PhD on Modeling the Cool City: Microclimate Solutions for Urban Heat Resilience

Are you a highly motivated researcher passionate about urban climate and hydrometeorological modeling, urban biometeorology, and climate-sensitive urban design? Do you want to pursue a PhD study that translates advanced urban (bio)climate and hydrometeorology knowledge into real-world solutions protecting human health from extreme heat?

We are seeking a talented PhD candidate to join the Horizon Europe Innovation Action Project EUROASIS ( EUROpean Adaptive, Systemic and Inclusive Solutions for heat resilience ). This PhD position will focus specifically on evaluating and upscaling a portfolio of systemic heat-mitigation innovations across four major European pilot cities: Amsterdam, Athens, Zaragoza, and Reggio Emilia.

You will assess how physical, nature-based, and digital interventions—ranging from Amsterdam's network of shaded routes and heat shelters to Zaragoza's xerophytic "climate oases"—alter the outdoor thermal conditions and directly minimize ambient heat exposure for urban populations. Collaborating with international partners (such as Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine and Atelier Franck Boutté), you will couple advanced microclimatic and urban morphology simulations with epidemiological data to quantify heat-health benefits. As our PhD candidate, you will bridge the gap between high-resolution microscale climate/hydrometeorological simulation and empirical public health outcomes. Your work will directly culminate in international peer-reviewed journal papers and foundational project deliverables.

You will work here
The Meteorology and Air Quality Group (MAQ) aims to contribute to the further understanding of atmospheric processes and their relevance for weather, air quality and climate. We do research on a variety of topics and horizontal scales. As a university group we are responsible for the education in subjects of Meteorology and Air Quality at the BSc and MSc level and the training of PhD candidates. Students are guided in the basics of Weather and Climate, Forecasting, Turbulence and Dispersion, Boundary-Layer Meteorology and Chemistry, Atmospheric Dynamics, Desertification and Land use, and many other subjects. You will be co-supervised by Dr. D. (Dragan) Milosevic and Dr. G.J. (Gert-Jan) Steeneveld.

Requirements

• You hold (or are about to complete) a Master's degree in Urban (Bio)Climate, (Hydro)Meteorology, Climate Science, Environmental Physics, Physical Geography, Urban Design, or a related field;
• Experience in atmospheric numerical modelling (e.g., RANS, LES) and scientific programming and GIS tools — or strong motivation to learn them.
• Affinity with biometeorology, human thermal comfort, and heat indices, with an interest in connecting environmental science to public health data;
• Solid analytical, programming, and writing skills and the ambition to publish in scientific journals.
• Good time management and a collaborative mindset are essential for working across a diverse, multi-sector consortium of city planners, digital twin developers, and health agencies;
• Willingness to travel to pilot cities for field campaigns
• For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level . Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here .

Contract terms

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment . A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• Partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.
The gross salary for the first year is € 3.059,- per month rising to € 3.881,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well. The project is 4 years, with a intended starting date of 1 October 2026.

We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment.