PhD student: evaluation of microbiological barriers at a treatment plant

Information about the division
The Division of Water Environment Technology (WET) brings together scientists with expertise in process engineering, hydraulics, environment, and sustainability. WET carries out research on microbiological processes in wastewater treatment; risk assessment and treatment of contaminated areas (competence centre in risk evaluation, FRIST); drinking water systems (framework program for drinking water research at Chalmers, DRICKS); and global pathways for environmental contaminants. As a PhD student you will belong to the drinking water research group DRICKS at the Division of Water Environment Technology (WET) within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. More information about WET can be found at http://www.chalmers.se/cee/EN/divisions/wet.

Project description
Well-functioning water supply systems with appropriate treatment processes are one of our most important public services. In drinking water treatment systems, pathogen reduction is a function of technical engineering design and maintenance as well as operating conditions dictated by the quality of raw water. Microbiological barriers (treatment processes) must be proven reliable under a wide range of operating conditions and for variable quantity and quality of raw water. Better methods for assessing and optimizing treatment performance are urgently needed.

The aim of this PhD project is to evaluate and optimise the effectiveness of microbiological barriers at a water treatment plant under a variety of environmental and engineering conditions, such as

• Increased water production
• Cold water temperatures
• High quantities or intractable forms of NOM (Natural Organic Matter)

Major responsibilities
The PhD project will include the development of methods to evaluate the performance of individual barriers and process chains under strained as well as normal conditions. Methods of interest are, for example, microbial analyses for surrogate microorganisms, fluorescence spectroscopy for sensitive tracking of treatment effectiveness and hydraulic modelling approaches.

This trans-disciplinary project will be performed in close collaboration with water services suppliers to develop scientifically well founded and practically applicable methods, tools and guidance to be used by end-users for cost-effective and sustainable reduction of public health risks. The project is carried out in collaboration between DRICKS and water services providers. All experimental work will be carried out at the environmental laboratory at WET or at the water services providers.

Your major responsibilities as PhD student is to pursue your own doctoral studies. You are expected to develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing, both in Swedish and in English. The position generally also includes teaching on Chalmers' undergraduate level or performing other duties corresponding to 20 per cent of working hours.

Positions summary
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of five years, which corresponds to four years full-time research studies.
The project can start shortly after the selection procedure has been completed.

Qualifications
The candidate should have a M.Sc. in civil, environmental or chemical engineering, microbiology, biotechnology, bioengineering, or a corresponding curriculum. Experience with water treatment, hydraulic modelling, microbiological techniques and experimental work including small-scale reactor experiments are advantageous.

As a PhD student in our group you are expected to work relatively independently, have the ability to plan and organize your own work, to be able to work in close collaboration with other group members and partners in research and to be able to communicate scientific results, both orally and in written form in English. Knowledge in Swedish is advantageous due to close collaborations with Swedish drinking water suppliers.

The candidate is expected to participate in teaching activities in civil engineering subjects such as drinking water, wastewater and hydraulic engineering. Undergraduate courses are taught in Swedish and applicants that do not have Swedish as native language should be able to teach in Swedish within two years of employment. Chalmers offers courses in the Swedish language.

To qualify as a PhD student, you must have a master's level degree corresponding to at least 240 higher education credits in a relevant field.

Application deadline: 2013-10-01

For questions, please contact:
Dr. Mia Bondelind, Vatten Miljö Teknik, mia.bondelind@chalmers.se, +46 31 772 2151
Dr. Thomas Pettersson, Vatten Miljö Teknik, thomas.pettersson@chalmers.se, +46 31 772 2127




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