These are short-term appointments for 3-12 months depending on a project. The topics can be either proposed by the applicant or are proposed by the partners or associated partners of the network as indicated below.
For Short-Term Fellowships, the eligibility rules of the European Commission for ESR (Early Stage Researchers) apply:
"Early Stage researchers are defined as those who are, at the time of selection by the host institution, in the first four years of their research careers. This is measured from date when they obtained the degree which would formally entitle them to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the research training is provided..."
Also keep in mind the European Commission's conditions of nationality and mobility of researchers, please:
"Researchers can be nationals of any country other than the country of the promises of the host organisation where they will carry out their projects. Additionally researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of the host for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment..."
High throughput screening toxicity in vitro methods for testing of selected chemicals and nano-particles in mixtures.
10 months
Research will assess applicability of experimental high throughput screening (HTS) methods for the assessment of toxicity of nano-particles and of a standard Water Framework Directive (WFD) list of compounds (both single and mixtures) using several protocols (Tetrahymena species, rat hepatoma cells (H4IIE), transfected yeasts cells (S. cerevisiae) with the human estrogen receptor (hER α)).
The results of the experiments with WFD-list compounds will be important to compare their toxic effects in the bulk state with those of nano-particles and to better understand their mode of action. This will allow better to understand which factors govern their behaviour and bioavailability as well as the toxicological effects of the chemicals and materials tested.
Successful candidates start at the next possible timepoint.
Qualifications Your Qualifications:
- Master / diploma in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, geoecology
- Profound experience in cell culture work
- Some background in analytical chemistry involving ideally GC-MS and isotope dilution techniques
- Strong interest in molecular ecotoxicology, particularly also in in-silico screening techniques
- Interest to work in an interdisciplinary environment involving interactions between chemistry, biology, modelling, and health.
- Highly motivated for the project, like to work with others, integrate into a team
Formal applications should be exclusively send electronically and should include:
- Full CV and non German citizenship
- A statement of motivation (not more than one page)
- Copies of relevant exams, grades, master thesis work or publications
- Contact information of two reference persons
For more details contact Prof. K.-W. Schramm
Investigation of the influence of chemical speciation on the accuracy of QSPR/QSAR models.
The biological activity and fate properties of chemicals can drastically change (in order of many orders of magnitude) depending on whether ionic or neutral forms of molecules are present in the environment. The difficulties with this task are frequently connected to low accuracy of existing methods to predict dissociation constants of molecules. The pKa model (which is under development within the GO-Bio grant) or otherwise calculated dissociation constants and/or experimental dissociation constants of molecules will be used to address this question and explore whether use of chemical speciation can increase accuracy of QSPR/QSAR models.
For these positions strong programming skills in Java or/and C++ are expected. The students should be able to implement & develop new chemoinformatics algorithms (calculation of descriptors, machine learning algorithms, etc.). Background in chemistry or bioinformatics, informatics, computer sciences is required.
For more details contact Dr. I.V. Tetko
Reproducibility of linear QSAR models in the JRC database
The JRC database contains a growing number of descriptions of validated QSAR/QSPR models http://qsardb.jrc.it/qmrf, which can be used for REACH. The goal of this project is to re-implement linear models available in JRC database in order to verify whether they can be reproduced and whether there are any difficulties (if any) with it. The models will be made publicly available at http://ochem.eu.
Requirements to the candidate:
She/he should have knowledge in chemistry and use of some chemoinformatics software (e.g., know about different molecular format, such as SMILES, SDF, know how to interconvert chemical structures, etc.)
She/he should have also some knowledge in Perl, Python in order to be able to work with data processing.
Duration of fellowship 3-6 months
For more details contact Dr. I.V. Tetko
Reproducibility of non-linear QSAR models in the JRC database
The JRC database contains a growing number of descriptions of validated QSAR/QSPR models http://qsardb.jrc.it/qmrf, which can be used for REACH. The goal of this project is to re-implement non-linear models available in JRC database in order to verify whether they can be reproduced and whether there are any difficulties (if any) with it. The models will be made publicly available at http://ochem.eu.
Requirements to the candidate:
She/he should have knowledge in chemistry and use of some chemoinformatics software (e.g., know about different molecular format, such as SMILES, SDF, know how to interconvert chemical structures, etc.)
She/he should have also some knowledge in Perl, Python in order to be able to work with data processing.
Duration of fellowship 3-6 months
For more details contact Dr. I.V. Tetko
Leiden University, Faculty of Science, Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML)
QSAR MODELING FOR TOXICITY PREDICTION OF SPECIFIC CLASSES OF EMERGING CHEMICALS
LU wishes to appoint for 7 months a Short Term Researcher
CML is an expert institute and an internationally recognized leader in Industrial Ecology including LCA. The Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) is an institute of the Faculty of Science of Leiden University. The main area of work is research and education in the multidisciplinary field of environmental sciences. The research projects of the Institute draw from both natural and social sciences. CML has two research departments:
Conservation Biology (CML-CB), dealing with issues of biodiversity and natural resources in rural areas of the Western and nonwestern world and;
Industrial Ecology (CML-IE), dealing with research into the development of tools for decision making on sustainable production and consumption.
