EXPRESION OF INTEREST PREDOCTORAL RESEARCHER (PREDOC WATERDOM)

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE JOB

• Job location:  ICRA – Catalan Institute for Water Research, Girona, Spain
• Number of positions available: 1
• Expected start: July-September 2022
• Temporal Position. The position is for 48 Months.
• Gross Annual Salary package: According to regulation of the call pre-doc contracts for the training of doctors 2021 to be announced in October in the website of the Spanish Science and Innovation Ministry.  
• Interested persons shall present a proposal to the Predoc Call at the Spanish Research Agency and may be evaluated according to the Criteria included in the year 2021 call (See 2020 Predoctoral call as an example: http://www.aei.gob.es/portal/site/MICINN/menuitem.dbc68b34d11ccbd5d52ffeb801432ea0/?vgnextoid=490233572bed4710VgnVCM1000001d04140aRCRD )
• For more information you can contact [email protected]

JOB PURPOSE / PROJECT DESCRIPTION

We are currently looking for highly motivated persons with interest in conducting a PhD in analytical chemistry to apply for a national call of pre-doc contracts for the training of doctors 2021 within the waterDOM project ¨ Small-molecule mass spectrometry fingerprinting as a diagnostic tool in water quality surveillance and treatment optimization (reference PID2020-114065RB-C21)¨, already funded within the call «Proyectos de I+D+i» of the State Programs for the Generation of Knowledge and Scientific and Technological Strengthening Oriented to the Challenges of Society, within the framework of the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2017 - 2020.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The student will enrol at the Doctoral Program in Water Science and Technology at the University of Girona and his/her PhD Thesis will be supervised by D. M.J Farré and D. M Petrovic within the project waterDOM.

WaterDOM project aims at providing rigorous analytical methods and tools for the holistic characterization of water samples based on high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) fingerprinting of the dissolved organic matter (DOM). The fraction investigated includes natural organic matter (NOM), synthetic organic compounds, transformation products such as disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and soluble microbial products derived during biological processes of wastewater treatment that has been previously extracted by SPE. WaterDOM will validate the mass spectrometric approaches in to answer research questions related to global change and its effects on drinking and wastewater quality and treatment.

The main tasks conducted during the PhD will be:

Development of novel non-targeted analysis strategies for dissolved organic matter monitoring in different water matrices: The student will learn all the analytical techniques by assisting the project team during the development of the methodology.

Evaluation of the efficiency of wastewater treatment through changes in analytical profiles observed between influent and effluent water. Prediction of potential environmental effects related to the emission and uses of the treated water:

Investigate changes of DOM fingerprints to predict side effects such as formation of disinfection byproducts (DBP) and other transformation products in drinking water was too ambitious to also include them in the project plan.

EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS 

Experience: The candidate must hold a Master’s degree from or equivalent to a Master degree awarded in the European Higher Education Area. Master’s degree must be in Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Chemistry, or similar. Other degrees may be seen favourable if justified by motivation of the student. National or international mobility will be a valuable experience.

Knowledge: Extraction, purification and quantification of organic contaminants using target analysis. Knowledge in non-target analysis is highly desirable. Any of the following past research experiences will be judged favourably in the selection process:

• Experience/knowledge on dissolved organic matter characterization                       
• Experience/knowledge on disinfection byproducts
• Experience/knowledge on sewage epidemiology
• Programming skills in typical scientific programming languages (e.g., Python, R, etc.).
• Willingness to face complex modelling problems. Ability with mathematics and statistics.

Skills: Proficiency in the Spanish and English language is required, as well as good communication skills, both oral and written.

WORKING CONDITIONS AT ICRA

Working conditions: Employed in compliance with Spanish legislation and regulations. Employees receive the benefits of the Spanish Social Security system covering sickness, maternity/paternity leaves and injuries at work.

International environment: The opportunity to join a prestigious international research institution and become a member of a young and growing research group.

Continuous training in a high-quality environment.

HOW TO APPLY & SELECTION PROCESS

Documentation Submitted:

Submit the documentation as per pre-doc contracts for the training of doctors 2021 call instructions selecting the project waterDOM (reference PID2020-114065RB-C21) in the application from the Spanish Science and Innovation Ministry.

The deadline to submit the required documentation will be in October 2021 (call not yet opened).

Selection process:

Call application: the candidates will apply to the call to be announced in October 2021.

Call results published: once the results of the call have been published (by June 2022) if the candidate has been granted a job offer will be sent to him or her.

Offered Position: Job Offer will be sent to the successful candidate within 20 days (approximately) of the call results have been published.