MSCA-PF: Joint application at the University of Granada. Department of Hydraulic Engineering, School of Civil Engineering

Professor Agustín Millarez Valenzuela, from the Department of Hydraulic Engineering, School of Civil Engineering at the University of Granada, welcomes postdoctoral candidates interested in applying for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF) in 2022 at this University. Please note that applicants must comply with the Mobility Rule (more information about the 2022 call: http://sl.ugr.es/0cmA).

Brief description of the institution:

The University of Granada (UGR), founded in 1531, is one of the largest and most important universities in Spain. With over 60.000 undergraduate and postgraduate students and 6.000 staff. UGR offers a total of 79 degrees, 188 master’s degrees and 28 doctoral programmes through its 127 departments and 22 centers. Consequently, the UGR offers one of the most extensive and diverse ranges of higher education programmes in Spain.

The UGR has been awarded with the "Human Resources Excellence in Research (HRS4R)", which reflects the UGR’s commitment to continuously improve its human resource policies in line with the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. UGR is also a leading institution in research, located in the top of Spanish universities by a variety of ranking criteria, such as national R&D projects, fellowships awarded, publications, or international funding.

UGR is one of the few Spanish Universities listed in the Shanghai Top 500 ranking - Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). The edition of the ARWU 2021 places the UGR in 201-300th position in the world and as the 2nd highest ranked University in Spain (http://sl.ugr.es/0cmF), reaffirming its position as an institution at the forefront of national and international research. The UGR stands out in the specialties of Library & Information Science (position 36); Food Science & Technology (39) and Hospitality & Tourism Management (51-75), according to the latest edition by specialties of this prestigious ranking (http://sl.ugr.es/0bSp). A little below in the ranking, the UGR stands out in Mathematics (76-100) and Mining & Mineral Engineering (76-100).

Additionally, the UGR counts with 7 researchers are at the top of the Highly Cited Researchers (HCR) list (http://sl.ugr.es/0cmD), most of them related to the Computer Science scientific area. It is also well recognized for its web presence (http://sl.ugr.es/0a6i), being positioned at 54th place in the top 200 Universities in Europe.

Internationally, we bet decidedly by our participation in the calls of the Framework Programme of the European Union. For the duration of the last two Framework Programmes, the UGR has obtained a total of 67 projects, with total funding of 18.029 million euros, and for H2020, 119 projects with total funding around 29.233 million euros.

Brief description of the Centre/Research Group:

The Environmental Fluid Dynamics Research Group is experienced for more than 20 years in the research of watershed modelling, water resources management, river dynamics, coastal processes and atmospheric interaction, focusing on risk analysis, uncertainty and reliability. The Group has an international position in coordination and participation in projects supported by national and international authorities (more than 40), publications in indexed journals (more than 100) and participation in international congresses (more than 200). The Group staff is made of 7 teachers, 10 researchers and several students participating in Erasmus, Erasmus+ and other exchange programs. The work methodologies include 1) the development of numerical models of hydrological, hydraulic and coastal processes, 2) laboratory tests and 3) measurements at watersheds, rivers and coastal environments. The patents include the WiMMed model (Watershed Integrated Management in Mediterranean Environments), a physically-based, distributed hydrological model, and HEMMINGS model (Hillslope Erosion Modeling Including Gullying Assessment). The research Group counts with more than 15 years of hydrological, erosion and sediment monitoring and modelling works within projects such as AQUACLEW: Advancing QUAlity of CLimate (European Commission), ECOPOTENTIAL (H2020 Framework Programme), CCAMICEM: Morphological and Systemic Response of Ephemeral Channels to Climate Change (Ministerio de Industria, Economía y Competitividad) or NOVIWAM: Novel Integrated water management system for southern European regions (European Commission. Seventh Framework Programme).

Project description:

Research line: Stochastic quantification of soil loss and downstream processes in semi-arid mountain basins. Modeling global change scenarios and adaptation strategies.

Project description: Erosion and sediment transport processes causes serious environmental problems on several services. The analysis and forecast of their impacts downstream and their vulnerability under future climate scenarios is key to develop effective adaptation strategies.

Tasks involved and related topics: Identification of erosive processes and their relationship with the forcing agents. Analysis of erosion processes using drones, terrestrial LIDAR and satellite images. Stochastic generation of climate scenarios and evaluation of erosion processes through numerical hydrological models. Assessment of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Research background excerpt:

A. Millares, & A. Moñino, 2020. Hydro‐meteorological drivers influencing suspended sediment transport and yield in a semi‐arid mountainous basin. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 45(15), 3791-3807.

A. Millares, M. Díez-Minguito, A. Moñino, 2019. Evaluating gullying effects on modeling erosive responses at basin scale. Environmental Modelling & Software, 111, 61-71.

A. Millares, A. Moñino, 2018. Sediment yield and transport process assessment from reservoir monitoring in a semi‐arid mountainous river. Hydrological Processes, 32, 19.

A. Millares, M.J. Polo, A. Moñino, J. Herrero, M.A. Losada. 2013. Bedload dynamics and associated snowmelt influence in mountainous and semi-arid alluvial rivers. Geomorphology, 206, 330-342.

A. Millares, Z. Gulliver, M.J., Polo, 2012. Scale effects on the estimation of erosion thresholds through a distributed and physically-based hydrological model, Geomorphology, 153–154, 115-126.

Research Area:

• Environment and Geosciences (ENV)

For a correct evaluation of your candidature, please send the documents below to Professor Agustín Millares Valenzuela (mivalag@ugr.es):

• CV
• Letter of recommendation (optional)