Jobid=27d41705c07a (0.0211)
This PhD project focuses on microbial transformation in contaminated sediments, studying pollutant degradation pathways, microbial communities, and bioreactor concepts for sustainable sediment management.
Job description
Contaminated sediment depots contain mixtures of polluted dredged sediments that have long term evolved under anaerobic and often brackish environmental conditions. While these depots are extensively monitored, little is known about the changes in microbial communities and pollutants over decades of in-situ storage. The system is strongly stratified, poorly mixed, and exhibits sharp gradients in geochemistry and microbial activity, resulting in major uncertainties in pollutant fate, microbial processes, and long term environmental impacts.
A central knowledge gap concerns whether indigenous anaerobic microbial communities can transform persistent pollutants. Identifying degradation pathways, responsible enzymes, and the environmental conditions that drive these transformations is essential to support risk assessment, future remediation technologies, and the potential development of circular resource concepts.
This PhD project focuses on microbial process discovery and microbial transformation in contaminated sediments, using advanced omics-based tools to identify organisms, enzymes, and metabolic pathways capable of transforming selected pollutants under anaerobic conditions.
You will
- collect and characterize sediment samples from the depot
- perform metagenomics, metaproteomics, and non-targeted mass spectrometry analyses
- identify active transformation pathways and link enzymes to organisms
- perform enrichment cultivation under controlled redox conditions
- develop proof-of-concept bioreactor experiments to demonstrate microbial degradation of selected contaminants
Job requirements
- MSc degree in microbiology, biotechnology, environmental engineering, environmental microbiology, biogeochemistry, or a related field.
- Strong affinity with microbial ecology and/or microbial physiology or contaminant removal.
- Experience with one or more of the following is an asset: (meta)genomics, (meta)proteomics, analytical chemistry (LC MS/MS), anaerobic cultivation, microbial enrichment.
- Ability to independently design and conduct experiments, analyse data, and report findings clearly.
- Motivation to work in an interdisciplinary team at the interface of microbiology, environmental engineering, and geochemistry.
- Excellent command of written and spoken English, as you will be working in an international research environment.
Conditions of employment
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1.5-year contract includes an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months, followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.
As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.
TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.
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