New position "Scientific Researcher" @GhEnToxLab

We are looking for a new PhD student

Apply before 31 August 2020.

Collaborative strategic research project:

SMART-DETOX: removal of organic micropollutants from water

Project description:

Your research will be part of a large 4-year interdisciplinary project, funded by the Science Foundation of Flanders (FWO), in which membrane, plasma and microbial technologies will be combined with analytical chemistry, (eco)toxicology, and life cycle impact assessment to develop a novel, sustainable water technologies for detoxification of waste water and drinking water by removing organic micropollutants.

Your contribution will be focused on using ecotoxicological experiments and models, toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) and effects-directed analysis (EDA) to steer the development of the technologies for waste water treatment. We will quantify residual long-term toxicity of waste water treatment plant (WWTP) effluents, before and after treatment. We will also use various physico-chemical extraction and separation methods, combined with analytical chemistry to identify which (groups of) micropollutants and/or their transformation products in non-treated and treated (WWTP) effluents are responsible for toxicity. This will serve, in a final phase of the project, to optimize the design, operational parameters and settings of the removal technologies.

The project, which will normally start on 1 October 2020, is in close collaboration with several other research groups from UGent and KULeuven and is supported by various stakeholders from the water and environmental technology sectors in Belgium.

Your profile:

- Strong interest in seeking solutions for challenging environmental problems

- Collaborative mindset

- Good / very good knowledge (MSc level) in at least two of the following areas: (i) Ecotoxicology or Environmental Risk Assessment, (ii) Chemical or Bio-engineering, (iii) Environmental or Water Technology, (iv) Organic Analytical or Environmental Chemistry

- A Masters diploma in one of these areas (or related areas). Candidates who will receive their diploma before 1 October 2020 can also apply.

- A good command of English.

How to apply:

Please send an E-mail before 31 August 2020 to Karel.Deschamphelaere@ugent.be with a single attachment, containing a brief (maximum half a page) motivation letter, your curriculum, a copy of your diploma, and if possible also an overview of courses followed and study results. More information about the project can be obtained via the same E-mail address.

Our website:

www.ecotox.ugent.be