PhD Scholarship On Groundwater-Based Irrigation Schemes In The White Volta Basin

Starting January 1, 2001 - Ending January 1, 2001 Expired

Within the framework of the Groundwater Resources Development and Sustainable Agriculture project, and under the sponsorship of the Danish International Development Agency, DANIDA, the Department of Earth Science of the University of Ghana in Accra offers a scholarship for a 4-year PhD position starting in August, 2015.

 

The position includes 1.5-year period (not necessarily continuous) to be spent in Denmark at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS, geus.dk), and at the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resources Management (ign.ku.dk) at the University of Copenhagen.  

 

Description of the research:

The main objective of this PhD project is to assess irrigation requirements and stakeholder interest now and in a changing climate, by scenario development, stakeholder involvement and applying of irrigation module to the 3D hydrological model. The work will be closely linked to two other PhD studies funded by the same project; a study aiming to develop a 3D geological model and a study focusing on development of an integrated 3D hydrological groundwater-surface water model of the White Volta Basin.

The envisioned tasks are;

  ·   Collect and quality assure precipitation and evapotranspiration, soil-land use-vegetation data and data on irrigation schemes in order to develop an irrigation module for the 3D hydrological model, which can simulate root zone water balance, irrigation demands (abstractions) and groundwater recharge

·     Prepare a stakeholder involvement plan for model study and scenario development process, defining at which steps, levels and methods, by which stakeholders are involved (includes stakeholder analysis)

·     Conduct participatory analysis of key sources of uncertainty; and design four scenarios (representing future climate and land use uncertainties and irrigation development/policy uncertainties)

·     Develop, setup, calibrate and validate irrigation module in the 3D hydrological groundwater-surface water model of the White Volta Basin (if necessary supported by collection of additional field data on irrigation schemes, and setup, calibration and validation of sub-models for 1-2 communities)

·     Perform numerical analysis and production runs for baseline scenario and four alternative scenarios and perform participatory integrated assessment of resilience, cost effectiveness and governance aspects of four alternative scenarios

 

Requirements:

We invite candidates from different scientific fields to apply: hydrology, hydrogeology, engineering and environmental/earth sciences. The candidate must have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to work in an international team of geologists, geophysicists, and hydrologists. The successful candidate must be prepared to spend 1.5 years in Denmark doing research and following courses.

 

In addition to the regular University of Ghana requirements for admission to the new 4-year PhD program, candidates applying for this scholarship should have:

·    a grade point average of at least 3.20/4.00 from a Master of Science with research in the earth sciences

·    a solid background in hydrogeology, irrigation and IWRM (documented experience on the hydrogeology, irrigation and IWRM of White Volta Basin through previous research and/or consulting is considered an asset)

·    a solid background in numerical modelling of flow (proficiency in the use of any version of the Modflow or Mike SHE would be an advantage)

·    be able to handle large and diverse data sets

·    have an interest in doing field work, stakeholder involvement and scenario development.

Interested candidates should send emails to Prof. Sandow Mark Yidana through the address smyidana@ug.edu.gh and yidanas117@gmail.com to express their interest.

Candidates should enclose:

1)    their detailed and most updated curriculum vitae;

2)    a letter of  application;

3)    a two-page dissertation abstract;

4)    three letters of recommendation;  

5)    any other supporting documentation.

 

All applications should be received by March 6, 2015.