Postdoc in Sustainability Assessment of Crop Protection in Europe using GIS

Do you want to build a career in developing science-based solutions for addressing society’s grand sustainability challenges? Do you want to work with international front-runners in agronomy, environmental chemistry and toxicology, and sustainability assessment from academia, industry and public institutions? Do you want to support the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability ? Then, this postdoctoral project is the right fit for you!   

You will develop methods and guidance for assessing impacts of pesticides on human and ecological health, and provide recommendations for a sustainable plant protection transition in Europe.

In DTU Management’s group for Quantitative Sustainability Assessment (QSA), you will join world leaders in life cycle assessment, absolute sustainability assessment and chemical toxicity characterization. QSA offers an excellent research environment with around 30 international staff, postdocs, and PhD students.

Your project is expected to spearhead the farm-to-regional level evaluation of pesticide impacts on human and environmental health, as part of the Horizon 2020 SPRINT project aiming at a sustainable plant protection transition using a global health approach. It is foreseen that you will participate in SPRINT project activities and network, and collaborate with scientist from SPRINT partners from academia, and from the private and public sector.

Responsibilities and qualifications
Your overall focus will be to strengthen the department’s competences within chemical toxicity and ecotoxicity assessment, geospatial modeling, and farm-to-country level data analysis. Methods developed in your postdoctoral project will help evaluating agricultural pesticides applied in European crop production, through the modeling of application-to-impact pathways for human and environmental health.

Your primary tasks will be:

• Develop a framework for assessing farm-level environmental impacts of pesticide use, using real-life data from case study farms across Europe and Argentina
• Integrate chemical and environmental data into a GIS-based modeling environment for pesticide impact evaluation
• Define criteria and rules for upscaling of impact quantification from farm- to regional/country-level
• Translate environmental and human health impacts into damages and into monetary costs for integration with economic sustainability indicators
• Provide impact results for various conventional, organic and integrated crop protection practices form farm-to-country level
• Teach and supervise MSc student projects, and co-supervise PhD student projects

You will become part of an energetic and dynamic research environment.

Required qualifications
You should have a PhD degree in environmental engineering, mathematical physics or a similar degree. You should have expertise in the fields of geospatial modelling (GIS), and life cycle assessment (LCA).

Special expertise in analysing fate, exposure and toxicological effects of chemicals, advanced skills in ArcGIS and Python or Matlab are a clear advantage. A strong motivation for analytical research and excellent communication skills in English are essential for a successful application.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and terms of employment
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. 

The period of employment is two years. Starting date is 1 September 2021 or later.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here .

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Professor Peter Fantke, email: [email protected] .

You can read more about the DTU Management department at www.man.dtu.dk/english . 

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark .   

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than15 August 2021 (Danish time).Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply online", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• Application (cover letter)
• CV
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD)
• List of publications
• 1-2 support letters from professional referees (e.g. former supervisors, senior collaborators)

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU Management conducts excellent research in the intersection between management, technology and economics - in close cooperation with companies and public authorities. In our research, we focus on the path to an efficient and sustainable society. A key element is the role of technology and its interaction with industry and individuals. The department’s research is divided in four divisions: Innovation, Management Science, Sustainability and Transport. Furthermore, the department hosts a UN Collaborating Centre on Energy, Climate and Sustainable development. The UN DTU Partnership conducts research, policy analysis and advising on a global scale. The department offers a broad range of courses and programmes at bachelor, master and PhD level across DTU’s study programmes. DTU Management employs about 300 people. We offer an international environment with around 50 different nationalities represented at the department. Read more here

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear vision to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That vision lives on today. DTU has 12,900 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.