The ITN (Innovative Training Network) PERFORCE3 (PER and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) towards the Future Of Research and its Communication in Europe 3) is a Europe-wide multi-partner doctoral research training programme in the field of PFASs contaminants coordinated by Stockholm University and funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under its Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. PFASs comprise more than 4’700 substances and are of high global concern due to poorly defined risks to the environment and human health. PERFORCE3 will greatly improve the understanding of these globally pervasive contaminants, find solutions for PFAS contamination problems and improve environmental and human health risk assessment frameworks and policies.
What we offer:
- Excellent research environment, infrastructure and resources
- International, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral mobility opportunities
- Advanced research and transferable skills training (including project management, leadership, innovation and entrepreneurial skills)
- Opportunity to build up an extensive international professional network
- Attractive salary package including living, mobility and (if applicable) family allowances in accordance with the Marie Skłodowska-Curie rules for Early Stage Researchers (ESRs).
Who can apply:
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions encourage researcher mobility and, therefore, please note that strict eligibility criteria apply.
Eligibility criteria:
- At the time of appointment (i.e. start date of the employment), applicants must be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers. Full-time equivalent research experience is measured from the date when the applicant obtained the first degree entitling him/her to
embark on a doctorate (either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited).
- At the time of appointment, applicants must not hold a doctoral degree or equivalent.
- Applicants can be of any nationality. However, applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting organization for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the appointment. Short stays, such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention (i.e. before refugee status is conferred), are not included.
Additional requirements:
- Hold a MSc degree or equivalent in a discipline relevant to the specific ESR project (see requirements of individual projects below)
- Scientific and technical skills, knowledge and experience relevant to the specific project (see specific requirements of individual projects below)
- Excellent English language and communication skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing)
- Motivation to pursue a PhD, independence and ability to collaborate and engage in a training network
- Willingness to relocate and reside abroad for at least 3 years and to travel for secondments, training and project meetings.
- Applicants must be available to start the PhD position before 1 July 2020.
Projects and how to apply:
Applications must be submitted following local application procedures of the PERFORCE3 organization hosting the position. Further information on the projects, host institutions, supervisors and application deadline and procedure (including the list of the necessary documents that need to be submitted) can be found below. Please follow the below links to apply to the desired project(s)/position(s). We encourage you to apply to more than one position fitting your profile simultaneously.
Please make sure that you are eligible to apply to the desired position(s) before submitting your application (see above eligibility conditions).
Since the application procedure and the required documents varies from one host organization to another, we strongly recommend that you read the application instructions to the specific position(s) that you wish to apply for very carefully!
For further information concerning a specific position, please contact the respective main supervisor as listed below.
For general questions concerning the ITN PERFORCE3, please contact perforce3@aces.su.se. Please note that applications sent by e-mail to perforce3@aces.su.se are not accepted and will be disregarded.
ESR Project 1
Advanced mass spectrometric techniques combined with chemometrics methods to identify emerging and novel PFASs in humans and in human exposure media
Host organization: UFZ – Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Germany)
Main supervisor and contact: Urs Berger
For further information and to apply click here.
Application deadline: 24 March 2020
ESR Project 2
Combustion ion chromatography and advanced oxidation as a tool for rapid screening of PFAA-precursors in consumer products and environmental media at contaminated sites
Host organization: Stockholm University (Sweden)
Main supervisor and contact: Jonathan Benskin
For further information and to apply click here.
Application deadline: 29 February 2020
ESR Project 3
Release of known and unknown PFASs to the atmosphere and resulting human exposure
Host organization: Stockholm University (Sweden)
Main supervisor and contact: Ian Cousins
For further information and to apply click here.
Application deadline: 29 February 2020
ESR Project 4
Fate and properties of alternative and unknown PFASs in the drinking water cycle and its significance for human exposure
Host Organization: University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands)
Main supervisor and contact: Annemarie van Wezel
Further information and to apply: The call for this position has not yet opened. Further information will be available here soon.
