Faculty of Science, Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), vacancy 14-204

The Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) is part of the Faculty of Science of Leiden University. The main area of work is research and education in the multidisciplinary field of sustainability science, drawing from both the natural and social sciences. CML has two research departments: Conservation Biology (CML-CB), dealing with issues of biodiversity and sustainable land use and Industrial Ecology (CML-IE), dealing with research into the development of tools for decision making on sustainable production and consumption. We are looking for a:

PhD-candidate
Vacancy number: 14-204

The position we offer will fit in the research line dealing with Multi-stressor impacts on biodiversity in the Netherlands and developing countries. This line focusses amongst others on pollution impacts, GMO risks, invasive biotic stress, and impacts of habitat loss.The PhD-candidate will work in the field of nano-ecotoxicology.

Metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) are used in ever more products, which in their end-of-life phase are likely to end up in the aquatic environment. The potential for adverse biological effects is thus increasing and the need for risk assessment hence urgent. Current environmental risk assessment is inadequate for NPs, which owing to their small size have unique characteristics such as a relatively large surface area and high reactivity and hence behave differently from dissolved metals and from sub-micron-sized particles. This project will yield 1) a model for NP toxicity respecting the contributions of metal ions and particles to toxicity, 2) an extrapolation methodology for toxicity data of specific aquatic test species to morphologically and physiologically related but as yet untested species using an ecological trait-based approach.

This research fits within the VIDI-research program entitled: “The added risk of size at the nano-bio interface: quantifying uptake, internal localization and partitioning of metal-based nanoparticles in aquatic organisms”. This program is led by Dr. Vijver, in which more junior scientists will work (PhD-students as well as post doc and Master students).

The candidate should have a Master’s degree in biology or a BSc in biology or chemistry with an MSc in environmental chemistry or eco-physiology or equivalent and have a strong interest in interdisciplinary work. You should preferably have experience in ecotoxicological research, and affinity for working with invertebrates. You must be proficient in spoken and written English, have good communication skills. Moreover, you can be a team player as well as work independently in the laboratory. You have a strong interest in a scientific career.

We offer a vibrant environment to develop on-the-job the skills and networks that a successful academic needs. Appointment will be according to the terms of the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO Nederlandse Universiteiten), for a period of one year with an extension of three years after positive evaluation of capabilities and compatibility. Ultimately the appointment must lead to the completion of a PhD thesis. During your appointment you will be supervised by Dr. Martina Vijver (co-promotor) and Prof. dr. Willie Peijnenburg (promotor).

The gross monthly salary is set on € 2.083,- in the first year up to € 2.664,- in year four. An appointment with Leiden University includes a pension build-up and facilitates other benefits such as an annual holiday premium of 8% and an end-of-year premium of 8.3%.

All our PhD students are embedded in the Leiden University Graduate School of Science www.graduateschools.leidenuniv.nl and the Research School SENSE. Our graduate school offers several PhD training courses at three levels: professional courses, skills training and personal effectiveness. In addition, advanced courses to deepen scientific knowledge are offered by the research school.

For more information, please contact Dr. ing. Martina G. Vijver Telephone: +31-(0)71 527 1487/ 5615 Email: Vijver@cml.leidenuniv.nl .
Additionally, you can visit the websites of the Faculty of Science and Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML): www.science.leidenuniv.nl and http://www.cml.leiden.edu .

More information on employment at Leiden University can be found at: www.leiden.edu .

Do you identify with the profile above and do you aspire to have a career in research? Please apply by sending your written application before September 1st 2014, using the vacancy number, including full Curriculum Vitae and the names and phone numbers of two references to:

Faculty of Science
To the attention of: S. van den Oever
Via email: vandenoever@cml.leidenuniv.nl