JUNIOR LEADER GROUP RESEARCHER (GLJunior_L5)

Contaminants in water treatment

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE JOB

• Job location: ICRA – Catalan Institute for Water Research, Girona (Spain)
• Number of positions available: 1
• Expected start: October 1st, 2026
• Permanent Position
• Gross Annual Salary package: €48,900 – €60,000

OFFER DESCRIPTION

The increasing complexity of impacts associated with global change, including climate change, the intensification of urban and agricultural activities, and land-use changes, is placing growing pressure on the availability and quality of water resources. In this context, wastewater, drinking water, and water reuse treatment systems play a central role not only in the removal of chemical contaminants, but also in the modification, transformation, and potential generation of transformation products that may persist in the aquatic environment.

The presence of urban- and agricultural-derived contaminants, as well as their treatment by-products, represents a growing environmental challenge for the integrated management of the water cycle. The increasing complexity of chemical mixtures present in influent waters to treatment systems makes it necessary to strengthen research on the behaviour, fate, and transformation of contaminants during wastewater treatment, drinking water treatment, and water reuse processes. In particular, there is a need to advance knowledge of the mechanisms that control their removal, degradation, and formation of secondary products during processes such as advanced oxidation, adsorption, filtration, and biological treatment, as well as their persistence in treated effluents and reclaimed waters.

The Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), located in Girona, is committed to addressing these challenges through interdisciplinary research. Founded in 2006 by the Government of Catalonia, ICRA promotes science and innovation in the field of water with an integrated approach to water quality in natural and urban systems, including the role of treatment processes in the transformation of contaminants throughout the water cycle.

To strengthen its research capacities in this field, ICRA is opening a Junior Group Leader Researcher position in Contaminants in Water Treatment. This position will focus on the study of the fate, behaviour, and transformation of urban- and agricultural-derived contaminants during wastewater, drinking water, and reclaimed water treatment, with special emphasis on emerging contaminants, complex mixtures, and transformation products.

The work will include the analysis of degradation, adsorption, removal, and by-product formation processes across different treatment technologies, as well as their persistence in effluents and water reuse systems at the catchment scale.

This position will support the implementation of European water-related directives (including the Water Framework Directive, the Groundwater Directive, the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, and the Drinking Water Directive), and will contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.

The selected candidate will join a multidisciplinary environment and will regularly collaborate with experts in chemistry, microbiology, environmental engineering, and ecological sciences. This position represents a key opportunity to strengthen ICRA’s leadership in the study of processes controlling water quality in treatment and reuse systems, contributing to safer and more sustainable water resource management.

KEY DUTIES

The researcher will play a central role in the consolidation and expansion of ICRA’s strategic research.

The functions associated with the position include:

–Research funding acquisition: Actively seeking and securing competitive funding at international, European, and national levels (e.g. Horizon Europe, ERC, and national R&D programmes), as well as from private and industrial partners, ensuring the long-term sustainability and growth of the research line.

–Scientific leadership and unit management: Leading a research line, setting strategic priorities, coordinating scientific activities, and ensuring scientific excellence and operational efficiency.

–Training and supervision of research staff: Supervising and training predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers, technical staff, and visiting researchers, fostering the development of scientific talent and promoting a collaborative and inclusive research environment.

-Team consolidation and capacity building: Strengthening the human and technical capacity of the research line through talent attraction, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and contributing to the development of a dynamic, motivated, and high-performing research team.

–Dissemination and communication of research results: Ensuring the scientific dissemination of results through publications in high-impact international journals, conferences, and workshops, while also promoting knowledge transfer and engagement with society through outreach activities, collaboration with stakeholders, and communication with policymakers and the public.

EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

Must have – Required

Research Field or Field of knowledge:

Earth and Water Sciences / Chemistry / Environmental Chemistry / Environmental Engineering / Ecotoxicology or related fields.

Hold the R3 Certificate (Pathway to Research Excellence)

Qualifications and Education Level:

PhD in Chemistry / Environmental Sciences / Biology / Ecology / Environmental Engineering; holding the R3 certificate (Research Career Excellence Pathway).

Skills:

-Knowledge of water chemistry, particularly organic micropollutants;

-Knowledge of wastewater, drinking water, and water reuse systems;

-Knowledge of advanced analytical tools for the characterization of micropollutants (mass spectrometry);

-Knowledge of ecotoxicology and environmental risk assessment;

-A strong understanding of international and European water legislation, including (but not limited to) the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the Drinking Water Directive, the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, and relevant guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (e.g. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation).

