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Italy : Ph.D. Student Position in Risk Assessment of Nanomaterials in University Ca Foscari of Venice

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University Cà Foscari of Venice
Ph.D. Student Position in Risk Assessment of Nanomaterials
Company
Department of Environmental Sciences

Organization

The Department of Environmental Science has started a research program for assessing human and ecological risk due to exposure nanomaterials (engineered nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, quantum dots). We have a strong background of risk assessment of chemicals and emerging pollutants and participate in national and inter-national multidisciplinary research project. We offer one PhD student position in human and ecological risk assessment of nanomaterials, supported by the FP7 funded ENPRA (Risk Assessment of Engineered NanoParticles) project and the ECSIN (European Centre for Sustainable Impact of Nanotechnology).

Background

Currently many data gaps exist in the areas of risk assessment of nanomaterials (i.e., environmental fate & transport, potential releases into the environment, ecological and human exposure, dose-response relationships, etc.). Filling these data gaps will aid in future risk assessments of nanomaterials when proven methods are available.

Project and job description

A fellowship in support of a PhD training (scholarship student) is available to study and perform research in the area of risk assessment of nanomaterials. The main aim of the PhD project is to improve our understanding of complex engineered nanoparticles exposure situations and toxicological effects to human health as well as the environment, and to develop and apply adequate methodologies for a sound risk assessment. The emphasis of the open position is to further develop non-conventional ways of addressing potential risks (e.g., weight of evidence approaches, expert elicitation, multi criteria decision analysis, etc.), taking into account the deep uncertainties that currently pervade every step of the risk assessment procedure. The proposed research will focus on risk assessment methodologies by analysing the state-of-the-art of approaches and tools proposed so far, and by developing and applying suitable methodologies to estimate potential risk due to nanomaterials exposure.

A panel of engineered nanoparticles (metal, metal oxide and carbon-based nanoparticles) will be selected by taking into account their production and/or consumption amount as well as future value. Moreover information concerning the influence of engineered nanoparticles on human health and the environment will be collected from literature and analyzed. Detailed risk assessment of the selected nanoparticles will be carried out after hazard evaluation and exposure assessment. During the risk assessment process, facts based on scientific evidence, hypotheses and extrapolation due to lack of knowledge, data uncertainty and other factors will be specified. The state of concern regarding manufactured nanoparticles will be reflected as well. You will have to work in close collaboration with researchers from the Department of Environmental Science and from the Venice Research Consortium (CVR).

Requirements

You have a Master degree on environmental science, chemistry, biology or in a closely related discipline and thesis focused on nanomaterials-related topics. The position requires a high ability to interact with faculty and other PhD students and senior researchers. You, as our successful candidate, should be practiced in spoken and written English. We offer an up-to-date research infrastructure, collaboration in a multidisciplinary networked laboratory, and the possibility to receive the PhD from the University Cà Foscari of Venice.

Conditions of employment

Salary conditions, according to national rules, for doctoral students. Estimated maximum net salary per month: 1000,00 €.
Entrance upon
The position is available upon application and selection: http://www.unive.it/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=1, click on Didattica, Dottorati di ricerca, Bando Scuole di Dottorato 25 ciclo, 2009-2010 (please note that all the documents and the application form will be available after summertime)

Duration
3 years (starting from the 1st of January 2010)

Contact address

Please send your application included your curriculum vitae to:
Prof. Antonio Marcomini
University Cà Foscari of Venice
Department of Environmental Sciences
Tel: +39 041 2348548
Fax: +39041 2348584
e-mail: marcom@unive.it
Web site: http://venus.unive.it/eraunit/; http://venus.unive.it/scienzeambientali/