Riverine carbon dynamics and fluxes in the Congo Basin
The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, within the Science and Technology Group at KU Leuven, is a department with 38 full-time professors, about 240 researchers and 24 full-time administrative and technical staff.
The main mission of the Department is to conduct high quality scientific research on the functioning of geo- and ecosystems at different temporal and spatial scales, including human-environment interactions and the sustainable management of natural resources.
The members of the Department provide high quality education in the fields of bioengineering, geography, geology and tourism. The Department aims to play a major role in societal issues such as environmental pollution, food production, climate change, forest, green and nature management, soil and water management, subsoil exploitation, urban and rural issues, development cooperation and tourism.
Research topics within the Division of Soil and Water Management cover physical, chemical and biological processes in the environment. In terms of element cycling, this includes measuring and modeling transport processes of water and solutes (nutrients - contaminants) in soils and plants, risk analysis studies and speciation of metals and phosphorus species in soil and water, and understanding the driving factors explaining element and greenhouse gas fluxes across a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Within agricultural systems, we explore expert systems for efficient crop water use, and study long-term trends in tropical soil fertility and soil chemistry. Land surface processes are investigated at various scales, i.e. via detailed process studies and larger scale models, remote sensing and data assimilation with a focus on soil-water-vegetation-snow and atmosphere interactions. Within the field of environmental microbiology, our group is actively studying the ecology of microbial communities degrading anthropogenic pollutants, how microbial communities adapt to anthropogenic changes, and how microbial processes can contribute to a circular bio-economy.
Project
The Congo River drains the World’s second largest river basin, and its role in the global carbon cycle has received increasing attention over the past 2 decades, in particular since the first quantification of the vast peatlands located in the Cuvette Centrale. Despite this, many aspects of the role of the river network in transporting and processing organic matter, and the role of the Cuvette Centrale in the overall C and greenhouse gas budget remain unresolved. This PhD project wil combined longer-term monitoring data and new sampling campaigns for field measurements and sample collection to improve our quantitative understanding of carbon fluxes in the Congo Basin. You will be responsible for managing the continuation of sample collection near Kisangani (in collaboration with a team from the Université de Kisangani), data interpretation and scientific publications based on a large dataset collected over the past decade by the host research group and partners, and initiate dedicated sampling campaigns to address gaps in current knowledge.
The PhD Candidate Tasks Will Include
Applicants should have obtained a MSc degree (with at least a grade of distinction) in a relevant scientific field (Bioscience or Water Resources Engineering, Earth or Environmental Sciences, Hydrology, …) by the time of appointment, and have a keen interest in interdisciplinary sciences. Excellent knowledge of English is must, a good knowledge of French would be a strong asset to facilitate field activities. Applicants will be expected to work intensively in the Congo basin region with local scientists, and have strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills. Demonstrated field sampling and/or analytical laboratory experience are also considered a strong plus.
Offer
Working conditions at KU Leuven
Arenberg Doctoral School
Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. ir. Steven Bouillon, mail: steven.bouillon@kuleuven.be.
To apply, please submit a detailed curiculum vitae which addresses the profile requirements, along with a motivation letter.
You can apply for this job no later than April 03, 2026 via the online application tool
KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.
Solliciteer voor deze functie
The main mission of the Department is to conduct high quality scientific research on the functioning of geo- and ecosystems at different temporal and spatial scales, including human-environment interactions and the sustainable management of natural resources.
The members of the Department provide high quality education in the fields of bioengineering, geography, geology and tourism. The Department aims to play a major role in societal issues such as environmental pollution, food production, climate change, forest, green and nature management, soil and water management, subsoil exploitation, urban and rural issues, development cooperation and tourism.
Research topics within the Division of Soil and Water Management cover physical, chemical and biological processes in the environment. In terms of element cycling, this includes measuring and modeling transport processes of water and solutes (nutrients - contaminants) in soils and plants, risk analysis studies and speciation of metals and phosphorus species in soil and water, and understanding the driving factors explaining element and greenhouse gas fluxes across a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Within agricultural systems, we explore expert systems for efficient crop water use, and study long-term trends in tropical soil fertility and soil chemistry. Land surface processes are investigated at various scales, i.e. via detailed process studies and larger scale models, remote sensing and data assimilation with a focus on soil-water-vegetation-snow and atmosphere interactions. Within the field of environmental microbiology, our group is actively studying the ecology of microbial communities degrading anthropogenic pollutants, how microbial communities adapt to anthropogenic changes, and how microbial processes can contribute to a circular bio-economy.
Project
The Congo River drains the World’s second largest river basin, and its role in the global carbon cycle has received increasing attention over the past 2 decades, in particular since the first quantification of the vast peatlands located in the Cuvette Centrale. Despite this, many aspects of the role of the river network in transporting and processing organic matter, and the role of the Cuvette Centrale in the overall C and greenhouse gas budget remain unresolved. This PhD project wil combined longer-term monitoring data and new sampling campaigns for field measurements and sample collection to improve our quantitative understanding of carbon fluxes in the Congo Basin. You will be responsible for managing the continuation of sample collection near Kisangani (in collaboration with a team from the Université de Kisangani), data interpretation and scientific publications based on a large dataset collected over the past decade by the host research group and partners, and initiate dedicated sampling campaigns to address gaps in current knowledge.
The PhD Candidate Tasks Will Include
- organizing logistics for regular river sampling by local teams: shipment of materials and samples, establish new collaborations with other partners in the Congo Basin.
- organizing and conducting new sampling campaigns in collaboration with local partners in the Congo Basin
- field measurements of river discharge, physico-chemical parameters and greenhouse gas concentrations and fluxes
- field sampling for a wide range of biogeochemical proxies, sample preservation for analyses in Belgium.
- laboratory analysis of samples (quantification and stable isotope analyses of diffferent carbon pools, nutrient analyses and greenhouse gas analysis, …)
- dissemination of results at scientific conferences and in interational, peer-reviewed journals.
- you will be expected to contribute to educational tasks depending on opportunities and your own interests, and assist in coaching MSc thesis students.
- opportunitities exist to make your own contribution to the research objectives depending on personal interests and in collaboration with other research teams.
Applicants should have obtained a MSc degree (with at least a grade of distinction) in a relevant scientific field (Bioscience or Water Resources Engineering, Earth or Environmental Sciences, Hydrology, …) by the time of appointment, and have a keen interest in interdisciplinary sciences. Excellent knowledge of English is must, a good knowledge of French would be a strong asset to facilitate field activities. Applicants will be expected to work intensively in the Congo basin region with local scientists, and have strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills. Demonstrated field sampling and/or analytical laboratory experience are also considered a strong plus.
Offer
- We offer a competitive full-time PhD scholarship for 1 year (renewable for another 3 years) in accordance with KU Leuven's doctoral salary scale.
- KU Leuven offers additional benefits in terms of health insurance, public transport at reduced rates, free bicycle use, access to university sports facilities, childcare opportunities – among others. You can find more information on working conditions at KU Leuven on the below-mentioned website.
- KU Leuven offers opportunities to follow academic, skills and career training courses.
- We offer a dynamic and multicultural work environment.
- A starting date for this position would be possible from August 2026.
Working conditions at KU Leuven
Arenberg Doctoral School
Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. ir. Steven Bouillon, mail: steven.bouillon@kuleuven.be.
To apply, please submit a detailed curiculum vitae which addresses the profile requirements, along with a motivation letter.
You can apply for this job no later than April 03, 2026 via the online application tool
KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.
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Solliciteer voor deze functie