Doctoral researcher in water engineering and monitoring

About us

The University of Luxembourg is an international research university with a distinctly multilingual and interdisciplinary character.

The Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine (FSTM) at the University of Luxembourg contributes multidisciplinary expertise in the fields of Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, Life Sciences and Medicine.
Through its dual mission of teaching and research, the FSTM seeks to generate and disseminate knowledge and train new generations of responsible citizens in order to better understand, explain and advance society and the environment we live in.

The DoE develops solutions to engineering problems by combining theoretical, experimental, computational and data-driven approaches. The DoE applies a 360° holistic vision and expertise, promotes an interdisciplinary and integrated research approach, and serves Luxembourg by forming the next generation of engineers, by supporting policy making and by catalysing industrial innovation through consolidated national and international collaborations, enabling the testing and implementation of new approaches and development of innovative products.

PFAROS is a pioneering European initiative aimed at accelerating the replacement of harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors. In line with EU priorities for public health, environmental protection, and industrial development, PFAROS is developing safe, scalable alternatives designed to meet regulatory requirements, bringing healthcare innovation and sustainability together.

The mission of PFAROS is to replace PFAS in medical and pharmaceutical applications through a multidisciplinary approach. It combines validated alternatives, advanced degradation and disposal technologies, and data science to guide substitution decisions and inform policy development.

Your role

Within PFAROS, the University of Luxembourg team will help address three key questions:

• Does hospital wastewater contribute to PFAS pollution, and to what extent?
• Can functionalized membranes effectively concentrate PFAS and reduce their levels in wastewater?
• Which technologies are suitable for subsequently destroying the concentrated PFAS?

To investigate these questions, laboratory-scale and full-scale trials will be conducted under real-world conditions. The PhD student will work on this project and contribute to the technical reports, disseminating the results in conferences, seminars and scientific articles. The candidate will attend doctoral school courses and network training, contributing to education activities to a certain extent. They should finalize the work with a doctoral degree in engineering science.

Your profile

• Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or an equivalent degree in engineering
• Advanced competence in laboratory and analytical work is necessary
• Capability to examine large data sets
• Operational Language Requirements: Very good command of English is required. Good working knowledge of German or French is an asset

Academic Eligibility (Thesis):

Applicants must demonstrate at least B2-level proficiency in the language of their thesis. For details and accepted certificates, please visit the Application for admission - Doctoral Candidates.

We offer

• A modern, dynamic university with a personal and inclusive atmosphere. Multilingual and international character. Staff coming from more than 90 countries. Member of The Guild of European Research Intensive Universities
• An exceptional research environment, supported by skilled staff and high-quality equipment. Strong links to professional sectors and the Luxembourg labour market. A unique urban campus with excellent infrastructure
• A partner for society and industry. Cooperation with European institutions, innovative companies, the Financial Centre and a wide range of non-academic partners including ministries, local governments, associations, and NGOs

How to apply

Applications should include:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover letter presenting your motivation for this doctoral thesis topic, and explaining how your qualifications and aspirations align with its academic focus
• Transcript of all modules and results from university-level courses taken
• Names, contact information and current position of 3 referees who can, upon request, provide an assessment of the application. Please indicate their relationship to you

Early application is highly encouraged, as the applications will be processed upon reception. Please apply ONLINE formally through the HR system. Applications by Email will not be considered.

All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. In line with our values, the University of Luxembourg promotes an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and are dedicated to upholding equality and respect for our employees and students.

General information:

• Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract 36 Month
• Work Hours: Full Time 40.0 Hours per Week
• Location: Kirchberg Campus
• Internal Title: Doctoral Researcher
• Job Reference: UOL08545

The yearly gross salary for every Doctoral researcher at the UL is EUR 44531 (full time).