Job Detail

 Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, is an internationally networked aquatic research institute within the ETH Domain (Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology). Eawag conducts research, education and expert consulting to achieve the dual goals of meeting direct human needs for water and maintaining the function and integrity of aquatic ecosystems.The Department of Surface Waters – Research and Management (Surf) is offering anInternship on the investigation of calcite precipitation in lakes using satellite remote sensing
Topic:Calcite precipitation, also referred to as whitening, has been observed in many lakes in Switzerland and elsewhere, typically in spring and early summer. It was often found to contribute a significant share of the lakes’ total sedimentation rate. Precipitation is also relevant for the carbon dioxide budget, and associated with the occurrence of certain algal species as well as lake water composition. Investigations of calcite precipitation, including their quantification, are complicated by the brevity of the process. It was shown recently that optical Earth observation satellites with up to daily revisit allow for the early warning and mapping of calcite precipitation events. In order to further exploit this potential, novel field measurements of the precipitated particles’ absorption and scattering properties are needed to enable the accurate quantification of near surface particle concentrations. Subsequently, the total mass turnover will be estimated by modelling the vertical distribution.




The goals of the intern are to become familiar with the use of optical field measurement devices and their use aboard research vessels, to review daily satellite data from an existing near-real time processing chain, and to carry out field measurements on Swiss lakes with short lead time and in collaboration with scientists and technicians.




Candidates for this position must be enrolled as BSc or MSc students during the duration of the internship. We are looking for a person with a background in environmental sciences, geography or physics. Remote sensing knowledge and programming skills are a great asset for operating the processing chain and interpreting satellite imagery.




Deadline for applications is 28 February 2019. The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. Your application should include a motivation letter and a complete CV. The anticipated employment begins May 2019 for a duration of three months.



For further information about Eawag please consult www.eawag.ch. For more information about the internship, please contact Dr Daniel Odermatt, Email daniel.odermatt@eawag.ch.




We look forward to receive your application. Please send it through this webpage, any other way of applying will not be considered. A click on the button below will take you directly to the application form.Apply nowPrint Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology