Researcher in Environmental Chemistry and Exposomics - Project PMTfocus Institut ExposUM.

26 Mar 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Universite de Montpellier

Department

Human Resources

Research Field

Chemistry

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

France

Application Deadline

1 May 2024 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris)

Type of Contract

Permanent

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

38

Offer Starting Date

1 Jul 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

HE

Reference Number

2024-R0220

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

A 24-month fixed-term contract position (researcher) is available within the framework of the project "Focus on Persistent, Mobile and Toxic chemicals as Substances of Very High Concern: an emerging exposome from resource and drinking waters to human" (PMTfocus) funded by the Institut ExposUM of the University of Montpellier. The aim of this project is to determine the fate of persistent, mobile and toxic substances (PM/PMT) in the aquatic environment and human exposure. The aim is to develop analytical and monitoring methods for these substances, and to determine the conditions that contribute to human exposure. Contamination by persistent, mobile or persistent, mobile and toxic PM/PMT contaminants can be irremediable, as they are difficult to degrade in the environment, and their mobility enables them to be transferred to treatment systems and reach drinking water and humans. The objectives of this project are to trace the presence of these contaminants, their pathway through the water cycle, their presence in water used for drinking water production and human exposure through water. These studies will contribute to a better understanding of the fundamental transfer processes of PM/PMT in the water cycle, and to a first estimate of human exposure through water. This is a multi-disciplinary project, and the candidate will be working with researchers from different specialties (chemistry, hydrology, epidemiology). Five study sites are involved, representing a gradient of anthropogenic pressure on water resources, ranging from zero pressure a priori to increasing pressure as a function of water treatment and reuse practices.The research questions are: i) whether PM/PMTs are present in the water resource and in increasing concentrations as a function of the pressure exerted on the resource, ii) whether different contexts/uses of water present different PMT profiles, and iii) whether drinking water can represent a route of human exposure to PMTs and their transformation products.Finally, human internal exposure to PMTs will be assessed using urine samples, the most relevant liquid for PMT exposure.

 

Main mission: 

- Ensure traceability of water and urine sample collection, transfer and analysis activities

- Develop and improve instrumental techniques for HPLC-HMRS analysis of PM/PMT in "water" and "urine" matrices

- Develop workflows for "suspect screening" and "non-target" analysis applied to these samples

- Determination of PM/PMT contaminants in the water-human continuum at the 5 sites targeted by the project

 

Activities:

- Interpretation of experimental results

- Write articles

- Contribute to the animation and management of research and the experimental platform

 

Job constraints: The candidate will work in Montpellier, with punctual missions to the 5 sites studied, in Spain, Tunisia, Algeria and Bolivia.

The PMTfocus project brings together researchers from UMR HydroSciences, G-eau, Geosciences, IDESP in Montpellier (France) and CERTE (Tunisia). The researcher will benefit from collaboration with the project partners.

Requirements

Research Field

Chemistry

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

- Sound knowledge of environmental chemistry and/or microbiology and/or environmental engineering and/or chemical engineering.

- A first postdoc in a similar research field outside Montpellier would be appreciated.

- Good level of written and spoken English

- Ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment

- Driving licensee     

Research Field

Chemistry

Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Hydrosciences Montpellier (HSM)

Country

France

City

Montpellier

Postal Code

34090

Geofield

Where to apply

E-mail

[email protected]

Contact

City

Montpellier

Website

http://www.umontpellier.fr/

Street

163 rue Auguste Broussonnet

Postal Code

34000

E-Mail

[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED