Ph.D. Position in Geoscience at University of Tübingen

Position Description

The Department of Geosciences, in the Faculty of Science, at University of Tübingen has a Ph.D. position with an immediate start date available. The successful candidate will join the Hydrogeochemistry research group of Dr. Peter Grathwohl, Professor (https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/96239) and will be co-supervised by Dr. Alexander Arthur Haluska, Senior Research Associate in the Hydrochemistry group to conduct work in project ER21-1274, funded by the US Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP): Influence of Particulate Amendments on TCE Reductive Dechlorination in the Presence of PFAS: Laboratory and Field Studies.

This project is a collaboration amongst University of Tübingen, the University of Florida, the US Navy, and Clemson University. The research objective is to understand how co-adsorbed PFAS on PAC and GAC influences microbial and microbial-chemical processes that transform TCE. The relevant sorption/chemical tasks include:

• Characterizing how adsorption behavior of PFAS varies as a function of PFAS chain length and functional group to powdered activated carbon (PAC) and other adsorbents

• Assess how chlorinated solvents influence the adsorption behavior of PFAS to PAC

• Assess and model multi-competitive sorption of complex PFAS - chlorinated solvent mixtures

• Eventual (year 2) field tests with NAVFAC partner to assess lab vs. field processes in particulate amended plumes (sites most likely in FL and CA)

The PhD position is a salaried position that is available for 3.5 years (minimum). The University does not charge PhD students tuition or graduate fees. The position is offered at 75% E-13. The monthly salary can be found at: https://lbv.landbw.de/-/tabellenentgelt-ab-01-01-2017-neu

Application Procedure

Interested applicants should contact Dr. Hauska via email (alexander.haluska@uni-tuebingen.de), with a brief bio sketch or resume. Candidates will have at least one virtual meeting. Students considered will include those with a MS in environmental engineering or science, or a related degree (based on research or projects conducted during the graduate/undergraduate time). Experience with PFAS, LC/MS/MS and MATLAB is a plus. The successful candidate will be motivated, curious, a problem solver, wanting to solve practical problems and work with both industrial and academic partners, and most importantly be results-driven. The candidate will be expected to communicate research results in quality peer-reviewed journals and represent the group at national/international symposia and meetings.

Timeframe

The opening is immediate. Applications will be accepted into the position is filled. A full application must be received prior to any start date.

Contact information is below. We look forward to hearing from you.

Dr. Alexander Haluska

Department of Geoscience

University of Tübingen

Schnarrenbergstr. 94-96

72076 Tübingen, Germany

Email: alexander.haluska@uni-tuebingen.de

About the University

The Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen is one of Europe’s oldest universities. Several hundred years of history in the sciences and humanities have been written here. The University's history began in 1477, when Count Eberhard “the Bearded” of Württemberg founded the University. In Tübingen’s historical center there is hardly a building or a square that is not linked to a renowned scholar. Tübingen today remains a place of research and teaching. In addition to the nearly 86,000 inhabitants, there are some 28,500 German and international students. Some 450 professors and more than 4000 other academic staff teach at the University’s seven faculties. Tübingen is a comprehensive university and one of the eleven German “Excellence Universities”.

More information can be found at: https://uni-tuebingen.de/en