Anna Feerick

Closing date: June 2nd, 2024

The Department of Environmental Science is one of the largest departments at the Faculty of Science. The Department is divided into four units with more than 170 researchers, teachers, doctoral students and technical/administrative staff from over 30 countries. Research and teaching focuses on chemical contaminants, atmospheric science, biogeochemistry and (eco)toxicology. As an employee at the Department of Environmental Science you will be part of a dynamic environment with research in leading research areas and a strong international profile.

Project description
To further broaden our research profile and strengthen our research environment, the Contaminant Chemistry Unit within the Department of Environmental Science is recruiting a Postdoctoral Fellow in Environmental Chemistry with an open research focus. We invite young scientists interested in a postdoctoral career development opportunity to submit proposals for a 2-year research project. The project should build on the existing strengths in the Department of Environmental Science while introducing new research questions or methods. The Contaminant Chemistry Unit currently consists of 6 research groups (MacLeod, McLachlan, Cousins, Posselt, Sobek, and Benskin). Our research programs examine the occurrence and behavior of pollutants in the environment and in the technosphere. Areas of particular interest include the discovery of new contaminants, understanding the physical, chemical, and biological pathways that contaminants follow, and the development of novel tools and techniques for sampling and analysis. We strive to synthesize our scientific understanding about the sources, transport, transformation, bioaccumulation and pharmacokinetics of environmental contaminants into mathematical models that inspire new scientific hypotheses, and support environmental decision-making.

Main responsibilities
The postdoctoral researcher is expected to take the lead on- and be responsible for experimental design and laboratory work, as well as interpretation of data, data management, writing, and publishing, in collaboration with the project team. Teaching is not required as part of this position, but opportunities to teach at both the graduate and undergraduate level are available.

Qualification requirements
Postdoctoral positions are appointed primarily for purposes of research. Applicants are expected to hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country.

Assessment criteria
The degree must have been completed at latest before the employment decision is made, but no more than three years before the closing date. An older degree may be acceptable under special circumstances. Special reasons refer to sick leave, parental leave, elected positions in trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances as well as clinical attachment or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.

In the appointment process, special attention will be given to the strength of the research proposal, and its potential to complement existing research in the Contaminant Chemistry Unit.

Terms of employment
The position involves full-time employment for two years, with the possibility of extension under special circumstances. Start date in September or as per agreement. The position includes full salary and social benefits.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
Further information about the position can be obtained from the Professor Jonathan Benskin, Head of the Contaminant Chemistry Unit,  telephone: +46 8 674 70  99, jon.benskin@aces.su.se.

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, saco@saco.su.se, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/OFR), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, alejandra@st.su.se, and seko@seko.su.se (SEKO).

Application
Apply for the position at Stockholm University’s recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of publications
• Research proposal (no more than 3 pages) describing:
  – why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement
  – why and how you wish to complete the project
  – what makes you suitable for the project in question
• Copy of PhD diploma
• Letters of recommendation (no more than 3 files)
• Publications in support of your application (no more than 3 files).

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

You are welcome to apply!

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.

Apply here: https://www.su.se/english/about-the-university/work-at-su/available-jobs?rmpage=job&rmjob=23557&rmlang=UK

The Office of Regulatory Science in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (US FDA/CFSAN) is seeking a post-doctoral fellow to conduct research in our food safety research program. This is a one-year position with possibility of renewal. The primary research goal for this position is to utilize established methods to quantify PFAS in non-stick cookware coatings and food processing equipment in collaboration with the Office of Food Additive Safety for the determinationof potential exposure to PFAS from food contact articles (FCAs).

A Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related fields is required and must have been obtained within the past 5 years. Applicants to this position should have a strong background and interest in learning and gaining experience with targeted liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) techniques. Knowledge or experience with Shimadzu Nexera UPLC and Sciex QTRAP 6500+ systems, food science, and food analysis method development is highly desirable. The ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing is essential.

The primary responsibilities of this position will include planning and conducting laboratory experiments, analyzing, and managing data, and preparing manuscripts and presenting research findings at scientific conferences.

