Doctoral fellow

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With its 11 faculties and more than 85 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

YOUR TASKS

PROJECT BACKGROUND

 
Tidal currents and ship waves place substantial pressure on riverbanks and intertidal habitats in estuaries, challenging efforts to reconcile river navigation with ecosystem protection and restoration. The four-year RECRAFT research project aims to develop nature-based solutions for riverbank protection and habitat restoration across the full intertidal profile. The approach focuses on developing innovative wave attenuation structures and engineered riverbank profiles, in combination with reused dredged sediments and vegetation-based wave and flow protection, to reduce hydrodynamic forces and create suitable conditions for ecosystem recovery. We aim to develop state-of-the-art, modular, scalable and adaptable solutions that set a new standard in estuarine and riverbank protection.

The project brings together research and industry partners, including global marine engineering leaders DEME and Jan De Nul, Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Mantis Consulting, the University of Antwerp, Ghent University and Flanders Hydraulics. Our team, the Coastal Engineering Research Group at Ghent University, leads the hydrodynamics component of the project through numerical modelling, wave-flume experiments and field measurements. The project offers a unique opportunity for a PhD candidate to develop computational and experimental expertise, build a professional network with research and industry partners, and contribute to the development, optimisation and validation of a new nature-based riverbank protection solution.

YOUR TASKS 

As a PhD candidate, you will develop an innovative nature-based engineering solution for riverbank protection, taking into account local opportunities and constraints. Your research will explore wave-attenuating structures, engineered riverbank profiles, and vegetation, and how these can work together to reduce hydrodynamic forces and create conditions for ecosystem recovery.

You will develop and apply computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models to explore how tidal currents and ship waves interact with the proposed solution, examine its performance and optimise its components. Alongside this, you will design and conduct wave-flume experiments to test protection concepts, investigate wave attenuation and hydraulic stability, and validate your numerical models. Together, these studies will help establish how the solution can be adapted to different sites and environmental conditions.

The project also offers the opportunity to help bring the solution to life at a field-scale pilot site. Working with research and industry partners, you will design field campaigns to measure waves, water levels and flow velocities, and investigate your proposed solution under real-world conditions. The pilot site will serve as a living laboratory to examine and refine your ideas and findings.

You will actively collaborate with project partners, participate in project meetings, manage the project timeline and deliverables, contribute to project reports and publish your findings in scientific journals and at conferences. There may also be opportunities to contribute to teaching and the supervision of master’s students.

You will be responsible for:

• Spending at least 70% of your assignment on academic research. 
• Planning, coordinating, and executing project tasks as described above. 
• Interacting with project partners and engaging in collaborative research. 
• Managing project communication and reporting, including writing reports and scientific articles.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

PROFILE

• A master’s degree or an equivalent qualification in civil, coastal, hydraulic or ocean engineering, physical oceanography, or a related field, with a strong background in fluid mechanics and coastal or estuarine hydrodynamics. Candidates with a master’s degree in mechanical or environmental engineering and a relevant specialisation in environmental fluid mechanics and hydraulics are also encouraged to apply. 
• An interest in coastal and river hydrodynamics, including waves, ship waves, currents and their interactions with engineering structures and natural environments. 
• Knowledge of and interest in numerical modelling and laboratory experimentation. 
• Experience with CFD modelling (OpenFOAM or comparable software) is an advantage. 
• An interest in field studies, with a hands-on, practical approach to solving problems in outdoor conditions, and the flexibility to participate in field campaigns for extended periods. Previous fieldwork experience is an advantage. 
• Hands-on experience in programming and data analysis (e.g. MATLAB, Python). 
• Previous experience conducting experiments in a wave flume or wave basin is a plus. 
• Previous experience, for example through a master’s thesis, in nature-based solutions is a plus. 
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the curiosity to develop new ideas. 
• Proficiency in written and spoken English. 
• A responsible and collaborative approach, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• A contract of up to 4 years for the duration of your doctoral research, starting with a one-year appointment and extendable to a total maximum of 48 months, subject to a positive evaluation. 
• Your contract will start on 1 January 2027 at the earliest. 
• The salary and appointment terms are consistent with the general rules at Ghent University. Click here for more information about our salary scales. 
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all staff benefits. 
• A dynamic and collaborative research environment that fosters innovation. 
• A unique opportunity to be part of a challenging, multidisciplinary project, working closely with research partners and institutes. 
• Work location: Coastal Engineering Research Group at Ghent University, Technologiepark, Zwijnaarde (Belgium). 
• More information on working at UGent is available on http://www.ugent.be/en/work. 
• Learn more about the Coastal Engineering Research Group: http://www.ugent.be/ea/civil-engineering/en/research/coastal-bridges-roads/coastal-engineering.

INTERESTED?

APPLICATION DETAILS

Send your CV and a cover letter to Dr Ben Shabani (behnam.shabani@ugent.be) and aww@ugent.be by 6 November 2026. Your cover letter should include the vacancy reference number (PER30/2196), explain your interest in the position and highlight your relevant experience. 

• Provide the names and contact details (telephone numbers and email addresses) of two referees. If possible, include a senior referee (such as your supervisor, manager or head of your organisational unit) who is closely associated with your current work or studies. Referees should be able to comment on your research potential, skills and performance in relation to the selection criteria. 
• Late applications will not be accepted. 

MORE INFORMATION 

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr Ben Shabani (behnam.shabani@ugent.be) or Prof Peter Troch (peter.troch@ugent.be).