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“LimnoPlast - Microplastics in Europe's freshwater ecosystems: From sources to solutions” is funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 programme (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Innovative Training Network) and offers 15 fully funded PhD positions (for early-stage researcher (ESR)) with attractive complementary training activities and generous travel, laboratory and research budgets. The successful candidates will be hosted by a member of a European Consortium of universities, research institutions and companies in Germany, Denmark, France, Slovenia, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom and The Netherlands. Successful candidates will have a research interest in natural, environmental, technical or social-science and will participate in a transdisciplinary network of research and training aimed at accelerating the applicants’ scientific careers.
LimnoPlast will for the first time bring together environmental, technical, and social sciences with the vision to transform a new understanding of freshwater microplastics to innovative solutions.
Follow us on twitter: https://twitter.com/LimnoPlast.
LimnoPlast will:
Train a new type of scientists (ESRs) able to tackle the complex plastics issue holistically and contribute to Europe’s innovation and Circular Economy capacity. Working at the interface of three usually very distant disciplines, they will promote a step change in how we deal with this and future environmental challenges.
Provide the first comprehensive assessment of the sources and impacts of freshwater MP based on the analysis of three major urban areas as hotspots of plastic pollution.
Innovate technological solutions to the plastics issue, including novel processes to remove MP from municipal and industrial wastewater as well as bio-degradable, environmentally sound polymers.
Promote societal change by understanding the economic, legislative and social context of freshwater MP.
Transform science into a set of specific solutions, including (I) the prioritization of actions based on the sources and impacts of MP, development of (II) better processes and polymers, (III) risk communication strategies and societal interventions, (IV) effective policy and legislative interventions.
Transfer the LimnoPlast outcomes to European decision makers, stakeholders and the public to enable and promote action on freshwater MP using an innovative communication and dissemination strategy.
Titles of the ESR-projects:
Biological effects of microplastics from biodegradable plastics in freshwater invertebrates.
Research Field: Ecology, Biology, Environmental Science, Ecotoxicology
Host: Universität Bayreuth (UBT), DE
Main Supervisor: Christian Laforsch: christian.laforsch@uni-bayreuth.de
Application Deadline: 15/01/2020
Development and characterization of novel biodegradable polymers.
Research Field: Polymer Science, Synthetic Chemistry
Host: Universität Bayreuth (UBT), DE
Main Supervisor: Seema Agarwal, seema.agarwal@uni-bayreuth.de
Application Deadline: 15/01/2020
Source tracking of microplastics at Aarhus.
Research Field: Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Engineering, Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry
Host: Aalborg Universitet (AAU), DE
Main Supervisor: Jes Vollertsen: jv@civil.aau.dk
Please apply via https://www.vacancies.aau.dk/show-vacancy/?vacancy=1071020
Application Deadline: 01/01/2020
Monitoring and modelling microplastics in the greater Paris and the river Seine; pollutants associated with microplastics.
Research Field: Environmental Monitoring, Modelling, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Chemistry
Host: Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees (ENPC), FR
Main Supervisor: Bruno Tassin : bruno.tassin@enpc.fr
Application Deadline: 31/01/2020
Electrostatic separation of nanoplastics from wastewater.
Research Field: Engineering, Polymer Science, Material Science, Chemistry, Electrochemistry
Host: Evonik Technology & Infrastructure GmbH (Evonik), DE
Main Supervisor: Patrik Stenner: patrik.stenner@evonik.com
Application Deadline: 15/01/2020
A socio-ecological assessment for microplastics to address the needs of future Circular Economy in Europe.
Research Field: Environmental Science, Social Science
Host: Fraunhofer-Institut UMSICHT (Fraunhofer), DE
Main Supervisor: Daniel Maga: daniel.maga@umsicht.fraunhofer.de
Please apply via: https://recruiting.fraunhofer.de/Vacancies/49168/Description/2
Application Deadline: 31/01/2020
Legal situation of microplastics in Europe’s freshwater ecosystems.
Research Field: Law, Business
Host: HHL Gemeinnützige GmbH (HHL), DE
Main Supervisor: Liv Jaeckel: ljaeckel@mailserver.tu-freiberg.de & Tobias Dauth: tobias.dauth@hhl.de
Application Deadline: 31/01/2020
Chemistry and bulk properties and degradation of microplastics.
Research Field: Polymer Science, Material Science, Chemistry
Host: Kemijski institut (National Institute of Chemistry) (KI), SI
Main Supervisor: Andrej Kržan: andrej.krzan@ki.si
Application Deadline: 15/01/2020
Ecotoxicology of different shapes of microplastics in freshwater invertebrates.
Research Field: Environmental Toxicology, Biology, Biochemistry
Host: Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet (NTNU), NO
Main Supervisor: Martin Wagner: martin.wagner@ntnu.no
Application Deadline: 31/01/2020
Chemical toxicity of conventional and new plastics.
