Two PhD fellows in Analytical Chemistry and Signal Processing
Description of the scientific environment
The two projects are part of a 4-year Innovation Foundation project with five partner organizations: University of Copenhagen (PLEN and DIKU), Eurofins Miljø A/S, Seacon A/S, and KMC Nordhavn. The PhD projects will be performed in collaboration with researchers at RAACE (Research Center for Advanced Analytical Chemistry) at University of Copenhagen. RAACE comprises all modern equipment for Sample preparation and extraction e.g. Pressurized Liquid Extraction (PLE) and online Solid Phase Extraction (SPE). Analytical platforms at RAACE include chromatography, mass spectrometry, ultra-high-pressure-liquid chromatography, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and comprehensive multi-dimensional gas and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection.
Project description
Unlike targeted analysis, untargeted fingerprinting analysis is still in its infancy. In untargeted fingerprinting analysis, compounds are not specified a priori and the analytical protocols are designed to cover as wide a range of chemical contaminants as possible. It requires a deep integration of chemistry, signal processing and data analysis and further development is required in all of these areas to take into account the specificities of the analytical instrumentation.
The objective of the two PhD projects is to develop and validate an analytical platform for untargeted contaminant fingerprinting of soil and sediment samples.
The projects will be divided into three main parts:
- Development and validation of sample handling and sample preparation protocols for untargeted fingerprinting analysis using supercritical fluid chromatography and online-solid phase extraction to fractionate samples.
- Development of protocols for untargeted fingerprinting analysis of contaminants using analytical platforms with higher peak capacity such as 2D gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detection (3D separation method; GC×GC-MS); liquid chromatography with ion-mobility separation and mass spectrometry detection (LC-IM-MS), LC with dual detection: ICP (inductive coupled plasma)-MS for detection of the elemental composition and ESI (electrospray ionization)-MS for detection of molecular mass.
- Development of signal processing procedures specific to these methods and application of pattern recognition techniques from chemometrics and machine learning to extract relevant chemical fingerprints of contaminants to be used for spatial interpolation.
The two PhD students will work together on all three parts of the project. However, PhD1 will focus on element fingerprinting analysis using LC-ICP/ESI-MS whereas PhD2 will focus on 3D separation methods of organic contaminants applying GC×GC-MS and LC-IM-MS.
Principal supervisor is Professor, Jan H Christensen, RAACE, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, E-mail: jch@plen.ku.dk, Direct Phone: +45 35332456. The projects are made in collaboration with Eurofins Miljø A/S.
The position is available for a 3-year period and your key tasks as a PhD student at SCIENCE are:
- To manage and carry through your research project
- Attend PhD courses
- Write scientific articles and your PhD thesis
- Teach and disseminate your research
- To stay at an external research institution for a few months, preferably abroad
- Work for the department
The position is available for a 3-year period for applicants holding a relevant master’s degree or for a 4-year period for applicants who are already enrolled or are accepted to be enrolled at one of the Faculty’s master’s programmes. At the time of commencement, applicants for the 4-year period must have approximately one year of study remaining before graduating from their MSc programme. As criteria for the assessment of your qualifications emphasis will also be laid on previous publications (if any) and relevant work experience.
Terms of employment
The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.
Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.
The starting salary is currently at a minimum DKK 306,667 including annual supplement (+ pension up to DKK 42,361). Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.
Application Procedure
The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.
Please include
- Cover Letter, stating which PhD project you are applying for and detailing your motivation and background for applying for the specific PhD project
- A well-written project plan with reference to relevant literature
- CV
- Diploma and transcripts of records (BSc and MSc)
- Acceptance Letter for the relevant MSc Programme at SCIENCE, if any
- Other information for consideration, e.g. list of publications (if any)
- Full contact details (Name, address, telephone & email) of 1-3 professional referees
The deadline for applications is 20.03.2016, 23:59 GMT +1. Applications received after the deadline for applications will not be considered.
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee. Afterwards an assessment committee will be appointed to evaluate the selected applications. The applicants will be notified of the composition of the committee and the final selection of a successful candidate will be made by the Head of Department, based on the recommendations of the assessment committee and the interview committee.
The main criterion for selection will be the research potential of the applicant and the above mentioned skills. The successful candidate will then be requested to formally apply for enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD school of Science. You can read more about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.
Questions
For specific information about the PhD scholarship, please contact the principal supervisor Professor Jan H Christensen, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, E-mail jch@plen.ku.dk, Direct Phone: +45 35332456].
General information about PhD programmes at SCIENCE is available at www.science.ku.dk/phd.
Københavns Universitet præger aktivt sin samtid gennem fremragende forskning, uddannelse og samarbejde. KU hører til de højest rangerende universiteter i Europa og er Danmarks ældste universitet, grundlagt 1479. I dag omfatter KU ca. 40.000 studerende og 9.000 ansatte tilknyttet seks fakulteter: humaniora, jura, natur- og biovidenskab, samfundsvidenskab, sundhedsvidenskab og teologi.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
http://jobportal.ku.dk/phd/?show=807417