PhD Position in Physical Modelling of Backward Erosion Piping

Backward erosion piping, in which seepage flow erodes sand beneath a dike, is a key failure mechanism that current models cannot fully predict. Within the NWO-funded Digital Dikes consortium, this PhD project at TU Delft's Geoscience and Engineering department, carried out jointly with Deltares, develops new experimental set-ups and measurement techniques to study pipe progression, the 3D meandering of pipe networks, grain-scale interactions and the influence of a non-uniform blanket layer, supporting digital models that improve dike safety assessments.

The application deadline is 29 November 2026.

Master's degree in civil, hydraulic or geotechnical engineering, soil mechanics or a closely related field; programming skills (Python, MATLAB) for image analysis and data processing; affinity with granular materials, fluid-soil interaction or soil erosion.