Research Field: Human Toxicology, Biology, Biochemistry
Host: Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet (NTNU), NO
Main Supervisor: Martin Wagner: martin.wagner@ntnu.no
Application Deadline: 31/01/2020
Microplastics assessment in wasterwater treatment plant – occurrence, removal and fate.
Research Field: Environmental Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Environmental Science, Environmental Monitoring
Host: Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees (ENPC), FR (Syndicat interdepartmental pour l’assainissement de l’agglomération parisienne (SIAAP), FR)
Main Supervisor: Bruno Tassin: bruno.tassin@enpc.fr
Application Deadline: 31/01/2020
Chronic toxicity of microplastics in fish species.
Research Field: Environmental Toxicology, Biology, Biochemistry
Host: Goeteborgs Universitet (UGOT), SE
Main Supervisor: Bethanie Carney Almroth: bethanie.carney@bioenv.gu.se
Please apply via https://www.gu.se/english/about_the_university/job-opportunities/vacancies-details/?id=4869
Application Deadline: 15/01/2020
Risk perceptions and mental models regarding microplastics in freshwater systems and solutions.
Research Field: Psychology and related disciplines
Host: Universitetet i Bergen (UiB), NO
Main Supervisor: Gisela Böhm: gisela.boehm@uib.no
Please apply via https://www.jobbnorge.no/ledige-stillinger/stilling/177718
Application Deadline: 15/01/2020
Behavioural approaches to the microplastics problem and potential solutions.
Research Field: Behavioural Science, Psychology
Host: University of Plymouth (UoP), Plymouth, UK
Main Supervisor: Sabine Pahl: sabine.pahl@plymouth.ac.uk
Application Deadline: 15/12/2019
From freshwater to drinking water and food-human exposure to microplastics.
Research Field: Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Science
Host: Stichting VU (University Amsterdam) (VUA), NL
Main Supervisor: Heather A. Leslie: heather.leslie@vu.nl
Please apply via https://workingat.vu.nl/home
Application Deadline: 01/02/2020
Benefits
LimnoPlast will offer early stage researchers world-class scientific training in the respective host institute, through research secondments (six month research stay at complementary partner institution) and training events. LimnoPlast will significantly enhance the ESRs’ career perspective by providing a unique set of skill they will exploit throughout their professional lives:
Excellence in transdisciplinary research, including the wider societal context of research,
Excellence in environmental, technical, and social science, with a unique, individual scientific profile,
Capacity to transform an environmental challenge into innovative solutions,
Capacity to effectively communicate science and to integrate the contrasting stakeholder perspectives,
Insights in standardization, economic aspects, and entrepreneurship,
Transferable skills (creativity, problem solving, intercultural and team competence, leadership).
ESR will get:
full-time employment contract for 36 months (including social security coverage)
additional family allowance (if married or dependent children)
access to an extensive research network
connections to potential employers in Europe
Applicants can be of any nationality and must, at the time of recruitment:
Have a MSc or equivalent relevant for the chosen ESR-project
Be in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers
Have not been awarded a doctoral degree
Have not resided in the country of the host institution for more than 12 months in the last 3 years (except refugees)
GENERAL EVALUATION CRITERIA
Educational background relevant for the chosen position (individual research project)
High proficiency in spoken and written English
Networking and communication skills (to be evaluated in the interview).
Previous research experience, relevant to the chosen position is desirable.
SELECTION PROCESS
Pre-selection: will be based on CV, experience, skills, and motivation letter.
Interviews: Short-listed candidates will be interviewed.
Diversity
Diversity is a core value of LimnoPlast. We are an inclusive community, and we believe that diversity and international activities enhance the quality of research and training. We are looking for people who can enhance diversity in our team thanks to their background and experience.
Gender
Special attention will be paid to gender-equality. Female researchers are strongly encouraged to apply; in case of equal qualification in the recruitment procedure, the enrolment of female candidates will be prioritized.
Inclusion
Applications from handicapped persons will be favored when all other qualifications are equal. Applications of refugees are particularly encouraged, and their potential participation will be supported by language and cultural courses.
Website for additional details: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/224715/factsheet/en
Skills/Qualifications
The candidates with the following general profile are encouraged to apply:
A very good Master’s degree or equivalent Ecology, Biology, Environmental Science, Ecotoxicology, Polymer Science, Synthetic Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, Engineering, Microbiology, Chemistry, Environmental Monitoring, Modelling, Material Science, Electrochemistry, Law, Business, Environmental Toxicology, Biochemistry, Sanitary Engineering, Human Toxicology, Social Science, Psychology and related disciplines, Behavioural Science, Sociology or relevant disciplines. The Master’s degree should meet the requirement given in the description of the particular project.
You enjoy working independently and well-structured together with an interdisciplinary team contributing to a highly topical and socially relevant field.
You show outstanding commitment, high flexibility, can cope with a higher workload and you are team-oriented.
You have excellent communication as well as organizational skills and are willing to engage in international, interdisciplinary collaborative research, workshops and secondments.
You have very good command (written and spoken) of English language.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 860720.