7 Mar 2025

The Department of Landscape, Water and Infrastructure, Institute of Soil Physics and Rural Water Management is currently seeking a Postgraduate Research Associate (project employment).

Extent of employment: 30 hours per week 
Duration of employment: 1st of May 2025, limited to 30th of April 2028
Workplace: 1190 Vienna, Muthgasse 18
Allocation in compliance with the Collective Agreement for University Staff to job group: B1 
Gross monthly salary: (depending on previous eligible experience) at least: € 2.786,10 
(payable 14 times per year) 

Responsibilities:

The overall aim of the doctoral thesis is to identify nitrate sources and denitrification processes in groundwater using isotope techniques. The PhD project focuses on the identification of variables impacting denitrification via laboratory experiments and temporal monitoring at the selected sites. In-situ impacts of water level, temperature, redox conditions, organic carbon concentrations and chemical pressures will be linked to denitrification in groundwater. Together with project partners in France and Denmark, a tool box will be developed to better characterize aquifers in terms of denitrification potential and to integrate new monitoring protocol tools into policies. 

The specific tasks of this open position are mainly:

• Groundwater sampling in the field
• Analysis of groundwater geochemistry in the field and laboratory
• Analysis of stable isotopes (nitrate and water) in the laboratory
• Performing column experiments in the laboratory
• Data evaluation and interpretation
• Publication of scientific papers
• Presentation of results at scientific conferences

Required skills and qualifications:

• Diploma degree in Hydrogeology, Geosciences, Environmental Sciences or other equivalent university degree
• Language skills: English 
• Excellent knowledge of hydrogeology and geochemistry
• Knowledge about the nitrogen cycle in groundwater
• Experience with groundwater sampling
• Experience with analysing physico-chemical parameters in the field and laboratory
• Ability to work in interdisciplinary teams
• Skills in data analysis
• Driver’s license class B

Desirable skills and qualifications:

• Knowledge in isotope hydrology
• Experience with using Geographic Information System software
• Interest in interdisciplinary research questions
• German language skills beneficial
• Motivation, ability to work in a team and independently

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna seeks to increase the number of its female faculty and staff members. Therefore qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply. In case of equal qualification, female candidates will be given preference unless reasons specific to an individual male candidate tilt the balance in his favour.

People with disabilities and appropriate qualifications are specifically encouraged to apply.

Please send your job application incl.

• Motivation letter
• CV
• Bachelor and Master certificates
• Summary of master thesis
• Names of two referees.

The application should be sent as a single pdf-file (<5MB) to Personnel Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Peter-Jordan-Straße 70, 1190 Vienna; E-Mail: recruiting@boku.ac.at. (Reference code: 56)

We regret that we cannot reimburse applicants travel and lodging expenses incurred as part of the selection and hiring process.

www.boku.ac.at

Research Field

Geosciences » Hydrology

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Institute of Soil Physics and Rural Water Management

Country

Austria

City

Vienna

Postal Code

1190

Street

Muthgasse 18

Geofield