U.S. citizenship, permanent resident status, or a valid J1 Visa is required. Applicants must have resided in the United States for at least 36 of the previous 60 months to be eligible. The position is located at FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition in College Park, MD. Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, names of references, and a statement describing how their experience, skills and interests are suited to this position to katherine.l.fiedler@fda.hhs.gov.

Research Area (s): Water

Project Description: The project focuses on research and technology transfer on the use of HRMS and NTA surface and groundwater for the discovery of novel per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS).   One or more of the following research topics could be included: wastewater discharge; groundwater and surface water monitoring studies; fate and transport studies; remediation studies; and contaminants of emerging concern in surface water and groundwater.  The project supports the EPA’s CEMM’s strategic goal of developing applied scientific and engineering solutions, technologies, and cutting-edge innovations to protect and remediate our air, land, and water resources, and critical infrastructure challenged by systemic and acute environmental contamination.

Lab, Region/Center, Office: Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling (CEMM), Office of Research and Development

Opportunity Location: Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

Opportunity Funding (Duration): National Science Foundation Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN) Supplemental Funding Opportunity (6 months maximum)

Fellowship Goal and Learning Objectives
Goal:  The fellow will learn the use of high-resolution mass spectrometry and non-targeted analysis techniques to identify novel PFAS contaminants in water samples. 

Learning Objectives:

• Characterize PFAS in water samples using in-house developed workflows and OEM and open-source software.
• Conduct experiments, analyze data, and write peer-reviewed journal articles.
• Learn the use and operation of different analytical instruments (e.g. LC coupled to ion mobility, QTOFMS) and methodologies

Preferred Skills and Qualifications
Preferred Skills:

• Strong verbal and writing skills.
• Ability to work both as a part of a team and independently.
• Basic knowledge of analytical instrumentation related to analysis of organic contaminants water including, but not limited to: solid phase extraction (SPE), liquid chromatography (LC) and mass spectrometry (MS).

Qualifications:  Graduate student or Ph.D. in one of the relevant fields (e.g., Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geochemistry, Biogeochemistry, Geo-environmental Engineering, Soil Science).

Point of Contact or Research Lead: Mark Strynar (Strynar.mark@epa.gov)

Click here for the original posting. For more information about EPA Research Fellowship opportunities, visit: https://www.epa.gov/research-fellowships/graduate-research-fellowship-program-grfp-intern

Application Deadline: 7/5/2024 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Reference Code: EPA-ORD-CCTE-CCED-2024-03

Research Project: Non-targeted analysis (NTA) has been increasingly used in recent years to elucidate structures of novel compounds of emerging concern, however, the majority of studies use liquid chromatography. Gas chromatography (GC) has the potential to be equally useful and compliment chemical space coverage but methodologies for GC data collection and processing need to be further developed, tested, and applied in order to be widely adopted and used in decision making.

The goal of the research project is to develop GC-NTA techniques to identify chemicals of interest in environmental samples.

Under the guidance of a mentor, the research activities will include, but not limited to:

• Exploring the usefulness of combining data from various ionization techniques (e.g., electron impact, chemical ionization).
• Exploring and mastering software features (e.g., Compound Discoverer, MSDial, etc.).
• Writing QA/QC procedures and documents, and writing programming code (R, python, or other) for processing data output.

Applications of GC-NTA will include identification of novel per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in samples originating near manufacturing facilities and products of incomplete combustion formed from household items during a fire.

Learning Objectives: The research participant will be part of a multidisciplinary team of experts who are identifying chemicals to which humans are exposed. The research participant will be expected to actively participate in internal and external research groups such as the EPA NTA group, a GC-Orbitrap users group, etc. An emphasis will be placed on publishing in peer-reviewed journals with the aim of preparing the research participant for a successful career in science.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Seth Newton (Newton.Seth@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: May 15, 2024. All start dates are flexible and vary depending on numerous factors. Click here for detailed information about start dates.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year and may be renewed upon EPA recommendation and subject to availability of funding.

Level of Participation: The appointment is full-time.

Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. Click here for detailed information about full-time stipends.

EPA Security Clearance: Completion of a successful background investigation by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is required for an applicant to be on-boarded at EPA.

The successful applicant(s) will be required to comply with Environmental, Safety and Health (ES&H) requirements of the hosting facility, including but not limited to, COVID-19 requirements (e.g. facial covering, physical distancing, testing, vaccination).

