Postdoc on the risks of riverine heatwaves

European Geosciences Union; Davos; Remote; CHF 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF in Davos seeks a Postdoctoral researcher to study riverine heatwaves under climate change as part of the RiHeat project. You will evaluate risks to fish populations and energy production, and collaborate with ETH Zurich on climate and hydrology analyses.

Candidates should hold a PhD in hydrology or related fields, have strong programming and statistical skills, and be proficient in English for international dissemination.

Qualifications

• PhD in hydrology, environmental sciences, climate sciences or closely related field.
• Strong programming and statistical analysis skills.
• Good publication record for career stage and research interests.

Responsibilities

• Work on the RiHeat project to assess risks of riverine heatwaves for fish populations and energy production.
• Publish results in scientific journals and present at international conferences.
• Collaborate with ETH Zurich Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science and other partners as needed.

Skills

R

Python

Statistics

Risk assessment

Data science

Education

PhD

Job description

Postdoc on the risks of riverine heatwaves

Employer

WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF

The WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF is part of the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL and thus of the ETH Domain. WSL focuses on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards. WSL employs approximately 600 people, of whom 180 work at SLF in Davos.

Climate: Past, Present & Future (CL)
Hydrological Sciences (HS)

Type

Full time

Level

Experienced

Required education

PhD

4 November 2026

Posted

14 October 2026

The group Hydrology and Climate Impacts in Mountain Regions at the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF in Davos and the Department of Environmental Systems Science at ETH Zurich predicts hydro-climatic extreme events in mountain regions and quantifies their future changes.The group has strong expertise in water resources, extreme value analyses, statistical modelling, and climate impact assessments and is looking, from spring 2027 for two years, for a

Postdoc on the risks of riverine heatwaves (f/m/d)

You will work in the project “Riverine heatwaves under climate change (RiHeat)”, which is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Anomalously high river water temperatures introduce thermal stress to fish and other aquatic species and reduce the thermal cooling efficiency of power plants, in particular if they persist over time. Despite the potentially severe impacts of riverine heatwaves, there exists limited understanding of their occurrence, drivers, future changes, and risks. Within the RiHeat project, you will assess the risks of riverine heatwaves for (a) fish populations and (b) energy production in the Central Alps under current and future climate conditions. You will publish your results in scientific journals and present them at international conferences. The work location will be at SLF in Davos with the possibility to collaborate closely with people at the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science at ETH Zurich .

You hold a PhD degree in hydrology, environmental sciences, climate sciences, or a closely related field. We seek candidates with strong skills in programming (e.g. R or Python), statistics, risk assessments, and data science. A good publication record with respect to your career stage and research interests in climate change and hydrology complete your profile. We encourage applications from enthusiastic and dedicated individuals who have very good oral and written communication skills in English. You are motivated to work in an interdisciplinary and international working environment and you would enjoy working in a beautiful and varied mountain environment.