Job description:
The large amounts of chemicals emitted every day in the environment, require to have models available to accurately predict their adverse effects on (parts of) ecosystems. On top of models needed for toxicity prediction of individual compounds, validated models and assessment approaches are needed to assess the combined of mixtures of chemicals. QSARs provide a means of efficiently predicting fate and effect parameters of specific classes of chemicals on the basis of readily available chemical descriptors.
The aims of this project are to develop QSAR models for aquatic toxicity prediction of chemicals that fall within specific chemical classes, and to assess how these models may be applied to predict the combined effects of mixtures of chemicals. Mixture toxicity modeling will be performed for structurally similar chemicals, as well as for chemicals from different chemical classes (presumably with different modes of action).
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate, with capabilities to work independently but in an interdisciplinary and international environment. Education in Biology, Ecotoxicology or related fields will be necessary.
Job Requirements:
- Applicants are expected to have a university degree (MSc), with education in Biology, Ecotoxicology or related fields,
- Applicants must be in the first four years of their career in research,
- Applicants must be proficient in spoken and written English.
Conditions of Employment:
Employment conditions (salary, living expenses, travel expenses, etc.) are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities and the requirement set forward by the Marie Curie programme. Duration of the contract: The successful applicant will be appointed for a period of seven months. Part of the work will be performed at RIVM (www.rivm.nl)
As this position is within a Marie Curie Initial Training Network, the following specific conditions with regard to the eligibility of candidates apply:
The researcher shall not be a national of a State in which the beneficiary's research team appointing him/her is located. In the case of a researcher holding more than one nationality, he/she will be able to be hosted by a beneficiary located in the country of his/her nationality in which (s)he has not resided during the previous 5 years.
At the time of appointment, the researcher may not have resided or carried out his/her main activity in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to his/her appointment. Short stays such as holidays are not taken into account.
For more details contact Prof. W. Peijnenburg
Leiden University, Faculty of Science, Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML)
METAL TRANSFER TO CARNIVOROUS PREDATORS AFFECTED BY METAL SEQUESTRATION IN PREY
LU wishes to appoint for 6 months a Short Term Researcher
CML is an expert institute and an internationally recognized leader in Industrial Ecology including LCA. The Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) is an institute of the Faculty of Science of Leiden University. The main area of work is research and education in the multidisciplinary field of environmental sciences. The research projects of the Institute draw from both natural and social sciences. CML has two research departments:
Conservation Biology (CML-CB), dealing with issues of biodiversity and natural resources in rural areas of the Western and nonwestern world and;
Industrial Ecology (CML-IE), dealing with research into the development of tools for decision making on sustainable production and consumption.
Job description:
An important concept in ecology, environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology says that “dilution is no solution for pollution”. The principle of biomagnification is based on the fact that mass of the contamination is largely conserved along the food chain, while the biomass decreases. Several factors affect metal bioaccumulation such as environmental conditions, metal specificity, species-specific characteristics especially the excretion possibilities of organisms and the trophic level of the species.
The aim of our study is to compare transfer of metals through different carnivorous food chains and thereby accounting for metal sequestration in the prey organisms. The food chains studied are soil–earthworms–centipedes and soil–earthworms–moles. Both predators feed on earthworms but have a different digestive system typical for invertebrates and vertebrates, and thus have efficiencies of metal uptake. We therefore focus on two aspects, based on a species–species basis, namely i) the metal transfer efficiency through both food chains, ii) the way metal accumulation by predators can be described by certain soil fractions such as total metal concentrations, pore water concentrations or earthworm concentrations or certain internal metal fractions. Most of the experimental work is already performed, and chemical analyses are made.
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate, who is able to describe and interpret the data so it can be submitted to a scientific journal. The candidate should have capabilities to work independently but in an interdisciplinary and international environment. Education in Biology, Ecotoxicology or related fields will be necessary.
Job Requirements:
- Applicants are expected to have a university degree (MSc), with education in Biology, Ecotoxicology or related fields,
- Applicants must be in the first four years of their career in research,
- Applicants must be proficient in spoken and written English.
Conditions of Employment:
Employment conditions (salary, living expenses, travel expenses, etc.) are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities and the requirement set forward by the Marie Curie programme. Duration of the contract: The successful applicant will be appointed for a period of seven months. Part of the work will be performed at RIVM (www.rivm.nl)
As this position is within a Marie Curie Initial Training Network, the following specific conditions with regard to the eligibility of candidates apply:
The researcher shall not be a national of a State in which the beneficiary's research team appointing him/her is located. In the case of a researcher holding more than one nationality, he/she will be able to be hosted by a beneficiary located in the country of his/her nationality in which (s)he has not resided during the previous 5 years.