Required Languages:

Fluency in English, both spoken and written, is essential. Catalan and Spanish.

Required Experience:

-Minimum of 10 years of research experience after PhD completion;

-Minimum of 3 years of international postdoctoral experience, preferably in recognized research institutions;

-Proven track record of multidisciplinary collaborations, working in fields such as analytical chemistry, ecotoxicology, hydrology, microbiology, and systems engineering to address water challenges; -Excellent scientific record with peer-reviewed publications and presentations at international conferences;

-Demonstrated ability to secure competitive funding;

-Experience in obtaining funding in collaboration with industrial partners;

-Proven experience in leading one’s own research group (principal investigator in competitive projects, lead author in scientific publications);

-Experience as co-supervisor of doctoral theses;

-Participation in international research networks, scientific committees, or editorial boards of peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Desirable

-Participation in expert committees (e.g. scientific evaluation of doctoral theses, assessment of research projects, evaluation of fellowships, membership of scientific committees or conference organising committees);

-Short-term scientific stays or research visits at prestigious international research centres;

-Patents will be considered an asset.

BENEFITS

Working conditions: Employed in compliance with Spanish legislation and regulations. Employees receive the benefits of the Spanish Social Security system covering sickness, maternity/paternity leaves and injuries at work.

International Environment: The opportunity to join a prestigious international research institution and become a member of a young and growing team.

Continuous training in a high-quality environment.

APPLICATIONS PROCEDURE & PROCESS

All Applications must be contain:

CV

Motivation letter

DNI or NIE (valid and with work permit in Spain). If you do not have a NIE, please attach a statement that you commit to take the necessary steps to obtain a work and residence permit in Spain.

Academic Degrees

Letters of Recommendation

Deadline for Applications:

Submission of applications at ICRA – Offers

The deadline to submit the required documentation is August 12th, 2026

 Selection process:

In accordance with the OTM-R principles, a gender-balanced recruitment panel is formed for every vacancy at the beginning of the process. After reviewing the content of the applications, the panel will start the interviews. A profile questionnaire as well as a technical exercise may be required during the process.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

In ICRA we are committed to maintaining and developing a work environment in which the values and principles of our organization are respected and equal opportunities and equality of opportunity and treatment is promoted in each of the areas in which we operate, creating a context favorable to diversity and to eradicate any type of direct or indirect discrimination based on age criteria (within the limits set by the Workers’ Statute), marital status, racial or ethnic origin, social status, religion or convictions, political tendency, sexual orientation, sexual identity, gender expression, sexual characteristics, union membership or not, because of language, disability or because of sex, including any unfavorable treatment dispensed for the exercise of conciliation rights or co-responsibility of family and work life.

Recruitment will be carried out as provided for in Article 15 of Royal Legislative Decree 1/1995 of 24 March passing the text of the Workers’ Statute Act, in accordance with the provisions of Article 2 of Royal Decree 2720/98 of 18 December (B.O.E. 8 January 1999), Act nº 12/2001 of July 9 (B.O.E. 10 July) and concordant regulations.

The principle of equality between men and women is taken into account, in accordance with Article 14 of the Spanish Constitution, the EU Directive of 9 February 1976 and the provisions of the Agreement of the Council of Ministers of March 4, 2005, passing the Plan for gender equality in the General State Administration.

Universal accessibility for persons with disabilities is taken into account, in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 1 of Act nº 51/2003 of 2 December on equal opportunities, and 7% of vacancies are reserved provided the candidates pass the selection processes and are able to accredit disability and compatibility in performing the tasks so that we will progressively reach 2% of the total workforce.

Ensures effective compliance with the rights to equal treatment and non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and identity, gender expression or sexual characteristics of LGBTI people in the ICRA workplace, in accordance with Royal Decree 1026/ 2024, of October 8, which develops the planned set of measures for equality and non-discrimination of LGBTI people in companies.

Basic information on Data Protection Responsible: Fundació Institut Català de Recerca de l’Aigua (ICRA); Purpose: The selection of candidates for current and future jobs offered by our organization; Rights: You have the right to access, rectify and delete the data, as well as other rights indicated in the additional information; Additional information: You can consult the additional and detailed information on Data Protection on our website: http://www.icra.cat/politica-de-privacidad