PhD scholarship within environmental chemistry and remediation
Deadline: 15.09.2021
Norwegian University of Life Sciences
NMBU has a particular responsibility for research and education that secures the basis for the life of future generations. Sustainability is rooted in everything we do and we deliver knowledge for life. NMBU has 1,800 employees of which about 250 phd scholarships and 6,000 students. The university is divided into seven faculties.
NMBU believes that a good working environment is characterised by diversity.
We encourage qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender, functional ability, cultural background or whether you have been outside the labour market for a period. If necessary, workplace adaptations will be made for persons with disabilities.
More information about NMBU is available at www.nmbu.no.
About The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management
The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA) works with nature and the environment, sustainable use of natural resources, biological and geological processes.
MINA’s employees undertake teaching, research and dissemination within the fields of geology, hydrology and limnology, soil science, environmental chemistry, forestry, ecology, natural resource management, renewable energy, and nature-based tourism.
Our vision is to be a key actor in knowledge production and dissemination, and our goal is to deliver research of high, international quality, and varied and excellent teaching. The faculty’s employees are significant participants within their respective fields of expertise, both nationally and internationally. The faculty is dominated by a vital research culture and high levels of scientific production.
The faculty has about 200 employees, 90 PhD students and 650 students.
Are you interested in developing methods to support industry towards a better management of PFAS contamination?
About the position
The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA) at Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant 3-year PhD position within environmental chemistry and remediation focusing on the treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminated leachate. PFAS are currently under scientific and regulatory scrutiny as their harmful environmental effects are widely recognised. Current soil and leachate management practices need to be further developed to ensure a sustainable management of such PFAS contaminated sites. This position will forward state of the science related to the treatment of PFAS contamination in aquatic media.
The position is funded by the new Centre for Research driven Innovation called "Rescue of earth materials and wastes in the circular economy" (earthresQue). earthresQue aims to develop technologies, systems innovation, and a governance framework for the most sustainable management and treatment of wastes and earth materials, building on science-based education and information.
The PhD student will be engaged in a variety of tasks as detailed below. Desk work, laboratory work and field work will all form part of the PhD. The strong collaborative nature of the industrial partners involved in earthresQue will provide the student with a unique insight into how research results are translated to real world solutions. The PhD student will be expected to communicate findings of their work, both within the project as well as to the international audience. Presentations at relevant national and international conferences as well as peer reviewed publications will be used to disseminate findings.
The applicant is made aware that an application for a PhD position at NMBU is at the same time an application for admission to a PhD programme at the institution. The documentation that is necessary to ensure that the admission requirements are met must be uploaded as an attachment.
Main tasks
The main tasks of the PhD will be:
The successful candidate will work with the supervisory team to develop a more detailed PhD plan during the first 6 months of the project. The tasks below will be a starting point.
Designing and executing field sampling campaigns to sample leachate from landfill sites, waste water treatment works and soil washing facilities in Norway to obtain real world samples for the PhD work. The campaign will be developed in collaboration with the earthresQue partners.
Laboratory work to investigate the effect of complex landfill leachate matrices on efficiency of treatment facilities.
Laboratory and pilot scale testing to investigate concentrations of PFAS in the aqueous fractions resulting from soil washing processes.
Field work to determine the effectiveness of washing to clean contaminated stones/boulders using simple on-site techniques.
Communication and dissemination of results. A close dialogue with the earthresQue partners will be developed and maintained in order to transfer knowledge. The PhD student will attend workshops organized within the earthresQue project as well meetings with the other PhD students involved in the project. Oral presentations and posters at relevant national and international conferences will serve as relevant dissemination platforms.
The laboratory work will be carried out at NMBU and the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) depending on the facilities needed. Field work and pilot scale testing will be carried out in close collaboration with earthresQue partners at their sites.
The successful candidate is expected to enter a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with a view to completing a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.
Competence
In order to be appointed, the candidate must meet the requirements for admission to one of the PhD programs at NMBU. A master's degree of at least 120 credits (ECTS) is required, which is based on a bachelor's degree of at least 180 credits (ECTS), or cand.med.vet. degree, or integrated master's degree of at least 300 credits (ECTS). The applicant must have a documented strong academic background from previous studies, and be able to document good English skills, both written and oral. For more detailed information on admission criteria, see the PhD Regulations and the “supplementary provisions for the PhD programmes”.
The applicant must document expertise and interest in the research subject.
Required Academic qualifications:
Masters degree within a chemical science or environmental engineering focused study, that has preferably been obtained within the last 5 years
The following experiences and skills will be emphasized:
Participation in and/or organisation of field work
An understanding of the fate and behaviour of organic contaminants, in particular PFAS, in the environment
Knowledge related to remediation and treatment of contamination
Experience working in a chemical laboratory
Experience working with industrial partners
You need to have:
An inquisitive nature and desire to answer complex questions
Motivation for the topic described and the ability to drive work forward individually and as part of a group
The ability to persevere and be open to changes in working plans given the applied nature of the study
Remuneration and further information
The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017 PhD Fellow, pay scale 20 (salary step. 54-62). PhD Fellows are normally placed in pay grade 54 (NOK 491.200, -) on the Norwegian Government salary scale upon employment and follow ordinary meriting regulations.
Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars.
For further information, please contact:
Dr Sarah Hale, E-mail: sarah.hale@ngi.no; phone +4746948357 or
Professor Helen French, E-mail: helen.french@nmbu.no; phone +4767231814
To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button above. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.
In the application, the candidate must confirm that information and documentation (in the form of attachments) submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process.
Application deadline: 15.09.2021
The following documents must be attached to the application:
Motivation letter
Complete CV
Certified copies of academic diplomas and certificates. Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a di-ploma supplement, or a similar document, which describes in detail the study program and grading system
Diplomas/certificates (i.e. Diploma, transcript. Diploma supplement for both bachelor and master). (Diplomas, transcripts and diploma supplements that are not in Norwegian or English must be uploaded in the original language. An English translation of these documents must also be attached.)
Documentation of proficiency in written and oral English
Names and contact details for two references
Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge (for example, list of scientific works)
Confirmation that information and documentation submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process
Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.
