This project is closed

The Institute and the Research Center

The Cyprus Institute (CyI) is a young and rapidly growing non-profit research and educational institution with scientific and technological focus. It is supported by the Government of Cyprus, which views its establishment as important to its overall policy of transforming Cyprus into a regional center for research and education.

The Energy, Environment and Water Research Center (EEWRC) was launched in December 2007 as the first research center of The Cyprus Institute. EEWRC works in close cooperation with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz, Germany, the Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF), as well as many national institutions and organizations in Cyprus and the region. The work and collaborations focus on societally relevant issues related to Energy and Renewables, Environment, Atmosphere and Climate, Water and Natural Resources.

The Graduate School

The Graduate School was established in 2010 and is the educational arm of The Cyprus Institute. It is a fully accredited, degree-granting institution of higher education offering exclusively postgraduate programs. It maintains a small number of students that are fully integrated into the research activities of the institute. This provides the students with the opportunity to acquire hands-on training in the use of the latest methods and techniques, have access to state-of-the-art infrastructure and conduct research with internationally recognized research teams.

The Water Division of the CyI’s Energy, Environment and Water Research Center (EEWRC) is seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated PhD candidate in the framework of the REACT4MED project on agro-ecosystem restoration. The project is funded by the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) and involves applied research activities in eight Mediterranean countries.

The successful applicant will be based at the Graduate School of The Cyprus Institute and at the Water Division of the Energy, Environment and Water Research Center. The selected person will be enrolled in the PhD program: Energy, Environment and Atmospheric Sciences.
 

Description of the PhD Research Project
Land degradation and desertification, driven by climate change and changing socio-economics conditions, are major threats for the future of semi-arid Mediterranean agro-ecosystems. The overall goal of the PhD research project is to develop recommendations for maintaining environmentally friendly production agriculture in Mediterranean mountain areas. The specific objective of the PhD research is to analyse land degradation in traditional and mechanically-constructed mountain terrace landscapes in Cyprus. The successful candidate will develop and analyse multi-temporal 3D models of terraced hillsides using airborne LiDAR and Structure from Motion techniques. The candidate will conduct field surveys and sample and analyse soil properties. The candidate will cooperate with researchers from the CyI Water Division and local stakeholders on the socio-economic analysis and implementation of restoration actions.

Required Qualifications

• MSc degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences or Engineering or a related field
• Experience with 3D modelling and GIS analysis
• Experience with field research
• Strong analytical and organizational skills
• Fluent in oral and written English
• Driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in laboratory analysis of soil properties
• Scientific publication record
• Experience in working in interdisciplinary teams
• Experience in working with stakeholders in the field
• Greek language will be considered an advantage

How to Apply
Applicants should refer to additional information about admission requirements which can be found on our website under the PhD in Energy, Environment and Atmospheric Sciences Admissions section.

Kindly note that applications should be sent through the online application system of The Cyprus Institute Graduate School. When applying through the online application, in Step 2 of the application under the section ‘Scholarship or Financial Aid’, applicants should select ‘Specific PhD Project’ and they should enter the project reference code: GS-EAS-3DMATL-22-1 in order to be considered for the position.

Please refer to our website for important details on the application deadlines.

Application Deadlines
The position will remain open until filled.

Financial Support
The successful candidate will be employed as Graduate Research Assistant or receive a stipend in accordance with the current regulations at the Graduate School. We offer competitive financial support with the exact salary / stipend level to will be confirmed upon appointment.

Contact Information
For further information, please contact Associate Professor Adriana Bruggeman (e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

For more information about postgraduate studies at The Cyprus Institute and admission requirements, please contact the Office of Graduate Studies of The Cyprus Institute at email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or tel: +357 22208614.