Research assistant - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Researcher assistant
Are you interested in working with microplastics in sludge and soil, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a research assistant position at Uppsala University.

The Department of Earth Sciences at Uppsala University is Sweden´s largest and most versatile department of its kind. Our activities are interdisciplinary and combine natural science and technology with social science. We have research programs in air, water and landscape science; geophysics; natural resources and sustainable development; petrology, mineralogy and tectonics; paleobiology, and wind energy. By investigating the history of Earth, we understand how our planet has developed over time and how sustainable development benefits from this knowledge.

Subject description
Increasing the knowledge about microplastics in sludge and soil is important as such knowledge impacts the assessment of environmental quality and the decision on the use of sludge as a fertilizer or as artificial soil. This project aims to contribute to research that aims to quantify and identify microplastics in sludge and soil. The job involves the extraction and scanning of microplastics in sewage sludge and soils fertilized with sludge.

Duties

• Preparation of soil and biosolid samples for microplastics analyses
• Digestion of sludge and biosolids samples using oxidative digestion and enzymatic digestion
• Preparation and testing of recovery tests and blanks
• Scanning the samples using FTIR microimaging spectroscopy
• Identification of microplastics using SimPle software
• Documenting laboratory procedures, analyses, and results
• Filing data

Requirements

• An exam, preferably a master of science in the fields of chemistry, material sciences, polymer chemistry, biotechnology, or environmental analyses
• Experience in working the laboratories and conducting chemical analyses
• Very good knowledge of Microsoft (words, excel, PowerPoint)
• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.

Additional qualifications

• Knowledge of oxidation and enzymatic reactions.
• Experience in operating FTIR or similar equipment independently.
• Knowledge of working and assessing standard procedures of analyses.
• Experience in analyses of environmental samples (soil, sludge, water, wastewater) is highly recommended.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position, 6 months. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 15 of April 2024 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Docent Sahar Dalahmeh, sahar.dalahmeh@geo.uu.se

Please submit your application by 15 of March 2024, UFV-PA 2024/715.

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