Summary
The i3WaterS Doctoral Network (Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – MSCA) is recruiting 15 Doctoral Candidates (PhDs) across leading European universities, research institutes, and industrial water utilities. The project focuses on pioneering AI-driven solutions for intelligent, resilient, and sustainable water distribution systems (WDSs), integrating Digital Twins, machine learning, IoT, explainable AI, and smart infrastructure asset management to safeguard vital water networks.
Designation
- Doctoral Candidate (DC) / PhD Researcher (15 Positions)
- Contract Type: Full-time, fixed-term contract (typically 36 months)
Table of Open Positions
| Code | Position Title | Host Institution | Location |
| DC1 | Intelligent data analysis tools to facilitate smart health assets assessments of critical urban water infrastructures using GPR | University College Dublin (UCD) | Dublin, Ireland |
| DC2 | Incident Hub – increase in the preparation of water distribution systems through AI and lessons learned | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) | Barcelona, Spain |
| DC3 | Smartification of water quality and safety monitoring for water distribution systems | University of Sheffield (USFD) | Sheffield, UK |
| DC4 | Uncertainty-Aware Optimisation for Robust Water Distribution System Operation | IHE Delft Institute for Water Education | Delft, Netherlands |
| DC5 | Intelligent decision support system for water demand prediction | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) | Barcelona, Spain |
| DC6 | A Climate-Ready and AI-Enhanced Approach to Water Network Management | University of Bordeaux (UBx) | Bordeaux, France |
| DC7 | Hybrid AI for Sustainable Management of Water Distribution Systems | University of Bordeaux (UBx) | Bordeaux, France |
| DC8 | Long-Term Planning Under Uncertainty for Resilient Water Infrastructure | IHE Delft Institute for Water Education | Delft, Netherlands |
| DC9 | A multi-source data fusion approach to modelling the impact of hydro-meteorological extremes on WDS water quality | University College Dublin (UCD) | Dublin, Ireland |
| DC10 | Intelligent assistant to the supervision of daily and extreme events management of drinking WDSs | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) | Barcelona, Spain |
| DC11 | Mining the Flow: Centralized and Distributed Paradigms for Water Distribution Systems in the Age of IoT | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) | Barcelona, Spain |
| DC12 | Optimal WDS management during critical scenarios | Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II (UNINA) | Naples, Italy |
| DC13 | “More” Intelligent Management of WDSs for Improving Water Quality (MIMIQ) | Università degli Studi di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale (UNICAS) | Cassino, Italy |
| DC14 | Development of Water Supply Quality Index for an optimal management of distribution network | University of Girona (UdG) | Girona, Spain |
| DC15 | District Information Areas for Smart Water Systems (DIAS @ i3WaterS) | Newcastle University (UNEW) | Newcastle, UK |
Research Area
- Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (Data-driven models, Explainable AI / XAI)
- Digital Twins & Cyber-Physical Water Infrastructure
- Urban Water Distribution Systems (WDS) & Asset Health Assessment
- Intelligent Decision Support Systems (IDSS) & Multi-Agent Systems
- Hydroinformatics, Water Quality Monitoring, and IoT Sensor Networks
- Climate Adaptation, Extreme Weather Modeling, and Infrastructure Resilience
Location
Multiple European host institutions across:
- Spain (Barcelona, Girona)
- Ireland (Dublin)
- United Kingdom (Sheffield, Newcastle)
- Netherlands (Delft)
- France (Bordeaux)
- Italy (Naples, Cassino)
Eligibility & Qualifications
Educational Background
- A Master’s degree (or equivalent qualification qualifying for PhD enrollment) in Computer Science, Civil/Environmental Engineering, Hydroinformatics, Applied Mathematics, Data Science, or a related discipline.
MSCA Eligibility Criteria
- Doctoral Candidate Status: Must not hold a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment.
- MSCA Mobility Rule: Candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host institution for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately preceding the recruitment date.
Skills & Competencies
- Background or strong interest in AI/ML, data integration, statistical modeling, optimization, or hydro-environmental systems.
- Programming proficiency in languages such as Python, R, MATLAB, Java, or C++.
- Familiarity with LaTeX and technical documentation.
- Language Requirement: High proficiency in English (minimum C1 level recommended; official language certification is valued). Knowledge of the host country’s language is considered an asset.
Scholarship Description & Benefits
- Competitive Living Allowance: Fully funded under the Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Networks framework (salary aligned with MSCA standards, typically ~€39,000 to €45,000+ gross annually depending on host country correction coefficients).
- Additional Allowances: Mobility allowance and family allowance (if applicable).
- International Secondments: Candidates will complete research stays and industrial secondments across partner universities and operational water utility companies throughout Europe.
- Doctoral Training Programme: Enrollment in the i3WaterS International Doctoral School spanning six European mobility chapters (Barcelona, Dublin, Bordeaux, Delft, Brussels, and Newcastle) covering advanced technical modules, entrepreneurship, and transferable skills.
How to Apply
- Review Position Details: Visit the individual project pages via the i3WaterS Recruitment Portal or on EURAXESS.
- Prepare Required Documents:
- Detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Motivation / Cover Letter.
- Academic Transcripts and Master’s/Bachelor’s Degree Certificates.
- Proof of English proficiency.
- Contact details for 2–3 academic/professional references.
- Submit Application: Follow the submission instructions specified for each individual position (e.g., direct email submission to the designated Principal Investigator or via the host university’s application portal).
- General Inquiries: Contact the consortium coordination team at
i3waters.management@upc.edu.
Last Date to Apply
- General Network Deadline: September 15, 2026 (23:59 CET)
- (Note: Selected positions, such as DC1, DC9, DC12, and DC13, accept applications until September 30, 2026. Check individual vacancy listings for position-specific closing dates).
- Expected Fellowship Start: December 2026 – January 2027
