Lab technician to study plastic particles in food chains

at  Universiteit Leiden

Vacancy number
15151
Job type
Non-academic staff
Hours (in fte)
1,0
External/ internal
Internal , External
Location
Leiden
Placed on
24 September 2024
Closing date
3 October 2024 4 more days to apply
The Faculty of Science and Institute of Environmental Sciences are looking for:

VACANCY NUMBER: 15151

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are widely recognized as contaminants of emergent concern. Recently there is significant focus on plastic contamination of terrestrial ecosystems as soil contamination is thought to be 4-23 fold higher than in aquatic systems. Agricultural lands are a major sink of MNPs. Importantly, we have recently demonstrated that plants can take up microplastics in their roots, and transport them to their shoots. This means that humans, as well as herbivores, can potentially accumulate MNPs via this pathway. In this project we will investigate the uptake and transport of MNPs with different characteristics into crops, and their potential trophic transfer to herbivores.
The overarching objective of our research project is to quantify the uptake and transfer of MNPs in edible plants and edible organisms to provide key data for this exposure pathway. This will provide important new information about the risks associated with MNPs in the human food basket. To this end, we will expose edible plants (e.g., lettuce, spinach, carrot, or wheat) to different traceable MNPs to measure uptake and transfer from roots to shoots. Next, leaves are fed to edible organisms (e.g., escargots or caterpillars as future foods) to determine trophic transfer and bioaccumulation. In addition to studying accumulation and trophic transfer, we will also investigate the impact on organisms (for example on plant performance or animal behavior).
We are looking for a technician who will be responsible for this state-of-the-science approach to study impacts on MNPs in the human food basket. The candidate will be responsible for conducting laboratory experiments, and data collection. Importantly, this provides excellent networking opportunities for the candidate, as this project is part of a large consortium (called Momentum 2.0, which builds on Momentum 1,0: https://projecten.zonmw.nl/en/project/microplastics-and-human-health-consortium-momentum). The technican will also help coordinate the project and liaise with the overarching MOMENTUM 2.0 consortium.
The starting date for this position is on October 15, 2024 or as soon as possible. The contract will run until 31 July 2025.

KEY TASKS

• Execute experiments in our laboratory facilities on plants and invertebrate herbivores
• Help analyse results and assist in preparing scientific publications
• Help in project coordination

Please submit your application via the online recruitment system, via the blue button at the top or bottom of this page. Applications received via e-mail will not be taken into consideration. Please ensure that you upload the following additional documents quoting the vacancy number:

• A brief CV (1-2 pages, focusing on skills obtained during the BSc and/or MSc degrees)
• A motivation lette