Postdoc position in Ocean Nanoplastics

You are highly motivated postdoctoral research interested to work in an interdisciplinary team to investigate ocean nanoplastics? Join the NanoMare team.

Deadline 14 Nov ’25 20 Oct ’25 published

Vacancy ID 4948

Job description

The Department of Earth Sciences is looking for a highly motivated postdoctoral candidate with a background in analytical chemistry related to characterizing dissolved organic matter in the ocean using high resolution mass spectrometry tools.

Your job

You will work on the ERC project “NanoMare”. In this position, you will develop an innovative mass-spectrometry based approaches (TD-PTR-MS, Orbitrap MS) to measure nano plastics (NPs) in sea water, sediments and marine biota to investigate the distribution of NPs in the marine realm and their interaction with ocean life. The successful candidate will join sea going expeditions and coastal sampling campaigns and will work in an interdisciplinary team with colleagues from the Institute for Marine and Atmospheric research Utrecht and the Institute for Sustainable and Circular Chemistry at Utrecht University as well as the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research.

Requirements

We are looking for a candidate who has successfully completed a PhD programme in Analytical Chemistry, Physics, Biology or a related discipline by the time the position starts. Preferably, you will also have:

• Experience in mass spectrometry (PTR-MS and/or Orbitrap);
• Experience in lab work;
• Experience in data science and chemical analytics;
• Experience in coding (MATLAB, Python, etc.);
• Experience or strong interest in marine chemistry;
• Experience in oceanography and field sampling is highly appreciated;
• Adequate publishing skills;
• Adequate social/verbal/communication skills.

Due to the international character of our research, good command of spoken and written English is essential. We highly encourage applicants from all members of our community and of diverse backgrounds to join us.

Conditions of employment

We offer:

• a position (1 FTE) for ~24months.
• a working week of 36 - 40 hours and a gross monthly salary between € 3.546 and €5.538 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 10 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities. You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

Employer

Universiteit Utrecht

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

The Department of Earth Sciences conducts teaching and research across the full range of the solid Earth and environmental Earth sciences, with activities in almost all areas of geology, geochemistry, geophysics, biogeology and hydrogeology. The department hosts a highly international tenured staff of over 50 scientists and more than 110 PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. We house or have access to a wide variety of world-class laboratories, among which are UU’s Electron Microscopy Centre, the Geolab, and the Earth Simulation Lab. We also have excellent High- Performance Computing facilities.

About Utrecht

The department and its facilities are located at Utrecht Science Park. Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands with a population of nearly 360,000 and forms a hub in the middle of the country. Its historical city centre and its modern central station can easily be reached from the Science Park by public transport or by a 15-minute bicycle ride. Utrecht boasts beautiful canals with extraordinary wharf cellars housing cafés and terraces by the water, as well as a broad variety of shops and boutiques.

Additional information

For informal information (not for application) about this position, please contact Prof. Dr Helge Niemann at h.niemann@uu.nl

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.