Application deadline: To be announced soon
ESR Project 5
Evaluating the role of the dermal pathway in driving human exposure to PFAS.
Host Organization: University of Birmingham (UK)
Main supervisor and contact: Stuart Harrad
For further information and to apply click here.
Application deadline: 1 April 2020
ESR Project 6
In vitro studies to characterize the impact of legacy and replacement PFAS and of human-relevant PFAS mixtures on cholesterol homeostasis in human liver cells
Host organization: German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (Germany)
Main supervisor and contact: Alfonso Lampen
Further information and to apply: The call for this position has not yet opened. Further information will be available here soon.
Application deadline: To be announced soon
ESR Project 7
Targeted and non-target cell-based metabolomics and lipidomics to identify molecular mechanisms and pathways involved in toxicity of PFASs
Host organization: VU Amsterdam (The Netherlands)
Main supervisor and contact: Pim Leonards
Further information and to apply: The call for this position has not yet opened. Further information will be available here soon.
Application deadline: To be announced soon
ESR Project 8
PFAS and total organofluorine exposure over time and dietary predictors in two Norwegian cohorts.
Host organization: Norwegian Institute for Air Research NILU (Norway)
Main supervisor and contact: Dorte Herzke
For further information and to apply click here.
Application deadline: 15-March-2020
ESR Project 9
The effects of legacy and replacement PFAS on gene expression and metabolome
Host organization: UiT -The Arctic University of Norway (Norway)
Main supervisor and contact: Torkjel M Sandanger
Further information and to apply click here
Application deadline: 16-March-2020
ESR Project 10
Dose-response assessment of PFAS mixtures in relation to biomarkers of effects relevant for cardiovascular disease in humans
Host organization: Karolinska Institutet (Sweden)
Main supervisor and contact: Mattias Öberg
Further information and to apply: The call for this position has not yet opened. Further information will be available here soon.
Application deadline: To be announced soon
ESR Project 11
Innovative treatment techniques for PFASs in stormwater, groundwater, wastewater and landfill leachate
Host organization: Swedish University of Agricultural Science (Sweden)
Main supervisor and contact: Karin Wiberg
Further information and to apply: The call for this position has not yet opened. Further information will be available here soon.
Application deadline: To be announced soon
ESR Project 12
Developing innovative treatment techniques for infrastructure decontamination of materials contaminated with PFASs
Host organization: Swedish University of Agricultural Science (Sweden)
Main supervisor and contact: Lutz Ahrens
Further information and to apply: The call for this position has not yet opened. Further information will be available here soon.
Application deadline: To be announced soon
ESR Project 13
Advancing transport models and in situ remediation techniques for PFAS contamination in unsaturated soil
Host organization: Norwegian Geotechnical Institute – NGI (Norway)
Main supervisor and contact: Hans Peter H. Arp
For further information and to apply click here.
Application deadline: 31-March-2020
ESR Project 14
Synthesis and biodegradation of novel PFASs utilizing advanced mass spectrometric techniques combined with chemometric methods
Host organization: Hochschule Fresenius -University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
Main supervisor and contact: Thomas Knepper
Further information and to apply: The call for this position has not yet opened. Further information will be available here soon.
Application deadline: To be announced soon
ESR Project 15
Comprehensive assessment of alternatives to long-chain PFASs and policy recommendations for the assessment and management of PFASs
Host organization: ETH Zuerich (Switzerland)
Main supervisor and contact: Martin Scheringer
For further information and to apply click here.
Application deadline: 15-April-2020
Further information and inquiries
For further information concerning a specific position, please contact the respective main supervisor as listed above.
For general inquiries regarding PERFORCE3, please contact: perforce3@aces.su.se. Please note that applications must be submitted in accordance to local application procedures of the host organization. Therefore, please follow the above links to apply to the position(s) to which you would like to apply to. Applications submitted by e-mail to perforce3@aces.su.se are not accepted and will be disregarded.