PhD student in Geology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Characterisation and monitoring of in situ remediation of chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination using an interdisciplinary approach (MIRACHL).

To meet future sustainable urban development, construction of new housing is planned through densification of old, often polluted industrial areas. About 2000 areas in Sweden are contaminated with carcinogenic chlorinated hydrocarbons from dry cleaners and industries. Remediation is today done, mostly through excavation and depositing at landfills, but the method is criticized as it moves the problem from one place to another, and leads to transport and exposure of hazardous substances. The Swedish EPA recommends using in-situ methods, but these have been hampered due to uncertainties in verifying the outcome due to limited point sampling. Methods for monitoring and verifying in situ remediation in different ways need to be developed and evaluated. Within this project we work on the development of smart sampling and analyses of biogeochemical and physical parameters integrated with geophysical time series measurements in space (4D) for monitoring and modelling of hydrogeological (geophysical and geochemical) processes for better evaluation of the remediation processes. A future increase in the use of in-situ remediation can result in significant cost savings and increased remediation rate, contributing to fulfillment of the EU water framework directives demands on our water resources, and to ensure fulfillment of our national environmental objectives.

Assignment

The holder of the PhD position will evaluate the interpreted processes during contaminated site remediation actions at the project test sites by means of hydrogeological and geochemical modelling also taking geophysical information into account. This will be done to better understand and follow initiated remediation processes in situ. Measurement and sampling need to be carried out in the field before, during and possibly after the remediation process to obtain a comprehensive description of the changes taking place below the surface in time and space, and thus an opportunity for calibration data to evaluate this integrated monitoring and verification method.

Microbial and geophysical laboratory measurements on various materials and substances may be included in the PhD task as well, along with the visualization of the distribution of the pollution/microbes in the porous/fractured medium. The project team consists of experts on contaminated sites, hydrogeology, geophysics, isotope geochemistry, microbiology, and is a collaboration between Lund University, Stockholm University, and Århus University, government agencies, consultants and contractors. The research team also collaborates with the Max IV laboratory and 4D Imaging Lab at LU for visualization of geochemical processes in porous media.

The four year studentship is sub-divided into three years of research and one year of PhD courses.

The PhD student is expected to take an active part in the institution’s teaching program and help out with educational tasks with up to 20% of full time work. These 20% are on top of the 4 years of PhD studies.

Qualifications

The position involves creative and varied work and the PhD student will become a member of a dynamic and multifaceted research group. The successful candidate has an inner drive, and is devoted and motivated to work with state-of-the-art environmental research. He or she is expected to hold a university degree (MSc. or equivalent) in geology or environmental science (or equivalent). Knowledge within the field of hydrogeology and geophysics equivalent to a minimum of 15 credits each, are required, as well as a driver's license (B eligibility). Knowledge within numerical modelling, chemistry and microbiology is desirable, as is experience of fieldwork including sampling of contaminated groundwater and geophysical surveys. As the position involves work with carcinogenic substances, documented experience of work concerning risk assessment and safe working environment, is an advantage.

Documented experience in scientific writing, such as publications, essays or equivalent in English is essential. As the project is cooperation with Swedish authorities and companies, and includes literature in Swedish, mastering of the Swedish language in speech and writing is a requirement. We are looking for an independent and creative person who thrives in a dynamic research environment. The project requires close collaboration with national authorities, contractors and consultants as well as Swedish and foreign scientists, and accordingly, the applicant should be able to work both independently and collaboratively. Moreover, the applicant should be able to take responsibility for parts of the research project and in an independent way perform programming and laboratory tasks.

Eligibility

Students with basic eligibility for third-cycle studies are those who- have completed a second-cycle degree- have completed courses of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits are from second-cycle courses, or- have acquired largely equivalent knowledge in some other way, in Sweden or abroad.

The employment of doctoral students is regulated in the Swedish Code of Statues 1998: 80. Only those who are or have been admitted to PhD-studies may be appointed to doctoral studentships. When an appointment to a doctoral studentship is made, the ability of the student to benefit from PhD-studies shall primarily be taken into account. In addition to devoting themselves to their studies, those appointed to doctoral studentships may be required to work with educational tasks, research and administration, in accordance with specific regulations in the ordinance.

Type of employment

Limit of tenure, four years according to HF 5 kap 7§.

Interviwes will be held i the middle of August.