An increasing number of chemicals enter the market and environment each day. These contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) provide an enormous challenge to water and risk managers struggling with questions like “What are the risks of CECs ?”, “What activities contribute most to these risks?”, and “How can risks of CECs be reduced most efficiently?”. The SUSPECt project, funded by NWO TTW, tackles this challenge by integrating state-of-the-art scientific knowledge on emission estimation, fate modelling, and effect assessment into novel decision support tools. SUSPECt consists of three case studies: one focusing on CECs in urban areas, one on CECs in rural areas and an integrative case study.
 
As a PhD candidate you will focus on the urban case study. You will develop and optimise novel methods for emission estimation of CECs in the city of Nijmegen based on proxies such as data on sales, use and demographics. You will furthermore develop and refine models for the environmental fate of CECs, particularly in sewer systems, STPs and surface waters, with a focus on hydrophilic and ionising compounds. The model predictions will be validated using measurements with passive samplers in sewers, at the STP outlet and in surface waters. Finally, you will be involved in the development of new and more efficient methods to assess exposure and effects of CECs, particularly for mixtures. The project is carried out at the Department of Environmental Science in consultation with stakeholders such as regional water boards, local authorities, NGOs and national institutes. A detailed project description is available upon request.

You should hold an MSc degree in one of the Natural Sciences (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences) and possess modelling and experimental skills, preferably on the topics mentioned. You must master the Dutch language sufficiently in order to interact with stakeholders, including people from local and regional authorities, water boards, hospitals and NGOs. Other mportant selection criteria are passion, commitment, analytical thinking, a cooperative attitude and communication skills in both Dutch and English.

• employment: 1.0 FTE
• a maximum gross monthly salary of € 2,840 based on a 38-hour working week
• the gross starting salary amounts to €2,222 per month, and will increase to €2,840 in the fourth year (P scale)
• in addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• duration of the contract: you will be appointed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years
• you will be classified as a PhD Candidate in the Dutch university job-ranking system (UFO)
• you will be able to make use of our Dual Career Service where our Dual Career Officer will assist with family related support, such as child care, and help your partner prepare for the local labour market and with finding an occupation

 
Strategically located in Europe, Radboud University is one of the leading academic communities in the Netherlands. A place with a personal touch, where top-flight education and research take place on a beautiful leafy campus, in modern buildings with state-of-art facilities.

Are you interested in our excellent employment conditions?

Faculty of Science
You will work at the Department of Environmental Science which is part of the Institute for Water and Wetland Research (IWWR), Faculty of Science, Radboud University. The department has ample experience in modelling human and ecological risks of chemicals. The project is a collaboration with scientists from DELTARES, RIVM and Wageningen University & Research.
 
Further information on Environmental Science