Postdoctoral researcher in Environmental Analytical Chemistry, with a focus on non-target screening of PFAS

A postdoctoral position (2 year)

is open at Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, Section for Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology (

www.envs.au.dk

).

The position is in the field of environmental analytical chemistry and will focus on technical and conceptual developments in

non-target screening

, primarily of

per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

. Building on previous work of the research group, it will include elements of method development within sample preparation, instrumental and data analysis, quality assurance/control and semi-quantification, in the context of environmental and food monitoring.

Expected start date and duration of employment

This is a 2–year position to be filled as soon possible.

Job description

The postdoctoral researcher will be part of an established team that studies

chemical pollution in the environment

as well as

human exposure to these chemicals

. In addition to high-quality accredited analyses and target screening approaches, the group has frequently applied

non-target and suspect screening

based on high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), combined with both gas chromatography (GC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Likewise, the group has more than 20 years of experience with the target analyses of PFAS in environmental, food and human samples.

The postdoctoral researcher is expected to support this work and relevant expansions, in particular towards fluorine mass balances (including improvement of semi-quantification approaches), generic sample preparation methods and more standardisation of QA/QC. Initiatives to develop related fields are welcome, such as connections with hazard characterisation, big data analyses as well as environmental fate and multisource exposure studies. While the work will focus on a Danish and European pollution situation, connections with the group’s research in the Arctic will be possible.

The current instruments for PFAS determinations include HPLC-MS/MS (for PFAS target analysis), GC-MS and GC-Orbitrap-HRMS (for neutral PFAS), HPLC-Orbitrap-HRMS and HPLC-QToF-HRMS (for non-target screening of ionic PFAS) and Combustion Ion Chromatograph (CIC) for PFAS Total, such as Total Fluorine (TF) and Extractable Organic Fluorine (EOF). Other frequently analysed substances in the group include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), legacy organochlorine and current-use pesticides, brominated flame retardants and biocides. The laboratory is accredited and has a strong focus on QA/QC.

Parts of the postdoctoral researcher’s work will proceed in the newly granted Danish PFAS Research Centre (https://pfascenter.dk/ ). The candidate is expected to support Prof. Katrin Vorkamp’s research in this centre, with possibilities for networking and exchange on PFAS. However, the candidate is also expected to contribute to Prof. Katrin Vorkamp’s research group in a broader context, following developments in analytical chemistry beyond this specific project and extending the group’s activities as part of the team.

The successful candidate is expected to actively pursue the publication of results in the scientific literature and their presentations at relevant conferences. Project results may also be presented to Danish authorities, European agencies and interested groups. The candidate may be involved in the supervision of students or guest researchers.

Your profile

The candidate must hold a Ph.D. degree (or equivalent) in (analytical, environmental or food) chemistry or a closely related discipline.

The candidate should

• have experience with non-target screening (or metabolomics) of environmental contaminants and related data analysis,
• have experience with QA/QC of chemical analyses,
• be comfortable with method development in a trace level laboratory including method validation requirements,
• be familiar with PFAS complexity as a major pollution issue.

It will be an advantage (but not a requirement), if the candidate

• has worked with PFAS target analysis,
• is familiar with complex data scientific approaches,
• has experience with the analysis of multiple matrices,
• is comfortable with research communication to a variety of audiences,
• speaks a Nordic language.

Furthermore, the candidate should

• be well-organised and able to structure complex tasks,
• balance a focus on details with the time and budget frame of a project,
• be able to work independently, while being aware of the importance of teamwork,
• be result- and product-oriented and able to think one step ahead of the task at hand,
• be creative in the development of new ideas and open to discuss them with the team,
• have excellent communication skills in English.

Who we are

The Department of Environmental Science has about 150 employees working in basic and problem-oriented research within environmental science, including chemical and physical processes and interactions between environment and society. The department carries out research-based consultancy for the public sector and provides research-based advice. The academic expertise ranges from atmospheric chemistry and physics, via environmental chemistry, microbiology and biotechnology to environmental economics, environmental geography, political science and sociology.

Place of work and area of employment

The place of work is at Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark.

Contact information

For further information contact Prof. Katrin Vorkamp (

kvo@envs.au.dk

; Phone: +45-87158483) or Head of Section Pedro Carvalho (

pedro.carvalho@envs.au.dk

; Phone: +45-87158462)

Deadline

Applications must be received no later than 5th September 2025.

Application procedure

Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

Letter of reference

If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

If you wish to add a referee after you have submitted your application, you must send this person’s details (name, job title, place of work, and email address) as well as the name of the position you have applied for to: HR.Nattech@au.dk

Formalities and salary range

Technical Sciences refers to the

Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation

.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities .

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here . Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here .

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here .

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.