Early Career Researcher

Jun 15, 2020

KWR Water Research Institute
Company Location: Nieuwegein, Utrecht, Nederland

Early career researcher (MSc) with a focus on risk assessment for water reuse (0.8 – 1.0 fte)

KWR recently gained funding from the European Union Horizon 2020 programme for the research project ULTIMATE to support the European Union in building a water-smart economy and society. As researcher, you will develop and apply methodologies for safe reuse of treated wastewater and the safe recycling of nutrients contained therein. The aim is to achieve a closed water cycle in greenhouses in the Dutch Case Study of the ULTIMATE project.

We are…

Safe and clean water is a great commodity. KWR is an internationally renowned research institute and we contribute applied scientific research across the entire water cycle. ‘Bridging science to practice’ is our mission. Our 180 employees work on innovative projects in the Netherlands and increasingly in and outside Europe. The ten Dutch water companies and the Belgian De Watergroep are our shareholders.

We are looking for….

KWR recently gained funding from the European Union Horizon 2020 programme for the research project ULTIMATE to support the European Union in building a water-smart economy and society. ULTIMATE will build an evidence base of industrial symbiosis applications and involves real-world, large scale demonstrations. The project focusses on so called “Water Smart Industrial Symbiosis” (WSIS). Water and wastewater play a key role as a reusable resource in itself, but also as a carrier for energy and materials to be extracted, treated, stored and reused. We are looking for an early career researcher (MSc level) to carry out research activities within the scope of ULTIMATE.

As an ULTIMATE researcher, you will develop and apply methodologies for safe reuse of treated wastewater and the safe recycling of nutrients contained therein. The aim is to achieve a closed water cycle in greenhouses in the Dutch Case Study of the ULTIMATE project. You will demonstrate and validate the possibility of providing (phyto-) pathogen free irrigation water in a real life horticultural environment in such a way that it enables the acceptance of such reuse schemes in practice. Furthermore, you will be involved in paving the way for the implementation of the solution through interaction with a variety of stakeholders and in performing lifecycle assessments. Although your main tasks will be related to the ULTIMATE project, it is anticipated that you will contribute to other projects at KWR as well.

KWR is looking for an early career researcher with:

a completed MSc degree in, for example, Water Technology, Plant Pathology, Water and Wastewater Engineering, or a similar relevant field;
the ability to approach the research from an integrated perspective;
(practical) knowledge on the pathology and spreading of plant diseases;
an interest in developing and testing novel water treatment technologies;
the capability to develop risk assessment methodologies and perform QMRA;
an understanding of relevant chemical and microbial processes;
an ability to apply microbial water quality analysis techniques;
a general interest in horticulture practices;
the capacity to bridge science to practice and an interest in collaboration with researchers and partners in the Netherlands and worldwide;

We offer…

KWR offers a position within a professional organisation. As a research institute with strong links to universities, KWR can support you in developing and carrying out a PhD trajectory on the basis of activities in the project.

The position is offered for the entire project duration (until July 2024). Continuation from a temporary position to a permanent one as a researcher is conceivable, depending on performance and scheduled work at the time.

We attach great importance to personal growth and career development, and to this end offer various opportunities like courses and skills training. A good work-life balance is a priority for us. KWR has excellent employment conditions, and as KWR employees we are parties to the Water Utility’s Collective Agreement (Flexible Employment Conditions Budget, ABP pension).

KWR staff conduct their practice-oriented work in a sustainably built glass building, designed for collaborating and sharing knowledge across teams and partners. Such a position within a societally relevant organisation, where we work together and make an important contribution bridging water science to practice – KWR is the place to be.

Are you the ULTIMATE researcher that we are looking for?

If so, then please e-mail your letter of application and CV to vacancy@kwrwater.nl before June 28th, 2020, referring to vacancy number 1102020.

Further information

For more substantive information about the position please contact Gerard van den Berg (team leader and ULTIMATE coordinator) at +31 (0) 30 60 69 549 or gerard.van.den.berg@kwrwater.nl.

For information about the application procedure please contact José van Lieshout (HR Adviser) at +31 (0) 30 60 69 536 or jose.van.lieshout@kwrwater.nl.
In light of the current situation and the precautionary measures concerning the coronavirus in the Netherlands, the first interviews will probably take place online.