At the time of appointment, the researcher may not have resided or carried out his/her main activity in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to his/her appointment. Short stays such as holidays are not taken into account.
For more details contact Prof. W. Peijnenburg
Leiden University, Faculty of Science, Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML)
QUANTIFYING ECOLOGICAL TRAIT MODALITIES THAT DESCRIBE CHEMICAL IMPACTS IN THE FIELD
LU wishes to appoint for 7 months a Short Term Researcher
CML is an expert institute and an internationally recognized leader in Industrial Ecology including LCA. The Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) is an institute of the Faculty of Science of Leiden University. The main area of work is research and education in the multidisciplinary field of environmental sciences. The research projects of the Institute draw from both natural and social sciences. CML has two research departments:
Conservation Biology (CML-CB), dealing with issues of biodiversity and natural resources in rural areas of the Western and nonwestern world and;
Industrial Ecology (CML-IE), dealing with research into the development of tools for decision making on sustainable production and consumption.
Job description:
Estimating the effect of mixtures of pesticides on macroinvertebrate communities is challenging taking into account interaction of aquatic ecology, chemistry and environmental toxicology. The question of a large concern is what is the magnitude and extent of pesticide impact on macroinvertabrates in the field. In the drainage ditch the effect of pesticide on aquatic community is largely determined by toxic mode of action of pesticide, extent, duration and type of exposure. Liess et al (2005) analyzed patterns in aquatic invertebrate community composition related to pesticide impact. In this study all species were classified according to species traits sensitive for toxic stress. The abundance of species at risk in contaminated sections increased when undisturbed sections were located upstream providing source of recolonization. Maund et al (2009) confirmed that local dynamics of macroinvertabrates in contaminated sections can be influenced by migration from neighboring sections with reduced contamination. The paper from Webbs 2010 and Rubach 2010 shows which trait modalities are of importance to determine exposure, accumulation, toxic effects and recolonization abilities.
The aims of this study are to determine and quantify ecological trait modalities in a field setting where by definition multiple-stressors exist. Study area represents the gradient of pesticide concentrations ranging from non-contaminated water in dune area flowing to agricultural land with intensive pesticide practices. A number of representative sites in each area will be sampled for macroinvertebrate community composition and environmental parameters. All dominating habitat types should be sampled in each site (streams or submerged aquatic macrophytes for example).
Field work will be performed in a team. We are looking for a highly motivated candidate, who likes experimental work. The candidate should have capabilities to work independently but in an interdisciplinary and international environment. Education in Biology, Ecotoxicology or related fields will be necessary.
Job Requirements:
- Applicants are expected to have a university degree (MSc), with education in Biology, Ecotoxicology or related fields,
- Applicants must be in the first four years of their career in research,
- Applicants must be proficient in spoken and written English.
Conditions of Employment:
Employment conditions (salary, living expenses, travel expenses, etc.) are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities and the requirement set forward by the Marie Curie programme. Duration of the contract: The successful applicant will be appointed for a period of seven months. Part of the work will be performed at RIVM (www.rivm.nl)
As this position is within a Marie Curie Initial Training Network, the following specific conditions with regard to the eligibility of candidates apply:
The researcher shall not be a national of a State in which the beneficiary's research team appointing him/her is located. In the case of a researcher holding more than one nationality, he/she will be able to be hosted by a beneficiary located in the country of his/her nationality in which (s)he has not resided during the previous 5 years.
At the time of appointment, the researcher may not have resided or carried out his/her main activity in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to his/her appointment. Short stays such as holidays are not taken into account.
For more details contact Prof. W. Peijnenburg
QUANTITATIVE MODELING OF TOXICOLOGICAL DATA.
The toxic effects of environmental chemicals and the adverse effects of drugs albeit probably caused by similar molecular mechanisms have been traditionally studied separately. The integration of the two data types will increase the coverage of chemical space on toxic effects and thus improve the applicability of predictive models. In this project we will collect and integrate toxicological data from environmental chemicals and drugs with the aim to build predictive models of chemical toxicological effects applicable to novel compounds.
Job Requirements:
- A strong computational background is required.
This project will be done in collaboration between the Dr. Igor Tetko and Dr. Monica Campillos at Helmholtz Center Munich.
For more details contact Dr. I. Tetko
In addition to clearly defined projects, there is the possibility of projects at free choice in each working group.
3 to 12 months
In this case you are asked to provide a short abstract about the topic of your PhD thesis and the sub-project you propose for ECO. Please, show the connection of the proposed project to the approaches and aims of REACH and its importance for future environment. Your motivation letter should also include the expected results, your expectations to the ECO training programme as well as your future career plans.
For more details contact
Dr. I.V. Tetko, Prof. K.-W. Schramm, Prof. W. Peijnenburg, Prof. T. Öberg, Dr. J.M. Navas, Prof. A.J. Hendriks, Prof. R. Todeschini or Prof. T. Knepper