[ES_JOBS_NET] Postdoctoral position in subsurface contaminant transport modelling (PFAS), Uppsala University, Sweden

Wed Jan 24 08:28:31 MST 2024

Postdoctoral position in subsurface contaminant transport modelling (PFAS), Uppsala University, Sweden

Link: https://www.jobb.uu.se/details/?positionId=691961

Description

Fluorinated contaminants (PFAS) constitute a challenging threat to water resources both in Sweden and worldwide. Are you interested in working with research aimed to better understand the spreading of PFASs and their mitigation in the soil-groundwater system, 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 Postdoctoral position in "subsurface contaminant transport modelling" at Uppsala University.

The Department of Earth Sciences at UU is Sweden´s largest and most versatile department of its kind with approximately 280 employees. The Department and, in particular, the research program for Air, Water and Landscape Science, has a long tradition of research on subsurface flow and contaminant transport, numerical modelling and model development as well as remediation studies related to contaminated soil, groundwater and sediments, including close collaboration with partners in industry and society. Our activities are interdisciplinary and combine natural science and technology with social science. For more information:  The Department of Earth Sciences <https://www.geo.uu.se/>

Project description
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are extremely persistent, harmful chemicals that have a complex transport behaviour in the environment. To assess risks associated with PFAS migration and the effects of remediation measures at contaminated hotspots, there is a great need for improved process understanding as well as modelling tools to predict PFAS transport in soil-groundwater systems. A promising technique to limit the spreading of PFAS further into the environment and to drinking-water resources is in-situ stabilisation with activated carbon.

As part of a governmental assignment to mitigate PFAS contamination (RU PFAS), the Swedish Geotechnical Institute (SGI) together with the Swedish Geological Survey (SGU) are testing soil mixing and direct injection of activated carbon for in-situ stabilisation of PFAS at contaminated sites and are thereby generating a large dataset of PFAS distribution in space and time including the effects of in-situ stabilisation. Modelling of the transport and adsorption processes is an important component for the interpretation and analysis of the results and their implications. However, existing modelling tools for PFAS fate and transport have not been thoroughly tested (in particular, against field data) and are in need of further development with respect to several PFAS-specific processes, such as; adsorption to air-water interfaces in the unsaturated zone, transformation of precursors and competition effects between different PFAS both concerning sorption to material interfaces and to sorbents.

Duties

The postdoctor to be employed will work with evaluation and development of modelling tools aimed to better understand the fate and transport of PFAS in the subsurface, and in particular, how this is affected by in-situ stabilisation. Modelling tools that can be relevant include among others MODFLOW-based solute-transport models, Hydrus, COMSOL, TOUGH2 or similar programs. The work will be performed under supervision of Prof. Fritjof Fagerlund at UU and is also a close collaboration with SGI and SGU, where researchers at SGI also participate. The aim is to both develop modelling tools that can aid evaluation and design of in-situ stabilisation measures for PFAS and to contribute to the evaluation of SGI's and SGU's pilot scale in-situ stabilisation tests within RU PFAS. The project is expected to contribute to improved models for prediction of sub-surface PFAS fate and transport as well as the effects of stabilisation using activated carbon. This will include also comparison of different models, methods of applying them and verification against field data. The results will be published in international scientific journals and will also be summarized in a technical report aimed at elucidating the practical applicability of the results.

Requirements
PhD degree in hydrogeology, hydrology, environmental engineering, engineering geology or equivalent or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Those who have obtained a PhD degree three years prior to the application deadline are primarily considered for the employment. The starting point of the three-year frame period is the application deadline. Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc.

Excellent ability to communicate in English both in writing and orally is required.

Additional qualifications
Knowledge about transport processes in the soil-groundwater system as well as experience of subsurface flow- and/or transport modelling are central to this position. Experience or knowledge about remediation techniques for contaminants in soil-groundwater systems is considered a merit. Personal qualities are very important. We are looking for individuals who are goal oriented, possess strong analytical abilities, have excellent capability to collaborate with others and are structured and well-organized. You need to be able to work efficiently both individually and in a group as well as to plan and deliver work within scientific projects in collaboration with other researchers.

Instructions for application

Your application should include the following:
§  A brief personal letter where you describe yourself, why you would like to have this postdoctoral position and why you are suitable for it.
§  A CV/résume (max 2 pages)
§  Certificate of PhD degree. Title of PhD thesis and a transcript courses taken within the PhD degree.
§  A certified copy or transcript of your Master's degree and course grades.
§  List of publications. Include doi or links to those publications that are most relevant for this position.
§  Name and contact information to two persons who have agreed to act as references for you, alternatively, letter(s) of recommendation. Your relationship to each of the references should be stated.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position of 2 years according to central collective agreement. Full time position. Starting date 2024-04-01 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Prof. Fritjof Fagerlund fritjof.fagerlund at geo.uu.se<mailto:fritjof.fagerlund at geo.uu.se>

Please submit your application by 15 February 2024, UFV-PA 2024/121.

Link to position and application: https://www.jobb.uu.se/details/?positionId=691961

Apply for position: https://uu.varbi.com/en/what:login/type:job/jobID:691961

När du har kontakt med oss på Uppsala universitet med e-post så innebär det att vi behandlar dina personuppgifter. För att läsa mer om hur vi gör det kan du läsa här: http://www.uu.se/om-uu/dataskydd-personuppgifter/

E-mailing Uppsala University means that we will process your personal data. For more information on how this is performed, please read here: http://www.uu.se/en/about-uu/data-protection-policy
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://mailman.ucar.edu/pipermail/es_jobs_net/attachments/20240124/0a769bf6/attachment.htm>