Postdoctoral researcher: Micropollutant metabolization in constructed wetland plants

Your job

Are you interested in studying natural water treatment systems for micropollutant removal? Did you obtain experience in analytical chemistry for micropollutant analysis (LC-MS/LC-HRMS) during your PhD? Do you like to combine laboratory research with organizing knowledge dissemination activities withing a European research consortium? Then this vacancy for a postdoctoral researcher may be of interest for you.

Micropollutants, such as pharmaceuticals and PFAS, pose a significant threat to human and ecosystem health. A lot of these micropollutants enter the ecosystem via the discharged water of wastewater treatment plants. Constructed wetlands are nature-based treatment technologies that can be used for additional micropollutant removal from the effluent of wastewater treatment plants. Plants play a crucial role in constructed wetlands: the provide stability to the system and provide microorganisms with oxygen and easily assimilable organic compounds. In addition, they take up micropollutants via their root system and potentially metabolize these within the plant.

The E.U. funded research program WeTreat aims to select, propagate and preserve micropollutant accumulating plant varieties that can be used in constructed wetlands for enhanced micropollutant removal.

The WUR / postdoctoral researcher employed at WUR is responsible for:

• testing the viability of the plants selected by the other program partners in pilot-scale constructed wetlands fed with wastewater treatment plant effluent and monitoring the micropollutant removal efficiency;
• enhancing our understanding of the uptake and metabolism of micropollutants in the plants in these pilot-scale constructed wetlands.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• to operate pilot-scale (12 m³ ) constructed wetlands and design a micropollutant removal monitoring strategy;
• develop and update analytical procedures for the extraction and measurement of micropollutant (transformation products) in plant material (LC-HRMS / non-target screening);
• publish the results of your research in peer-reviewed scientific journals and present research output at international conferences, symposia and consortium meetings;
• (Co-)Organize knowledge dissemination and communication activities for the WeTreat project (i.e. workshop, summer school, website, social media);
• contribute to teaching activities of the Environmental Technology department.   

Your team
You will be part of the E.U. funded research program WeTreat. In this program, you will work together with research groups from Portugal, Italy and Luxembourg on optimizing wetland-based solutions for improved micropollutant treatment efficiency from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent. To do so, WeTreat combines expertise in plant physiology, plant biochemistry, environmental technology and water treatment technology.

Your qualities

You are an organized researcher that is able to simultaneously perform laboratory research work and contribute to other aspects of performing science in a larger research collaboration, i.e. project management, knowledge dissemination, event organization and education. You communicate easily and can work on the various abovementioned aspects independently. You are used to working in interdisciplinary research projects. You are able to communicate with stakeholders in- and outside of academia. 

You also possess:

• a PhD in plant sciences, analytical chemistry, biotechnology, environmental technology or related field;
• demonstratable experience with analytical equipment for the analysis of micropollutants in plant- and water samples (LC-MS, LC-HRMS);
• a hands-on mentality and the practical skill to operate pilot-scale constructed wetlands fed with real wastewater treatment plant effluent.

In our international working environment there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level C1.

You will work here
The research is performed in the Environmental Technology (ETE) department. You will become member of the ‘Micropollutants & Pathogens’ subgroup of ETE, which is led by Dr. Nora Sutton and consists of ~15 PhD-students and 3 staff members. You will be supervised by Dr. Thomas Wagner.

We offer you

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

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• 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 year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.378,- and € 5.331,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). Additionally, a contract for 32 hours a week can be discussed.

As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended for one and a half more year on good performance.  Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

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.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands 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 coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account, dual career programs 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.

Do you want more information?

For more information about the position, please contact Thomas Wagner, via phone: +31 6 52654362 or via email: thomas.wagner@wur.nl.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Rutger Voorrips, corporate recruiter, via e-mail: rutger.voorrips@wur.nl.

Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

You can apply up and until the 28^th of April, 2025. The first interviews are scheduled for the 1^st and 2^nd of May, 2025.

Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure.

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

We are

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’.

We pursue this mission through a synergistic approach between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research Foundation (applied research). Our research focuses on questions within the domains of food, living environment, and society. With approximately 30 locations, 7,700 staff members, 2,500 PhD candidates, and over 13,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is among the world’s leading knowledge institutions in its domain. The integral approach to challenges and the collaboration across various disciplines form the core of the unique Wageningen approach.



Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR.

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves and do not appreciate unasked for services from recruitment agencies. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.