POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER (PostDoc_NePMtune_2)

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE JOB

• Job location:  ICRA – Catalan Institute for Water Research, Girona (Spain)
• Number of positions available: 1
• Expected start: 01/02/2023
• Temporal Position. The position is for 12 months (with possibilities of extension)
• Gross Annual Salary package: 24.000 € - 29.899 € (based on the merits).

The present call and the contracting is subject to obtaining the Project Final Resolution and the availability of economic funds and the effective start of the Project.

OFFER DESCRIPTION

We are seeking a postdoc researcher holding a PhD with expertise in nature-based solutions (NBS) applied for the removal of organic and/or inorganic micropollutants, in the scope of the project NEPMTUNE “Towards water circular economy protection from the threat caused by persistent, mobile and toxic chemicals”. An innovative hybrid and modular green wall technology for secondary wastewater treatment and reuse at urban scale is under development at ICRA. This researcher will contribute to its development for the removal of PMTs, including PFAS and others. Expertise with nature-based solutions, especially with constructed wetland, vertical wetlands or green walls, for water and wastewater treatment will be highly appreciated. Previous experience and/or knowledge on micropollutant analysis is also desirable.

The overall goal of NEPMTUNE is to gain a significant and comprehensive knowledge of the sources, fate and risks posed by persistent, mobile and toxic chemicals - PMTs, in the water cycle, while providing tools for their removal and management, bearing in mind the increased demands for water reuse in the current climate change scenario. Besides providing digital tools for the management of the risk posed by PMTs, the project will deliver innovative technologies for their removal from different contaminated water matrices, and an effective transfer of those technologies to public and industry stakeholders.

ICRA is (i) leading the development and testing of the most promising technologies for the removal of PMTs, their optimization and testing, and (ii) leading the adaptation of the existing digital tools to case studies of PMTs in Catalan river basins, to assist in the planning of water-treatment facilities. ICRA is also in charge of implementing novel analytical methods for the analyses of PMTs in water.

KEY DUTIES

We are looking for a highly motivated researcher in the field of environmental engineering, environmental sciences or sustainability. The selected research fellow will work together towards a common goal of development of a sustainable technology for nature-based, chemical-free, decentralized treatment of water contaminated with PMTs. The project offers an opportunity for collaboration with other ongoing projects focused on the implementation of NBS and EC systems, including interaction with various stakeholders, attending meetings, conferences and workshops.

The specific duties of this postdoc will be:

• Experimental design and operation for NBS for grey water treatment spiked with selected PMTs at lab scale and pilot scale;
• Validation of the NBS technology for the optimal removal of PMTs at full-scale pilot, considering also nutrients recovery, risk assessment and costs (energy and maintenance);

Other duties for this position include:

• Participation in project meetings and preparation of project reports.
• Elaboration of research articles targeting high-impact peer reviewed journals.
• Collaboration in experimental campaigns in Catalan River Basins.
• Participation in national and international conferences.
• As with all PhD students and postdoctoral fellows a small proportion of the time will be allocated to communal services such as joint laboratory cleanings etc.