EPA Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is available at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), Chemical Characterization & Exposure Division (CCED) located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.  If selected for the opportunity, the participant will need to relocate to the appropriate EPA facility.  The relocation costs are not reimbursable.  The opportunity is not 100% remote, but limited telework may be considered at the mentor’s discretion.

ORISE Information: This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and EPA. Participants do not become employees of EPA, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.

ORISE offers all ORISE EPA graduate students and Postdocs a free 5 year membership to the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA).

The successful applicant(s) will be required to comply with Environmental, Safety and Health (ES&H) requirements of the hosting facility, including but not limited to, COVID-19 requirements (e.g. facial covering, physical distancing, testing, vaccination).

Questions: Please see the FAQ section of our website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process please email EPArpp@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

See the application page for Qualifications and Application information

Stockholm University is one of Europe’s leading higher education institutions. Located in the cultural hub and economic center of Sweden, Stockholm University provides attractive studying and working conditions for more than 34,000 students and 5,000 employees (within the natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences).

Deadline for applications: 2024-06-03

Open position in the Department of Environmental Science

The Department of Environmental Science is one of the largest departments in the Faculty of Science. The department is divided into four units with more than 190 researchers, teachers, doctoral students and technical/administrative staff from over 30 countries. Research and teaching focuses on chemical contaminants, atmospheric science, biogeochemistry, and (eco)toxicology. As an employee at the Department of Environmental Science you will be part of a dynamic environment with a strong international profile.

Research in the Contaminant Chemistry Unit focuses on the occurrence and behavior of pollutants in the environment and in the technosphere. Areas of particular focus include the discovery of new contaminants, understanding the physical, chemical, and biological pathways that contaminants follow, and the development of novel tools and techniques for sampling and analysis. We strive to synthesize our scientific understanding about the sources, transport, transformation, bioaccumulation and pharmacokinetics of environmental contaminants into mathematical models that inspire new scientific hypotheses, and support environmental decision-making.

The 21st century has seen exponential growth in both the volume and diversity of organic chemicals and plastic produced globally. As emissions increase, our ability to identify and
monitor these so-called “novel entities” in the environment using conventional tools becomes increasingly difficult. To address this problem, next-generation analytical and data science tools are urgently needed. For example, state-of-the- art mass spectrometers can now measure thousands of known and unknown chemicals simultaneously, providing unprecedented insight into the extent of chemical contamination of the global environment. At the same time, data science tools such as machine learning (and more generally, artificial intelligence) have opened up new possibilities for predicting, identifying, and quantifying problematic chemicals, and for improving our understanding of their environmental fate, behavior and effects. These emerging data science tools are increasingly in demand in a range of jobs in private industry and government, highlighting the need for their inclusion in our Department’s Educational programme.

Considering the rapid growth within environmental chemistry and data science, we believe it is strategically important to recruit an early career Environmental Chemist with expertise in emerging Data Science tools to support our core missions in research, teaching and outreach. The successful applicant will be encouraged to exploit our state-of-the-art interdepartmental Mass Spectrometry lab (MassSLab), as well as existing networks such as the Centre for Circular and Sustainable Systems (SUCCeSS), and Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab), while building new connections which contribute to enhancing the Department’s reputation as a global leader in Environmental Science research and education.

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Qualification requirements
The applicant must have completed a doctoral degree in Sweden or an equivalent degree from another country. In the first instance, an applicant should be considered who has received such a degree no more than five years before the deadline for applications (certain exceptions apply)

Assessment criteria
In the appointment process, special attention will be given to research skills. Teaching skills will also be considered. The assessment of research skills will focus primarily on merits within the subject area of the position.

Application
In order to apply for this position please use the Stockholm University web-based application form. You will find the application form in the appropriate announcement (Ref. No. SU FV-0022-24) at https://www.su.se/english/about-the-university/work-at-su/available-jobs.

More information
Visit our website at: www.aces.su.se.
Further information about the position can be obtained from:
Professor Anna Sobek, Head of Department
Tel: +46 8 674 7230, anna.sobek@aces.su.se
Professor Jonathan Benskin, Unit Head-Contaminant Chemistry
Tel: +46 76 426 5490, jon.benskin@aces.su.se