POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER ADVANCED (R2_FOREVER-WATER)

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE JOB

• Location: ICRA – Fundació Institut Català de Recerca de l’Aigua, Girona (Spain)
• Number of positions available: 1
• Expected start date: 01/09/2025**
• Temporary Position. The position is for 3 years
• Gross Annual Salary: 20.000€ – 46.000€

** The present offer and contracting are subject to the availability of financial funds and to the effective start of the Project (expected date 01/09/2025).

OFFER DESCRIPTION

ICRA is seeking to incorporate a postdoctoral research fellow with strong background in material science and electrochemical systems, in the scope of the European Innovation Council (EIC) Transition Grant project FOREVER WATER (The Project 1012136 has received funding from the European Innovation Council (EIC).

The main objective of EIC Transition Grants is to mature and validate a novel technology and improve its market readiness for specific applications with high market potential. FOREVER-WATER will validate the technology previously developed and patented within the European research Council (ERC) projects ELECTRON4WATER (www.electron4water) and GRAPHEC (www.graphec.com), which delivered a new, graphene-enabled electrochemical system for the treatment of contaminated water. The peculiar characteristic of this system is graphene sponge electrode, capable of degrading extremely persistent and toxic contaminants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in different types of water and wastewater matrices.

PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” due to their extreme persistency in the environment. PFAS have been included in uncounted everyday products from clothing to cosmetics since the 1950s and are now present in our water, air, soil and bodies. Exposure to PFAS is associated with multiple health risks, e.g., thyroid disease, infertility, cancer, and immunotoxicity. The annual health-related costs of PFAS pollution in Europe are estimated at €52-84 bn. Currently available technologies for PFAS destruction in water suffer from low efficiency and high energy demand when dealing with real PFAS-contaminated waste streams, as well as low operational feasibility (e.g., they require high temperatures and pressures, and are difficult to operate in continuous mode), and overall low sustainability.

FOREVER WATER project aims to develop further graphene-enabled electrochemical systems for PFAS destruction, advance the technology to technology readiness level (TRL) 6 and deliver a minimum viable product (MVP) by:

1. further development of the graphene sponge electrode material to improve the process scalability and current distribution,

2. process optimization and system integration in the selected test beds,

3. continuous techno-economic assessment (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) of the devices, and benchmarking against commercially available competing technologies in water and wastewater treatment sector.

The project is coordinated by ICRA and counts with the participation of CEA-Leti (www.leti-cea.com), Fraunhofer IKTS (www.ikts.fraunhofer.de) and Amphos 21 (www.amphos21.com).

The postdoctoral research fellow is expected to have a strong background in electrode material development, preferentially in the domain of electrochemical water and wastewater treatment but also from adjacent fields (e.g., ohmic heating, batteries, energy storage). The main goal will be to develop an electrochemically stable anode material based on reduced graphene oxide-coated conductive ceramics.

This material will then be thoroughly evaluated for electrochemical oxidation of PFAS and applied at pilot-scale for the treatment of different types of contaminated water (e.g., groundwater, landfill leachate, semiconductor wastewater).

The scholar will be exposed to a multidisciplinary research environment at ICRA and potentially involve in other ongoing projects focused on PFAS. Successful applicant will receive a three-year contract. Salary will depend on the previous experience of the candidate, as evaluated by the members of the reviewing committee.

KEY DUTIES

1.- Synthesis of functional graphene sponge electrodes (i.e., reduced graphene oxide-coated) using conductive ceramic foams as templates.

2.- Characterization of the graphene sponge electrodes based on conductive ceramics (electrochemical, surface characterization).

3.- Evaluation of the produced electrodes for electrochemical oxidation of PFAS.

4.- Close collaboration with researchers at ICRA working on the development of PFAS analysis and PFAS destruction technologies.

5.- Preparation of scientific publications and participation in international conferences.

6.- As with all research staff, a small proportion of the time will be allocated to communal services such as joint laboratory cleanings etc.

EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

Must have – Required

Research Field or Field of knowledge:

Material Science and Engineering, Electrochemistry

Qualifications and Education Level:

Applicants must have a PhD on the topics related to the call.

Previous research experience in the field of electrochemical water treatment and/or analysis of trace organic contaminants is an advantage.

Skills:

Successful applicants are expected to have a demonstrated, high quality track record in their research field, demonstrated research experience, excellent communication skills, critical thinking, trouble-shooting attitude, and openness to collaborating with internal and external partners of the project is required.

Required Experience:

The call is open to both recently graduated PhD students as well as researchers with more years of research experience after PhD.

Desirable

Experience in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is desirable.  Have a high level of language proficiency, such as English, both written and oral.

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.

Three recommendation letters endorsing the applicants professional experience.

Academic Degree (PhD)

Deadline for Applications:

Submission of applications at ICRA – Offers

The deadline to submit the required documentation is 29/06/2025

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.

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