Sweden : PhD student position focusing on environmental exposure assessment of cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes

Project description

Cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes (cVMS) are high-production volume industrial chemicals commonly used in personal care products such as deodorants. These chemicals have unusual properties; they are both volatile and hydrophobic. This makes their environmental behavior difficult to predict based on knowledge about other pollutants. It is known that cVMS enter the aquatic environment via sewage treatment plant effluents and accumulate in sediments where they are predicted to be persistent. Further, sewage sludge that contains large amounts of cVMS is applied to farmland where it is an exposure hazard to invertebrates and higher trophic level organisms.

This PhD project aims at developing tools for environmental exposure assessment of cVMS based on a sound scientific understanding of their persistence and bioaccumulation potential in the aquatic and terrestrial environment. The following tasks will be part of this PhD project:

- Assessing the persistence of cVMS in sediment
- Assessing the persistence of cVMS in sewage sludge-amended soil
- Assessing the bioaccumulation potential of cVMS from sludge-amended soil
- Developing models to describe the persistence of cVMS in the environment and their bioaccumulation in earthworms to allow for site-specific exposure assessment.

This PhD project will consist of work in the laboratory and in the field including trace analysis of cVMS as well as computer modeling. Laboratory experiments will provide the data required to develop mathematical models that will be evaluated using field data. The PhD student will be part of a group working at the cutting edge of cVMS research.

The Department of Applied Environmental Science (ITM) at Stockholm University offers a world-class environment for graduate training in environmental chemistry. There is a wide spectrum of scientific expertise at ITM, including atmospheric science, aquatic chemistry, biogeochemistry and ecotoxicology, and a thriving culture of interdisciplinary exchange and cooperation. ITM offers access to outstanding analytical chemistry equipment, extensive laboratory and experimental facilities, and infrastructure to support modern mathematical modeling. Our large staff of experienced scientists provide close personal supervision and scientific mentorship, and our extensive network of national and international collaborators in academia, government and industry offer a diverse range of perspectives and future opportunities.

The appointment will start in the spring/summer of 2012. The doctoral program, financed by the Swedish Research Council Formas, is for 4 years of full time study. This can be extended by a maximum of 25% if the student undertakes teaching, other research, or administration. Payment and terms of employment include a full time position at Stockholm University with the usual benefits offered to university employees (paid holiday, pension etc.).

We are looking for an active and motivated student with initiative and a genuine interest in environmental chemistry. The candidate should have the ability to develop structured approaches to complex problems. Experience in trace analysis of organic contaminants by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and/or in quantitative modeling would be a strong asset.

Academic requirements

To be accepted to the ITM research study program, the applicant must have a university degree at the advanced level (e.g. Masters) or at least 240 hp/HEC, of which at least 60 hp/HEC at the advanced level. At least 45 of the credits at the advanced level must be in one of the natural sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Physics, or Meteorology) including a 30 hp/HEC thesis project. The applicant should also have 30 hp/HEC in other natural science subjects different from the major. The academic requirements may be considered to be fulfilled if the applicant has acquired equivalent knowledge some other way.

Selection criteria

The selection is based on the applicant's ability to successfully pursue the research education. Special emphasis is put on the applicant's knowledge and skills within the subject area, ability to express her/himself verbally and in writing, analytical aptitude, creativity, initiative and independence, and a capacity for working together with other researchers. The evaluation will be made based on the relevance of past education and experience, grades from previous university courses (in particular at the advanced level), the quality and ambition of the independent project work, references, a cover letter motivating the candidate's interest, and interviews.

For more information, please contact Annika Jahnke, annika.jahnke@itm.su.se, Amelie Kierkegaard, amelie.kierkegaard@itm.su.se or Matthew MacLeod, matthew.macleod@itm.su.se. See also ITM's website: www.itm.su.se.

Union representatives are Bo Ekengren (SACO), Lisbeth Häggberg (Fackförbundet ST), telephone +46-(0)8-16 2000 (switch board), and Gunnar Stenberg (SEKO), telephone +46-(0)70-316 43 41.

Application

Your application, including CV, transcripts of all university courses with grades, a copy of your university degree, a cover letter motivating your interest for this position, name and contact information of two references, and any other documents (e.g., diploma thesis/"examensarbete") you would like to include should be sent by email to:

phdapplication@itm.su.se

labeled with reference number SU ITM-2012-02 and submitted no later than February 16, 2012.

Applications sent by e-mail should be in Word- or pdf-format.

OBS! Please include the reference number SU ITM-2012-02 in the message line of your email.

Information about PhD education in Sweden can be found in The Handbook for Postgraduate Students: www.doktorandhandboken.nu/english

Application Deadline : 16 February 2012

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Posted on 2012-01-19 10:43:19

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