer-reviewed publications and presenting findings at international conferences.

Profile

• PhD in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Ecology, Ecohydraulics, or a related discipline.
• Proven experience in planning and executing fieldwork in freshwater ecosystems.
• Strong skills in data management, visualization, and quantitative analysis.
• Familiarity with statistical modeling; interest in machine-learning approaches is a plus but not mandatory.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English.
• A genuine passion for interdisciplinary research and the ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• The ability to work both independently and collaboratively within an international research team.
• Willingness to travel for field deployments nationally and internationally.

We invite you to apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Workplace

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We are looking forward to receiving your online application.