Eurizon.eu

Organization: Institute of Geomatics and Analysis of Risk (IGAR)

Location: Lausanne, Switzerland

Field: Earth science

Requirements:

Recently obtained M.Sc. diploma in the field of Earth Sciences (engineering geology, geographer, etc…), environmental sciences, natural hazards and risks, including strong skills in geoinformatics and quantitative methods or in the field of physics, engineering, mathematics, computer sciences, with great interest in natural risk and environmental problems. Good English (additional French, Polish or Romanian) language knowledge is an asset. Strong skills in computer sciences, Earth sciences, risk analysis, remote sensing, GIS and modeling are requested. Work in transdisciplinary teams as well as experience as WEB master may be an advantage.
It is expected, that the successful candidate will participate in all meetings and workshops organized by the CHANGES research consortium – related additional funding will be available. The candidate must also be willing to disseminate the results within the project during the meetings, but also and in particular through presentations at conferences and contributions to scientific journals. Frequent interaction with other researchers in the CHANGES network and an attitude for scientific inter-disciplinary research are important.
• Good computer programming’s skills
• Risk assessment procedures
• WEB and WEB-GIS technology knowledge
• Database and exchange platform programming

Abstract:

A Ph.D. position, financed by the European Community, is available within the European Marie Curie Initial Training Network “CHANGES”. The CHANGES network (Changing Hydro-meteorological Risks – as Analyzed by a New Generation of European Scientists) will develop an advanced understanding of how global changes (related to environmental and climate change as well as socio-economical change) will affect the temporal and spatial patterns of hydro-meteorological hazards and associated risks in Europe; how these changes can be assessed, modeled, and incorporated in sustainable risk management strategies, focusing on spatial planning, emergency preparedness and risk communication. The position implies research only, with no teaching obligations.

Description:

Background: The main goal is to create an adaptive Web-based environment that permits to setup risk strategies with a continuously evolving knowledge highlighting the importance of an internet-based Decision Support System for the use of risk information in risk reduction. The interface of this platform will be user-friendly and will also include the possibility to improve based on the enrichment of the platform by users. The research will focus on the development of model, materialized a time dependent flow-chart describing the process of a risk analysis and risk management by stages. This will address topics from the political or administrative decision to the implementation of a mitigation or/and early warning strategy. Intermediate stages are feasibility of a project, the choice of the methods of hazard, vulnerability evaluations, their use and the risk assessment. This includes technical, demographic and social aspects as well. Quantitative resilience will be also addressed if possible. The complete understanding of the setting up of an integrated risk management process will be performed.
This risk management tools will address the topic such as land use planning, cost-benefit analysis for the construction of mitigation measures, early warning and emergency preparedness. The framework of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) will be also taken into account. This will lead to a complete Web-based system that will permit users (will get MyRiskProcess account) to set up step by step an integrated risk management, using proposed resources. This will be achieved using inputs from other groups of the CHANGES project. The possibility to enrich the system will be proposed to any users throughout a validation process.
Objectives:
Of particular focus will be the following topics:
• Review of existing approaches in risk management (of hydro-meteorological risks).
• A review of the principles of risk assessment methods
• An overview of the tools used to assess hazard and vulnerability
• An analysis of all types of useful documents and data including future trends
• The development and implementation of a conceptual model of actors and stakeholders interactions
• The understanding of monitoring and early waning systems

Location: The candidate will be based for 36 months at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland). Within this period, the candidate will join for 5 months each the company Alert Solutions BV, Delft (the Netherlands) and International Centre for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE), Barcelona (Spain), for project-stated knowledge transfer activities. The applicant must be able to move frequently between the three locations, because a close collaboration expected during whole project
 
The contract duration is of 36 months. The salary is in accordance with the EU FP7 Marie Curie ITN regulations and will consist of, mobility allowance, travel allowance, career exploratory allowance and contribution to participation expenses
 
The applicants should send their CV, letter of interest/motivation (max. 1 page) and a letter of recommendation (…known scholar…) to: Prof. Michel Jaboyedoff (Michel.Jaboyedoff@unil.ch) The applicant’s selection will be performed on a competitive basis

Deadline: 01-04-2011

Contacts:

Link: http://www.unil.ch/igar

Email: Michel.Jaboyedoff@unil.ch

Phone number: + 41 21 692 35 32

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