30/05/2022
Water Research Centre University of Khartoum
Call for Sandwich PhD candidates
Wageningen University – Netherlands
The Water Research Center – University of Khartoum, is conducting a research project: The Climate Smart WATer Management and Sustainable DEVelopment for food and agriculture in North-East Africa (WATDEV).
The WATDEV project aims to develop an in-depth understanding of small to large-scale water and agricultural resource dynamics and management and people’s resilience to climate through innovative research, modelling, and capacity building approaches in East Africa. Specifically, WATDEV focuses on Best Management Practice; BMP. BMP is meant here as an action, activity, project embedding successful and sustainable water management solutions or water management techniques aimed at increasing agricultural productivity or reducing impact on water resources, soil, ecosystems or mitigating climate (i.e.: long term drought conditions, erratic extreme events). Integrated modelling is an approach to study complex systems, and will be increasingly important in a context of environmental change, growing populations and dwindling resources. Therefore, WATDEV also stresses training and capacity development at various levels. Through this Call, WATDEV offers capacity development of researchers who can specialize in integrated scenario modelling as a decision support mechanism.
What is a Sandwich PhD?
A sandwich PhD candidate spends the first part (around nine months) of the PhD project at Wageningen University. During this time the research proposal is expanded and a tailor-made education and training programme is started up. Where possible and applicable, research is also started. The next thirty months are spent conducting research in the home country of the candidate under the supervision of a local supervisor who is also the copromotor. Sandwich PhD candidates have regular (online) contact with their supervisors at Wageningen University.
What are the requirements for interested candidates?
Fulfil the entry requirements of the WU PhD programme (recognised master diploma, English proficiency).
https://www.wur.nl/en/Education-Programmes/PhD-Programme/Registration-and-admission-procedures-criteria/Entry-Requirements.htm
Proposals
PhD projects should comprise multiple aspects, e.g. feasibility assessment and modelling of BMPs, or novel modelling aspects for a specific case study. Topics can be tailored to candidate’s wishes and expertise and case study priorities. As PhD candidates remain employed at their home institute, their role in the project should be carefully defined in collaboration with the local supervisor (ideally a WATDEV researcher).
Modalities
As the sandwich PhD project will be conducted within the WATDEV project, no tuition fee will be charged. The costs for the local institute consist of:
• Employment contract for the candidate for the duration of the project. As this is a basic requirement, it does not constitute an additional cost.
• Stipend for candidates for the duration of their visits to Wageningen. The legally required minimum stipend for obtaining a visa to the Netherlands is about 1300 Euro per month. The real cost for the local institute for a PhD candidate is hence the difference between the local salary and 1300 Euro for the duration of the visits to Wageningen (two times 9 months).
• Visa application costs: 1500 Euro
• Travel costs: two return tickets to the Netherlands: ca. 2000 Euro
• Fieldwork costs (are supposed to contribute to WATDEV activities).
Wageningen University provides:
• Waiver of the tuition fee (18,000 Euro)
• Training budget for the PhD candidate (3,500 Euro)
• Printing costs of the thesis (1,500 Euro)
• Return trip for candidate and local supervisor for the thesis defence.
Application procedure
Interested candidates should formulate a brief draft proposal idea (0.5 – 1 page) and send an updated Curriculum Vitae to [email protected] with cc to [email protected] and [email protected] before 15 June 2022.
Water Research Centre (WRC-UofK)
Faculty of Engineering
University of Khartoum
Tel. :+249 (0) 15566404
P. O. Box 321, P. Code 11111
Aljamaa St., Khartoum, Sudan
Website: wrc.uofk.edu
