PhD position in catalytic plasma coatings for water treatment

Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100 employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain.

In the Laboratory of Advanced Fibers, we are a multidisciplinary team of researchers working on different topics with particular focus on surface properties and functional materials. Plasma technology plays a major role in our vision on how to push science towards a fair and sustainable future for humankind.

The main goal of PhD project is to develop a new generation of catalytic nanomaterials for water treatment, made of Earth-abundant elements and designed for their long-term performance. To fabricate and make these materials durable, the core concept is the use of plasma technology.

Your tasks
This PhD position will contribute to the SNSF-funded Ambizione project Plasma4Water. Your main task will be the design, fabrication and optimization of catalytic coatings for water treatment. As a PhD candidate, you will:

• Develop novel and robust catalytic materials for efficient removal of emerging contaminants in water.
• Learn and apply advanced materials characterization techniques.
• Work with different analytics to identify and quantify pollutants in water and their degradation mechanisms.
• Investigate the stability of the materials after use and how to prolong their lifetime.
• Collaborate with partners and eventually potential industrial contacts to validate and scale-up the technology, including its environmental impact assessment.

Your profile
If you are interested in making a major impact on ensuring clean water for current and next generations, have a strong background in Chemistry, Physics, Engineering and are highly motivated to work in a multicultural and interdisciplinary team and fulfil the criteria below you are the person we are looking for:

• Finished master's degree in the mentioned or related fields.
• Experience in laboratory work and use of analytics, with strong hands-on these skills.
• Experience at least in one of the following topics: plasma technology, surface science, water treatment, redox/radical chemistry.
• Proficient in spoken and writing English. German fluency is not needed but considered a plus.
• You are a dynamic and curious person, highly motivated to work to face environmental challenges, in multidisciplinary and international collaborations.

Our offer
We provide an international and stimulating research environment with excellent infrastructure for personal and professional development. This PhD project will be carried out at Empa St. Gallen under the supervision of Dr. Paula Navascués. The PhD Student will be enrolled at ETH Zürich, with Prof. Salvador Pané i Vidal as academic supervisor (Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, D-MAVT). You will be employed at Empa in St. Gallen full-time for three years with the potential extension by one more year. Desired starting date is 01.04.2026 or upon mutual agreement.

We live a culture of inclusion and respect. We welcome all people who are interested in innovative, sustainable and meaningful activities - that's what counts.

We look forward to receiving your complete online application including a letter of motivation, CV, certificates, diplomas and contact details of two reference persons. Please submit these exclusively via our job portal. Applications by e-mail and by post will not be considered.

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#### Job details

Title: PhD position in catalytic plasma coatings for water treatment

Employer: Empa

Location: Lerchenfeldstrasse 5 St. Gallen, Switzerland

Published: 2025-10-09

Application deadline: Unspecified

Job type: PhD

Field: Materials Chemistry, Catalysis, Environmental Chemistry, Surface Chemistry, Chemical Physics, and 1 more Water Science