We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to investigate the long-range environmental transport (LRET) of microplastic particles (MPs), including their potential to facilitate the mobility and global distribution of plastic additive chemicals. The position will require an ability to combine scientific programming and the investigation of key environmental fate and transport processes of MPs (and/or other particulates, organic pollutants) in both water and air. Previous experience with multimedia fate modelling, hydrological modelling or atmospheric aerosol modelling is an asset, as well as a strong knowledge about fate processes of MPs and other particulates in different environmental media (aggregation, deposition, sedimentation, biofouling, weathering/degradation/fragmentation, etc.

Recent research has highlighted the ubiquity of plastic debris across the planet and particularly in the oceans. The release of plastic debris to the environment represents a particular concern, given its relative persistence and potential to fragment into MPs within a biologically relevant size range. It has been further observed that the density, size and shape of some MPs make them susceptible to LRET in either water or air. However, the extent to which MPs detected in remote regions reflect LRET or are simply the product of local emissions remains highly uncertain. There is thus a need towards improved understanding of the environmental fate processes that might influence the mobility and exposure to MPs. Lastly, plastic materials are known to contain a range of chemical additives (chemical plasticizers, anti-oxidants, flame retardants and UV stabilizers) and unreacted monomers at varying weight fraction inclusion levels. The concern that MPs may be subject to LRET has, therefore, resulted in suggestions that this could facilitate the particle-bound mobility and long-range transport of plastic additive chemicals to remote regions.

The aim of this postdoctoral project is the development of a robust modelling framework for assessing the LRET of MPs and their potential to facilitate the mobility of plastic additive chemicals. The modelling framework will utilize state-of-the art advances in multimedia environmental fate modelling of MPs, integrate current (and future) knowledge on the fate and transport of both MPs and naturally occurring particles with similar properties and strengthen our understanding of the key environmental fate processes that influence their LRET. The final outcome will be an open-source global-scale microplastic multimedia fate model that will serve as an important foundation to answer pressing scientific as well as regulatory questions (e.g. related to the Stockholm Convention).

This two year postdoc position is part of the project 'μPLANET – microPlastic Long-range transport Assessment aNd Estimation Tools'. Your main supervisor will be Dr. Antonia Praetorius (IBED, University of Amsterdam). Additionally you will receive guidance by project partners Prof. Mick Whelan (University of Leicester, UK) and Dr. Todd Gouin (TG Environmental Research, UK) through regular virtual and in-person meetings, as well as via the possibility for short-term research stays at the partner institutions.

Furthermore, exchange with experts and collaborators of three related projects will expose the postdoctoral researcher to leading experts in the field and provide ample opportunity for scientific exchange, collaboration and career development.

The position is based at the Department for Ecosystems and Landscape Dynamics (ELD) within the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). You will work in a stimulating and diverse research environment, with excellent scientific and computational infrastructure and support. Close collaborations between IBED researchers and other UvA research institutes, e.g. of chemistry (HIMS) or the Data Science Centre (DSC), further enrich our working environment. The working location is Amsterdam (Netherlands). A remote start may be possible, in particular if facing travel restrictions or relocation challenges due to the global pandemic.

What are you going to do

You are expected:

• to further develop a global microplastic multimedia environmental fate model to include key processes driving their long-range environmental transport;
• to write well-structured open-source code with proper documentation;
• to be active within the µPLANET project team and collaborate with partner projects;
• to publish in high level international journals, present at leading conferences and participate in the supervision of PhD students on related projects.

What do we require

• a PhD in environmental chemistry, environmental sciences, earth sciences, computational sciences or related field;
• a strong scientific expertise in one or more of these areas: multimedia environmental fate modelling, hydrological or atmospheric modelling of particulates (sediments, aerosols), or environmental fate and transport of microplastics (or other particulates);
• demonstrated experience in environmental/scientific programming (preferably with expertise in Python or willingness to learn);
• the ability and willingness to work independently, but with regular exchanges with a team of experts and collaborators;
• excellent English skills and ability to write and present scientific results.

A temporary contract for 38 hours a week, preferably starting as soon as possible.

The salary, depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract, will be €2,790 to €4,402 (scale 10) gross per month, based on a fulltime contract (38 hours a week). This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Take a look here.

University of Amsterdam

With over 6,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

Faculty of Science – Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 7,000, as well as 1,600 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.

The Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) is one of eight research institutes of the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam. The research at IBED aims to unravel how ecosystems function in all their complexity, and how they change due to natural processes and human activities. At its core lies an integrated systems approach to study biodiversity, ecosystems and the environment. IBED adopts this systems approach to ecosystems, addressing abiotic (soil and water quality) and biotic factors (ecology and evolution of plants, animals, and microorganisms), and the interplay between those. The IBED vision includes research encompassing experimental and theoretical approaches at a wide variety of temporal and spatial scales, i.e. from molecules and microorganisms to patterns and processes occurring at the global scale.