Are you passionate about geo-artificial intelligence (Geo-AI), climate change, and vegetation dynamics? The University of Twente in the Netherlands is offering an exciting opportunity for international students with its PhD Scholarship 2025.
This research position focuses on understanding how land-use changes and extreme weather events affect vegetation seasonality and efficiency using cutting-edge spatiotemporal machine learning techniques.
This PhD opportunity is part of the EARTHONE Horizon Europe project (Environmental Analysis and Resilience for Transformative Human-Optimized Natural Environments), which aims to optimize greenhouse gas removal and assess sustainable land-use practices across diverse environments in Europe.
About the Scholarship
As a PhD candidate, you will:
- Conduct advanced vegetation phenology studies at both regional and local scales.
- Integrate climate simulations, weather data, remote sensing imagery, and ground observations from living labs across Southern Europe.
- Investigate how extreme weather events and land-use changes influence vegetation growth and ecosystem efficiency.
- Utilize cutting-edge Geo-AI methods and spatiotemporal machine learning models to analyze environmental data.
Scholarship Benefits
The University of Twente offers a competitive funding package that includes:
- Full-time PhD position for 4 years (with a qualifier after 6–9 months).
- Monthly gross salary: Starting from €2,901 in the first year, increasing to €3,707 in the fourth year.
- Holiday allowance: 8% of the gross annual salary.
- Year-end bonus: 8.3% of the gross annual salary.
- 41 holiday days per year (for full-time employment).
- Professional development: Enrollment in the Twente Graduate School.
- Pension scheme and excellent working conditions.
- International work environment: A vibrant, multicultural campus with green spaces and modern facilities.
Key Responsibilities
If selected for this scholarship, your core responsibilities will include:
- Conducting detailed vegetation phenology studies across different European regions.
- Modeling how extreme weather events and land-use changes impact vegetation growth and productivity.
- Developing and applying advanced Geo-AI and machine learning algorithms.
- Collaborating with climate modelers, ecologists, foresters, and agronomists.
- Contributing to a dynamic, interdisciplinary, and international research environment.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Geo-AI PhD Scholarship, candidates must:
- Hold an MSc degree in geospatial sciences, computer science, environmental sciences, or related fields.
- Have strong programming skills (preferably in Python).
- Possess experience with geospatial modeling, spatial statistics, and machine learning.
- Be capable of solving real-world, interdisciplinary environmental challenges.
- Have excellent English communication skills (proficiency in Dutch is a plus).
- Have background knowledge of climate change, ecology, or phenology (preferred but not mandatory).
Required Documents
Applicants must submit the following documents:
- Motivation Letter: A one-page letter explaining your interest in the project and how your skills align with the research.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): Include your academic background, courses attended, grades, references, and any publications (if applicable).
- Research Proposal: Two pages outlining your ideas on phenological modeling within the framework of the EARTHONE project.
- Project Description: A 250-word summary of your most recent research project or MSc thesis.
Application Timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | March 5, 2025 |
| Interview Process Begins | After March 19, 2025 |
| PhD Program Commencement | Fall 2025 (Exact date TBD) |
Apply Now: University of Twente PhD Application Portal
FAQ:
Who is eligible for the Geo-AI PhD Scholarship at the University of Twente?
Candidates with an MSc degree in geospatial, computer, or environmental sciences, along with programming skills and experience in geospatial modeling and machine learning, are eligible to apply.
What financial benefits does the PhD scholarship offer?
The scholarship offers a monthly salary starting at €2,901 and increasing to €3,707, holiday and year-end bonuses, 41 holiday days per year, and additional benefits such as pension contributions and professional development.
What is the application deadline for the University of Twente PhD Scholarship?
The application deadline for the PhD scholarship is March 5, 2025.
Do I need to speak Dutch to apply?
No, the working language is English. However, proficiency in Dutch is considered an advantage.
When will interviews be conducted?
Interviews will be scheduled after March 19, 2025.
