Postdoctoral position in Toxicity Assessment and Material Innovation

We invite applications for a project to implement alternative toxicity testing in support of material innovation under the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework. SSbD offers a vision for reconciling chemical economy and environmental protection needs, but its realization requires developing fit-for-purpose tools and smart workflows for efficient testing and integration of test results to guide chemical and material innovation.

This specific project focuses on developing practical workflows for (i) generating aquatic toxicity data for novel vitrimer flame retardant materials using alternative (non-animal) tests for aquatic toxicity, such as the fish cell-based (OECD Test Guideline (TG) 249) and zebrafish embryo-based (OECD TG 236), and (ii) integrating toxicity data and data on material properties to facilitate the next steps in the R&D process. Apart from the lab-based work, this project shall also advance the conceptual understanding of the SSbD framework and its associated testing needs, by e.g. evaluating the created test strategy, reflecting on the interdisciplinary collaboration experience gained, and exploring the innovation needs in the functional polymer sector.

This exciting position will be embedded in the Bioanalytics group of the Environmental Toxicology department (Utox) at Eawag. The work shall be carried out in close collaboration with two PIs from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), whose groups will provide the test materials and data on their functional properties, as well as participate in the co-design of practical strategies for data integration and evaluation, and collaborate on the conceptual aspects.

We are looking for candidates who are motivated by the prospect of applying their practical skills in environmental toxicology and chemistry research to help advance the SSbD vision and contribute to finding novel solutions for improving environmental protection. You should hold a PhD in environmental or biological sciences, with a background in (eco)toxicology, cell biology, bioanalytics, molecular biology or similar areas. Given the interdisciplinary nature of this project, strong communication skills in English are absolutely crucial, as the successful candidate will be the main responsible for the establishment and maintenance of effective communication channels and collaborative work processes with our partner laboratories at Empa. Familiarity with leachate assessment, cell culture, bioassays, material development, and SSbD or similar frameworks is desired; prior experience with science-policy dialogue and stakeholder interactions will be a plus.

Eawag is a modern employer and offers an excellent working environment where staff can contribute their strengths, experience and ways of thinking. We promote gender equality and are committed to staff diversity and inclusion. The compatibility of career and family is of central importance to us. For more information about Eawag and our work conditions, please consult www.eawag.ch and www.eawag.ch/en/aboutus/working/employment.

Your application should include a cover letter explaining your research background and motivation to apply for this position, a CV with publication list, copies of your academic qualifications and contacts of two referees.

Deadline for applications is 30 September 2024 or until the position is filled (applications will be screened continuously). The appointment period for this position is 24 months and the starting date is 1 January 2025 or as soon as possible after that, upon agreement.

For further information, please contact Dr Ksenia Groh.

We look forward to receiving your application. Please send it through this webpage, as any other way of applying will not be considered. A click on the button below will take you directly to the application form.