Organisation/Company University College Dublin Department School of Chemistry Research Field Chemistry Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country Ireland Application Deadline 20 Jan *********:00 (Europe/Dublin) Type of Contract To be defined Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 May **** Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No
Offer Description
One PhD position (4 years) is available in the School of Chemistry at University College Dublin.
The PhD student will be supervised by Dr Liana Zoumpouli, an Assistant Professor and Ad Astra Fellow.
The successful applicant will receive a
tax-free stipend of €25,000 per annum
plus
full tuition fees
for
four years
.
Description
Anthropogenic organic micropollutants, such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and surfactants, persist in water systems and present long-term ecological risks.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as "forever chemicals", are a notable example of these pollutants due to their strong carbon-fluorine bonds.
Available water treatment technologies often fail to achieve complete degradation (mineralization) of these compounds, or require excessive energy consumption.
Sustainable alternatives need to be developed, taking into account long-term performance, reduction of toxicity, and the life cycle of the materials used.
This project will develop novel catalytic materials for the degradation of priority micropollutants using photo- and electro-oxidation and/or reduction, as well as hybrid or combined processes.
The successful applicant will:
Rationally design, synthesise and characterise heterogeneous catalysts targeting a range of pollutants.
Develop analytical methods for quantification of the target pollutants, identification of transformation products, and toxicity assessment.
Perform a comprehensive evaluation of the developed catalysts, including aspects like long-term performance and stability, selectivity and sustainability.
Expected Duties
Laboratory-based experimental research, data analysis, writing high-impact journal publications, presentations at conferences, participation in training.
There will be a requirement to teach in undergraduate laboratories and tutorials, which will be remunerated.
This project will offer opportunities for collaboration with interdisciplinary and international teams.
How to apply
Please submit your complete application using the Google form linked below.
Note that a Google account is required to upload documents.
We encourage applications from all candidates and are committed to creating an environment where diversity is celebrated and everyone is treated fairly regardless of gender, age, race, disability, ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, civil status, family status, or membership of the travelling community.
We are seeking a highly motivated and collaborative candidate with a strong Chemistry background, who meets the following conditions:
They have a minimum of an upper second-class honours Bachelor's degree (or equivalent), or a Master's degree, in chemistry or another related discipline.
Ideal candidates will have experience in one or more of the following areas:
Catalytic water treatment
Emerging contaminants (e.g., PFAS)
Analytical chemistry (e.g., HPLC, mass spectrometry)
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