You will investigate the conditions for the formation of glide-snow avalanches with an integrated approach on the snow-soil interaction. You conduct geophysical measurements of soil and snow properties at a glide-snow field site with concurrent glide monitoring measurements and perform laboratory experiments on the mass and heat transfer across the snow-soil interface. Based on the field investigations you develop a slope stability model. Numerical simulations of the snow-soil interaction validated with the laboratory experiments should clarify the conditions for the wetting of the lowermost snow layer. By combining the two models, the temporal evolution of snow gliding can be assessed for typical scenarios and environmental parameters. The work will be distributed between the two PhD students such that one is focussing on the field studies and the slope stability model, the other on the laboratory experiments and the simulation of the processes across the snow-soil interface. You will publish your results in international scientific journals and promote their transfer into practice.

You have a master degree in Physics, Engineering or Natural Sciences. You have experience in experimental work and knowledge in numerical modeling. You have good oral and written communication skills, particular in English. You are well organized and like to work in a team. Also, you are keen to transfer your research into practice.