The department of Environmental Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark invites applications for a position as PhD student on the topic:  “Release of nanoparticles from consumer products”

The PhD project is funded by the FP7 project “Sustainable Nanotechnologies (SUN)”. SUN (Sustainable Nanotechnologies) is the first project to address the entire lifecycle and ensure a holistic safety evaluation of nanotechnologies. The project integrates the results into tools and guidelines for sustainable manufacturing, easily accessible by industries, regulators and other stakeholders. The project will incorporate scientific findings from over 30 European projects, national and international research programmes and transatlantic co-operations to develop (i) methods and tools to predict nanomaterials exposure and effects on humans and ecosystems, (ii) implementable processes to reduce hazard and exposure to nanomaterials in different lifecycle stages, (iii) innovative technological solutions for risk management in industrial settings, and (iv) guidance on best practices for securing both nano-manufacturing processes and nanomaterials ultimate fate, including development of approaches for safe disposal and recycling.

The PhD project at DTU Environment will be an integrated part of Work Package (WP) 5 of the SUN project that deals with Occupational and consumer exposure. WP 5 is a collaboration with two other major European universities, a global chemical producer and a national governmental research institution with the objectives to:

• Establish a versatile 3-tier qualitative to quantitative inhalation, dermal and dermal-to-oral occupational and consumer exposure assessment tool
• Collate and generate an extensive set of high-quality, time-resolved occupational and  consumer inhalation exposure measurements with detailed contextual information
• Collate and generate an extensive data library on process, product and article specific emission potentials and source strengths for key production, application, and consumer use scenarios
• Collate and generate high-quality data on in-use efficiencies and protection factors for engineered ventilation control and Personal Protective Equipment

Responsibilities and tasks
Job description – the PhD project

The overall aim of the PhD project is to investigate and determine the release rates of Nano-Objects, their Agglomerates and Aggregates (NOAA) from consumer products with specific focus on:

1. Reviewing existing literature on nanoparticle release rates from consumer products and establishing an inventory of known product and substance/activity-specific release rates.
2. Establish release rates for simulated use and anticipated consumer handling of selected nanoproducts and articles.
3. Determine the dermal deposition efficiencies and dermal-to-oral transfer efficiencies of NOAA powders and selected products and articles that contain NOAA based on from simulated direct product and article contact situations.
4. Assist in developing and validating a tiered framework for NOAA consumer exposure assessment and management.

Qualifications
Candidates should have a Master’s degree (M.Sc.) in Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, or related discipline. Evidence of research experience in the field of analytical chemistry and nanoparticles is considered a prerequisite e.g. experience with ICP, DLS, AFM/TEM/SEM and HPLC. A high motivation for research and solid written and oral communication skills in English are prerequisites of any successful application.

Application
We must have your online application as soon as possible and no later than 13 September 2013.

To view the full vacancy and to apply, please click Apply below.