Chemical characterization and exposure assessment to microplastics

Job description: Chemical characterization and exposure assessment to microplastics

The job

• Under the supervision of a professor and a postdoc researcher in the team, you will prepare a PhD dissertation over a duration of about 4 years.
• You perform cutting-edge research in the domain of microplastics characterization and exposure/human biomonitoring
• You publish and present results both at international conferences and in scientific journals.
• You validate your research by considering concrete use cases and discussing with public and private actors in the field.
• You tightly collaborate with IMPTOX colleagues, as well as in other teams where appropriate.
• You will be involved in different research projects related to your PhD topic, in the framework of national and European funded research cooperations, and collaborate with research partners from industry.

Context

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) have been ubiquitously detected in a broad range of shapes, chemical compositions, sizes and concentrations in the environments of marine water, freshwater, agroecosystems, atmosphere, food, drinking water and biota.  Unfortunately, solid data on the prevalence of MNPs in the environment are still limited due to the analytical and technical challenges of extraction, characterization, and quantification from environmental matrices.

There is insufficient scientific data to conclude about the risk that MNP poses to human health. With the most recent finding of MNPs in human blood, breast milk, blood and meat of animals, there is a growing concern of a wider society to provide data on risk assessment. A comprehensive risk assessment is not yet possible due to a lack of data, but the general principles of risk assessment are applicable. Children could be more exposed to MNPs than adults. This could be particularly relevant in vulnerable population, such as allergic children. Assessment of exposure and potentials links of MNP/allergens co-exposure and development and severity of allergies in children is among research aims an EU funded project IMPTOX will be looking at in the period 2021-2025. Important part of that research is development of analytical protocols for microplastics characterization from complex matrices (food and human samples) and its application for MNPs biomonitoring within a clinical trial IMPTOX project is conducting, as well as for co-exposure studies for microplastics and allergens in seafood.

Job requirements

• You have (or will obtain in the next months)  a Master degree in Chemistry, or Environmental Chemistry.
• You have demonstrated strong interest in micro- and nanoplastics research.
• Strong analytical skills for designing and implementing methods of micro- and nanoplastics characterization.
• Experience with equipment used in microplastics research is a plus
• Experience with methods used in protein/microplastics interactions
• Experience with image recognition software and other tools used in microplastics characterization is a plus
• You work independently, have a strong feeling of responsibility and are able to commit to timing and milestones set forward by different research projects.
• You are a team player and have strong communication skills.
• A good knowledge of English (oral and written) is a must. Any knowledge of Serbian (oral) is a plus, as the doctoral studies in Serbia are held in Serbian language.

This PhD position is available immediately for applicants holding an MSc degree (starting date not later than July 1st 2023, but preferably earlier) and is open until the vacancy is filled. First evaluation of candidates will be April 1, 2023.

The position is not open for post-docs.

Apply asap by sending an email to Ana Simovic (asimovic@chem.bg.ac.rs ). Your application should include

• your resume (curriculum vitae)
• motivation letter (indicating both your technical background/interest as well as any specific research skills)
• a copy of your diploma and diploma supplement (with overview of all courses followed)

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