Technician: Analytical Chemistry/Exposure Assessment

At the Toxicology division we aim to improve the scientific basis of chemical risk assessment through fundamental and applied innovative research, teaching, and training in mechanistic and predictive toxicology and exposure assessment. Join us as a technician! You will be working on different activities and projects, all focused on exposure assessment, either in (in vitro) toxicity assays or the environment.

Your job
Within the Toxicology division, you are part of the Exposure Assessment group. Your work mostly involves chemical-analytical determinations of concentrations of various organic chemicals in different media. To this end, you use LC-MS/MS, HPLC-UV/FLD, GC-MS and GC-FID. Target chemicals include PFAS, pharmaceuticals, organohalogen compounds (e.g. pesticides, PCBs), industrial chemicals, and oil. Media of interest are exposure media, cells or organisms from toxicity assays; and sediment, soil, water, air and organisms from the environment or laboratory experiments.

As a technician, you work on different scientific projects, funded by both national and international agencies. The projects all aim to investigate human or environmental exposure to harmful chemicals. They may have a fundamental character (e.g., focused on the toxicity of specific chemicals), but may also be strictly applied (e.g., related to remediation of soils, water or sediment).

You support Bachelor's and Master's students and (PhD) researchers working on these diverse projects. In addition, part of your work may involve consultancy activities (commercial assignments for external partners) and general laboratory duties, such as ordering materials and maintenance of instruments.

You have a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc)/HLO degree (or equivalent) in the field of analytical chemistry, with a strong interest in environmental chemistry and/or toxicology/life sciences. You have good verbal and written communication skills in Dutch and English. Moreover, you are able to work both independently and in a team. Experience with chromatographic techniques coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS and LC-MS) is essential, as is being able to maintain own equipment and solve practical problems (i.e. being handy). A drive to improve methodologies and affinity with method development is a clear plus.

• An employment contract for 12 months with the prospect of a permanent employment contract;
• a working week of 32- 40 hours and a gross monthly salary between €3,382 and €4,484 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 8 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities. You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

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