91 Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science
Startdate: 01.07.2024 | Working hours: 40 | Collective bargaining agreement: §48 VwGr. B1 lit. b (postdoc)
Limited until: 31.12.2027
Reference no.: 2351

Among the many reasons to research and teach at the University of Vienna there is one in particular, which has convinced around 7,500 academic staff members so far. They see themselves as personalities who need space for continuous striving for top international research and scientific excellence. At the same time they enjoy support and liberties that are not a given at other institutions. Does that sound like something for you? Welcome to our team!

The Environmental Geosciences division (EDGE) at the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CMESS), University of Vienna, is a world-leading research group dedicated to addressing critical environmental challenges. Our focus on emerging pollutants, plastics pollution, biotransformation, and the impact of nanoparticulate emerging pollutants on human and environmental microbiomes and systems has made us a leading force in environmental research. As a Senior Scientist, you will become an essential part of our vibrant research community and benefit from an inspiring and supportive environment.

Your personal sphere of play:

The applicant has a strong background in the environmental fate of organic pollutants, including chemical and biological processes such as complex formation and redox reactions with transition metals in the aqueous phase as well as on mineral surfaces, photo-transformation or microbial reductive dehalogenation. The applicant has knowledge of physical processes that determine the environmental fate of contaminants, such as sorption on natural sorbents, intraparticle pore diffusion and (reactive) transport in groundwater systems. In addition, the candidate will have a strong background in biogeochemistry (redox reactions, dissolution/precipitation of minerals), which is a necessary prerequisite to assess the fate of organic contaminants with respect to their redox transformation or sorption on redox sensitive reactive minerals such as iron or manganese minerals. This position is limited to a 3.5 year contract.

Your future tasks:

As a Senior Scientist, you will play a critical role in advancing our understanding of emerging contaminants and supporting our vibrant team of young group leaders, postdocs, and graduate students. Your support is essential to advance our current and future projects. With your strong analytical skills, including advanced trace contaminant analysis and data treatment/modeling, you will play a vital role in the development of our laboratory. 

Required Qualifications/Position requirement:

The applicant has a strong background in environmental analytical chemistry, including (i) quantification and identification of organic compounds by GC-MS(/MS), LC-MS/MS, (ii) compound-specific isotope analysis of organic compounds by GC and LC isotope ratio MS, and complementary analytical techniques such as sample enrichment (solid and liquid phase (micro)extraction), IC of (in-)organic ions, elemental analysis by microwave plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, particle analysis by dynamic light scattering. In addition to the analysis itself, the applicant is skilled in method development and instrument maintenance. In addition, the applicant has experience in complementary techniques needed to study the interaction of organic contaminants with mineral surfaces under different redox conditions, such as wet-chemical and microwave-assisted mineral synthesis of iron and manganese (hydr)oxides and work in an anaerobic chamber.

To validate and support laboratory investigations of these processes, knowledge of numerical speciation modeling using widely used tools such as VisualMiNTEQ, PHREEQC, or others, as well as numerical modeling of reactions and reactive transport would be beneficial.

As our department is committed to training the next generation of scientists, we prefer candidates with postdoctoral experience and teaching experience, including lectures, seminars, and laboratory courses.

The successful candidate must hold a PhD in field relevant to environmental geosciences.

What we offer:

Work-life balance: Our employees enjoy flexible working hours, remote/hybrid and/or part-time work (upon agreement).

Inspiring working atmosphere: You are a part of an international academic team in a healthy and fair working environment.

Good public transport connections: Your workplace in the center of beautiful Vienna is easily accessible by public transport.

Internal further training & Coaching: Opportunity to deepen your skills on an ongoing basis. There are over 600 courses to choose from – free of charge.

Fixed-term contract and fair salary: The basic salary of EUR 4,752,30 (14 times a year for senior scientists postdoctoral) for a period of 3,5 years increases, if we can credit professional experience.

Equal opportunities for everyone: We look forward to diverse personalities in the team!

It is that easy to apply:

• A cover letter outlining your interest in the position, your expertise in emerging pollutants and high-resolution mass spectrometry, and your vision for leading your research group.
• A comprehensive scientific CV, including a list of publications and academic achievements.
• Contact details of two referees who can provide a reference for you.
• A summary of your research plan (maximum three pages) detailing your detailed research vision for the upcoming 5 years.
• Copies of your most relevant research papers.
• University certificate(s)
• Please send us all documents as one PDF.  
• Via our  job portal/ Apply now -  button

If you have any questions, please contact:

environment@univie.ac.at

We look forward to new personalities in our team! 
The University of Vienna has an anti-discriminatory employment policy and attaches great importance to equal opportunities, the advancement of women and diversity. We lay special emphasis on increasing the number of women in senior and in academic positions among the academic and general university staff and therefore expressly encourage qualified women to apply. Given equal qualifications, preference will be given to female candidates.

University of Vienna. Space for personalities. Since 1365.

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Application deadline: 05/09/2024