Researcher / Assistant professor in Environmental Analytical Chemistry

Are you interested in Environmental Analytical Chemistry and can you contribute to the development of projects on environmental fate of organic contaminants and their exposure to humans? Then the Department of Environmental Science invites you to apply for a 4-year Researcher / Assistant professor position.

Expected start date and duration of employment
This is a 4–year position to start as soon possible.

Job description
A researcher / assistant professor position is vacant at Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, in Environmental Analytical Chemistry. Together with Prof. Katrin Vorkamp and Senior Scientist Rossana Bossi, the successful candidate will be responsible for research and advisory work on the environmental fate of organic contaminants and their exposure to humans, with a strong focus on their analytical determination.

The successful candidate will work with a variety of organic contaminants, including persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides, brominated flame retardants (BFRs), per-/polyfluoroalkylsubstances (PFAS), non-persistent chemicals, such as pesticides and phthalates, as well as chemicals of emerging concern (CECs). The work will include high-quality analyses of human and environmental samples, here in particular, but not limited to, biota and air.  Furthermore, the candidate is expected to further develop and operationalize the analysis of man-made matrices, such as plastic particles, passive samplers etc. We expect the candidate to improve existing analytical methods, develop and validate new methods for CECs and matrices of emerging interest and identify research needs in the field of environmental analytical chemistry that he/she actively pursues in relevant new initiatives.

The existing methods include GC- and LC-based methods coupled to mass spectrometry following a range of extraction and clean-up methods. Methods for PFAS sum parameters are under development. In order to maintain and further develop a state-of-the-art laboratory, the successful candidate is expected to be up-to-date with technical developments in the field of analytical chemistry and integrate them in his/her research.
Practical laboratory work will be limited, but very close collaboration with the laboratory technicians is expected, including sparring and support with method adjustments and developments. The group is also highly active in the field of suspect/non-target screening, where the candidate is encouraged to develop collaborations with the researchers working in this field.

The laboratory is ISO17025 accredited for several chemical analyses, such as organochlorines and BFRs in biota. As part of his/her science-based advisory work, the successful candidate is expected to contribute to the maintenance and consolidation of the accredited analyses, including updates of the quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) system, participation in interlaboratory studies etc. The candidate will also be involved in expanding the accredited scope when relevant. QA/QC measures, including method validation, will be an important part of all chemical analyses.

Many of the accredited analyses are related to large-scale environmental monitoring programmes in Denmark and Greenland. The successful candidate is expected to ensure state-of-the-art high-quality analyses in these programmes and to develop an understanding of the monitoring programmes, with regard to their scientific and technical concepts and policy-related frameworks. For the Danish and the Greenland programme, this relates to monitoring activities at the level of the European Union and the Arctic Council, respectively. The candidate is expected to prepare the laboratory for inclusion of new parameters and matrices according to high-level developments in relevant frameworks, and to connect monitoring and research activities where relevant.

In the daily work, the candidate is expected to work closely with both Danish and international colleagues. The position of Researcher/Assistant Professor is a career development position with the possibility of transition to senior researcher / associate professorship. We will work together with the successful candidate to develop his research talent through supervision, professional networks and pedagogical upgrading.
Supervision and teaching can also become a part of the candidate’s work.
In summary, the researcher / assistant professor will

• be responsible for high-quality chemical analyses of a variety of organic contaminants and matrices, with an expectation of new developments
• contribute to accredited analyses and have a strong focus on QA/QC
• develop a high-level understanding of different monitoring programmes and prepare the laboratory for new developments
• contribute to science-based advice, link monitoring and research activities and actively apply for new grants
• collaborate closely with technicians and other researchers working in related fields in the department
• actively contribute to the project portfolio in the department by taking part in applications for externally funded research and advisory projects

Who we are
The Department of Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary department under the Faculty of Technical Sciences at Aarhus University. The expertise ranges from social science, geography, economics and policy analysis to mathematical modelling, physics, chemistry, toxicology, and microbiology. Both pure and applied research is conducted on some of the major challenges facing society, such as pollution and pollution control mechanisms, management of land, soil, water, air and biodiversity, protection of ecosystem services and climate change. Research based advisory services within these areas are offered to ministries and other stakeholders and central to the Department economy. Currently, about 150 staff and PhD-students are working at the department. Further information may be found at http://www.envs.au.dk.

The selected candidate will be affiliated with the Section for Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology. The section conducts research and research-based advisory work targeting a better understanding of the transport and fate of organic pollutants in the environment, as well as a better understanding of the links between environmental chemistry, toxicology and human exposure. This includes tools to identify and quantify impacts, which can act as indicators of emerging problems. The aim is to provide the highest capability in Denmark for assessing risks associated with the distribution and fate of organic pollutants in the environment.

What we offer
The department/centre offers:

• a well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories and access to shared equipment
• an exciting interdisciplinary environment with many national, international and industrial collaborators
• a research climate encouraging lively, open and critical discussion within and across different fields of research
• a work environment with close working relationships, networking and social activities
• a workplace characterised by professionalism, equality and a healthy work-life balance.

Place of work and area of employment
The place of work will be at Aarhus University, RISØ Campus, in Roskilde, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark. The city of Roskilde (www.roskilde.dk) is located close to Copenhagen. The area provides immediate access to a wealth of cultural and recreational pursuits.

Contact information
For further information, please contact: Professor Katrin Vorkamp, kvo@envs.au.dk or Head of Section, Pedro Carvalho, pedro.carvalho@envs.au.dk.
 
Application procedure
Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the assessment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. The selection is made on the basis of an assessment of who of the candidates are most relevant considering the requirements of the advertisement. All applicants will be notified within 6 weeks whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee and will receive his/her assessment. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

Letter of reference
If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

Formalities and salary range

Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.
 

Aarhus University
Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/

1 job opening is available

Your profile
Applicants should hold a PhD in analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry or a similar discipline. The preferred candidate should have a track-record of peer-reviewed publications in recognized journals in the field and experience with external funding.
Furthermore, the candidate should

• have experience with the chemical analysis of environmental organic pollutants at trace levels, in different environmental matrices. Additional experience with human matrices will be beneficial.
• be familiar with QA/QC in environmental analytical chemistry, including method validations. Experiences with accredited analyses will be an advantage.
• have a documented interest in the development of analytical methods for new compounds and matrices.
• have insights into environmental monitoring programmes, if possible.
• see possibilities for new research initiatives and pursue them actively.