Internship - Water Technology

Arcadis is the global partner at the forefront of the most impactful projects of our time. We help our clients make sustainable choices through the combination of digital innovation, expertise, and future-oriented skills in areas such as environment, energy, water, buildings, transport, and infrastructure. We take that extra step to offer our clients tailored solutions for design, engineering, and consultancy. By utilizing data-driven insights, we shape the natural and built environment together.

With more than 34,000 people, we pool global expertise and tackle challenges such as climate, affordable energy, and livable cities together. We improve quality of life through our presence in more than 30 countries.

Arcadis is an international design and consultancy firm that works on sustainable solutions for the natural and built environment. Within Arcadis, the Water Optimization team focuses on the entire water cycle: from drinking water and wastewater to industrial water and water reuse. In a multidisciplinary team, process technologists, civil and mechanical designers, project managers, and 3D/BIM specialists work together on advice, design, and optimization for Dutch and international clients. During this assignment, you will participate in ongoing drinking water projects and work together with our technologists on current process and design questions.

Within the wastewater sector, we already make extensive use of dynamic modeling software to support design choices, predict process performance, and analyze scenarios. With this assignment, we want to investigate how we can also effectively deploy these possibilities and the experience gained within our drinking water projects.

The core of the assignment is the practical testing and calibration of dynamic modeling software for application within drinking water projects. For a representative practical case, the student builds a model, calibrates it with available process data, and tests the model results against measurements and practical experience. Based on this, the student investigates for which processes and project phases the software is reliable and usable.

The goal is to make an informed decision regarding the use of the software within our drinking water projects based on a tested and calibrated practical case. The research must demonstrate whether the software offers sufficient technical and practical added value, for which applications it is suitable, and what investment is required. We will coordinate the final research design and deliverables with the educational requirements of the university involved.

Responsibilities

• Selecting and defining a representative practical case with usable process data.
• Setting up and configuring the modeling software for the chosen drinking water processes.
• Calibrating and validating the model with measurement data, design principles, and practical experience.
• Testing functionalities, scenarios, ease of use, reproducibility, and the reliability of the results.
• Investigating for which drinking water processes and project phases the software is applicable and which preconditions apply.
• Drafting a business case with a go/no-go advice and an estimate of the required investment in licenses, implementation, data, training, and internal capacity.

The starting point for the assignment is that the student possesses a relevant practical case and corresponding process data. For this, a case will be used from a Dutch drinking water company, an international drinking water project, or an industrial water treatment plant, depending on the substantive alignment with the research question.

The final result consists of a tested, calibrated, and validated model for the practical case, supplemented with a clear assessment of the application possibilities within our projects. Additionally, the student delivers a business case with a substantiated advice on whether or not to start using the software, including the expected added value, preconditions, risks, and required investment.

We primarily focus the assignment on a WO master's student of, for example, Water Technology, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sciences with a focus on Environmental Technology, or Water and Sustainable Development. Students from related programs in chemical technology, process technology, environmental technology, biotechnology, or Life Science and Technology may also be a match.

The student has a strong analytical foundation and an affinity for dynamic modeling, data analysis, and drinking water or wastewater treatment. Experience with modeling software or programming is a plus. The assignment suits someone who can independently set up scientific research, handle data and assumptions critically, and translate results clearly into practice.

Additionally, we are looking for someone who can collaborate well, actively participate in meetings, and contribute to a multidisciplinary project team. The internship supervisor is located at our office in Rotterdam. Living in Rotterdam or the surrounding area is not a requirement, but we do expect that you can travel to this office regularly. During further development, we will coordinate the content and deliverables with the formal graduation requirements of the program.

We offer a substantively challenging research internship at the intersection of science and practice. You will participate in ongoing drinking water projects and work together with our technologists on current process and design questions. In doing so, you will work with current process data and dynamic models and gain insight into how model results are utilized for design, optimization, and decision-making. The assignment will be organized so that it aligns with the requirements of your studies.

You will be guided by experienced specialists and given space to conduct independent research, discuss results critically, and become acquainted with various disciplines within our drinking water projects. The internship therefore offers a strong substantive foundation and, with a good mutual match, can form a stepping stone to a role within the team.

• An internship allowance of € 750 per month (based on 40 hours).
• Personal guidance by experienced process technologists and modelers.
• Access to relevant modeling software, project data, and professional knowledge.
• Participation in project meetings, knowledge sessions, team activities, and drinks.
• Necessary laptop and software.
• Space to align the assignment with the requirements of the study program.
• Access to all Arcadis offices in the Netherlands, so you can work flexibly and meet colleagues and projects at different locations. All our offices are located near a central station and are easily accessible by train.
• The possibility to work from home when desired or necessary.
• The possibility to build a professional network within Arcadis.
• Perspective on a follow-up within the team in the event of a good mutual match.