Doctoral Position: Absys - Zurich, Schweiz - ETH Zürich

ETH Zürich

Geprüftes Unternehmen

Zurich, Schweiz

vor 1 Woche

Geschrieben von:

Lena Schneider

beBee Recruiter

Beschreibung

Doctoral position:
ABSYS - Advancing Bypass Systems for Downstream Migration of European Key Umbrella Fish Species:

100%, Zurich, fixed-term:

Water and ice are our passion at the
Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW), in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering (D-BAUG) at ETH Zurich.

We work in the domains of hydraulic engineering and structures, river engineering, numerical modelling, and glaciology. Our fields of activity are inland waters, hydropower, glaciers, natural hazards, river restoration, and river infrastructure. We contribute to the availability of clean and renewable electricity, protection against floods and cryospheric hazards, and sustainable watercourses.

Project background:

Hydropower plants interrupt the longitudinal connectivity in river networks, which among others hinders downstream fish migration and puts fish passing through turbines or over weirs at risk to sustain considerable injuries.

Among other factors, this has led to a decline in fish stocks. For certain fish species, fish guidance racks with adjacent bypass systems are effective fish-guiding structures that mitigate such effects. However, especially with the bypass, there are open questions regarding its design and operation.

The ABSYS project aims at increasing fish guidance efficiency of such systems by conducting a systematical investigation to improve current bypass designs and develop an innovative bypass for European key umbrella fish species.

To reach this goal, numerical simulations and subsequently etho-hydraulic experiments will be carried out at VAW and the Vattenfall laboratory in Sweden.

The fish behavior is analyzed using a video fish tracking system. Finally, recommendations will be given for the design and operation of bypass systems. The target fish species are European eel, Broun trout, Common Barbel and Chub, and optionally Atlantic Salmon.

The ABSYS project represents a unique research team (VAW and Institute of Environmental Engineering IfU of ETH Zurich, NINA (Norway) and Vattenfall (Sweden).

You will work in close collaboration with IfU and other project partners.

Job description:

The ABSYS project consists of four main tasks linked to the work packages to reach its overarching goals. In Task I is devoted to a literature review of laboratory and field studies on various bypass systems.

In Task II, hydraulic and live-fish tests of innovative bypass system layouts will be conducted in a large etho-hydraulic flume at VAW.

The bypass system designs will be numerically developed by the Computational Fluid
- and Morphodynamics (CFM) group of VAW and constructed in a 1:1 Froude model in the flume. In Task III, the hydraulic and live-fish tests of the optimum bypass layouts will be conducted with the partners in a semi-natural flume in the Vattenfall laboratory, Sweden for 6-8 weeks. Task IV investigates operational aspects of the innovative bypass system such as clogging by sediment and floating debris in the etho-hydraulic flume.

In the laboratory tests, Acoustic Doppler Velocimetry (ADV) will be used to measure flow velocities, and video-based 3D fish tracking systems are employed to determine fish tracks and concomitant swimming kinematics.

Hydraulic and fish data will be analyzed to investigate the effect of turbulent flow structures generated by the different bypass layouts on the swimming behavior of target fish species and determine their fish passage efficiency under various flow conditions.

Live-fish tests will be conducted at VAW and Vattenfall laboratories in collaboration with the IfU of ETH Zurich, NINA, and Vattenfall AB.

Strong Python (mainly) and MATLAB coding for camera calibration, image analysis, and animal tracking and data analysis skills are required for the position.

Your profile:

Excellent Master's degree in civil or environmental engineering (or equivalent), with a specialization in hydraulic engineering
Demonstrated background in hydraulic experimentation, ability and willingness to work mainly in a hydraulic laboratory and partly in the field (fish collection)
Knowledge in coding and advanced data analysis (Python as well as MATLAB for image processing and R for statistical data analysis)
Conducting livefish tests potentially at night in autumn seasons
Ideal background knowledge of applied fish biology or fish migration
Proficient command of the English language, written and spoken
German knowledge is an asset
No travel restrictions since this position requires some weeks of work in Sweden

Working in a top-level research environment with advanced laboratory infrastructure, you will have a unique opportunity to develop your research abilities.

We offer:

Opportunities to engage in cuttingedge research with the potential for high impact in the field of hydraulic engineering,
Opportunities for professional development,
Opportunities to engage with different communities bridging civil