Nature-based approaches, such as soil passage during river bank filtration and dune filtration, is commonly used as a first treatment step in drinking water production from surface water. Soil passage results in the partial removal of organic micropollutants (OMP) via biodegradation and sorption. As a PhD candidate in the Sino-Dutch project “Water SMART”, you will contribute to further developing nature-based approaches to enhance the removal of OMPs during soil passage. By stimulating microbial activity in the soil and by testing sorbent material amendment, you will explore the interplay between OMP sorption and biodegradation. The main objectives is to balance these two processes to optimize OMP retention and removal during soil passage. By collaborating with partners at TU Delft, the Chinese Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences and the Institute of Urban Environment in the Chinese Academy of Sciences, you will contribute to the development of novel strategies towards safe and sustainable drinking water production.
Your duties and responsibilities will include to:

• Select key OMPs and field conditions for laboratory experiments based on a variety of existing data
• Determine the sorption capacity of nature-based sorbents and tailored sorbents for enhanced OMP removal during soil passage under relevant field conditions
• Enhance biodegradation of selected OMPs, including those that are difficult to remove via sorption
• Set up and run proof-of-principle column and/or pilot experiments to validate selected strategies previously developed in simplified batch setups
• Collaborate with other (PhD)-researchers in the Water SMART project to jointly work towards the objectives of the research program
• Teaching and supervising MSc students
• Following courses in the Wageningen Institute for Environment and Climate Research (WIMEK) Graduate School
• Because of the Sino-Dutch nature of the project, you are expected to perform a short (~3 months) research visit in China

You will work here
The research is embedded within the Environmental Technology department, where you will be member of the ‘Micropollutants & Pathogens’ subgroup, which is led by Dr. Nora Sutton. You will be co-supervised by Dr. Gabriel Sigmund and Dr. Thomas Wagner.

• You have an MSc degree in environmental engineering, environmental technology, water biotechnology, environmental sciences, or a related field from an internationally recognized two year master program taught in English or provide an English Proficiency Test IELTS of 7.0 (scores of at least 6.5 in all sections) or TOEFL of 100 (scores of at least 2.1 for all sections).
• You have knowledge of microbial biodegradation and sorption processes, preferably in the context of organic micropollutants;
• You have proven laboratory skills e.g. in analytical chemistry, molecular biology, contaminant sorption and biodegradation
• You are able to think in and work with multidisciplinary research approaches;
• You have proven academic research experience, for example as part of a MSc- or BSc-thesis
• You have affinity with working as a team player, proactive in your work, involved actively in your working environment and capable of independently addressing and solving research problems.

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• Partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.
The gross salary for the first year is € 2.770,- per month rising to € 3.539,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 19th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.
Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University & Research
The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.