PhD Candidate – Contaminants in Marine Ecosystems (SEATRACE)

About IDAEA-CSIC

The Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC) is an environmental science institute dedicated to studying the human footprint on the biosphere, with a strong international profile and the Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence distinction. Its Environmental and Water Chemistry for Human Health group (ONHEALTH) combines advanced analytical chemistry, environmental monitoring, exposure assessment and toxicological approaches to evaluate how pollutants affect ecosystems and human health.

About the Position

IDAEA-CSIC is seeking a motivated PhD candidate to develop a doctoral thesis within the EU-funded project SEATRACE (HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-05), focused on the characterisation of complex contaminant mixtures in marine ecosystems and on the integration of advanced analytical chemistry with environmental and human health risk assessment approaches.

Workplace: IDAEA-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain. Target start date: 01/10/2026. Contract: Full-time predoctoral contract, 36 months (annual renewal subject to positive evaluation and funding). Salary: €25,456.10 gross/year.

Objectives of the PhD Thesis

• Develop miniaturized sample preparation methods for the determination of marine-relevant pollutants (MrPs) in water, sediment and biota samples.
• Apply a combination of active and passive sampling approaches to obtain more representative information on marine contamination.
• Identify and quantify known and emerging MrPs in water and biota using state-of-the-art mass spectrometry instruments (Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS, Q-TOF-MS and TIMS-TOF-MS).
• Assess human health risk in collaboration with SEATRACE project partners.

Main Tasks

• Preparation and treatment of marine environmental and biological samples.
• Development, optimisation and validation of miniaturised analytical methods.
• Instrumental analysis using liquid chromatography coupled to high- and low-resolution mass spectrometry.
• Application of target, suspect and non-target screening strategies for the identification of emerging contaminants.
• Integration of chemical data with ecotoxicological information and risk assessment outputs.
• Preparation of scientific publications, technical reports and communications for national and international conferences.
• Active participation in SEATRACE project meetings and collaboration with international partners.

Requirements

• Bachelor's and Master's degree in Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Marine Sciences, Pharmacy, Environmental Engineering or related disciplines.
• Interest in the analysis of organic contaminants in environmental and biological matrices.
• Ability to work in an organised, rigorous and collaborative manner.
• Good oral and written English skills.
• Motivation to develop a PhD thesis in an international and multidisciplinary research environment.

Additional Merits

• Previous experience in environmental or biological sample preparation.
• Knowledge of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.
• Knowledge of data analysis, statistics, HRMS data processing or risk assessment.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a motivation letter (with subject line "PhD candidate position for SEATRACE") to:
Dr. Sandra Pérez — sandra.perez@idaea.csic.es
Dr. Nicola Montemurro — nicola.montemurro@idaea.csic.es

More information: https://www.idaea.csic.es/job-offer/phd-position-on-contaminants-in-marine-ecosystems/

Application deadline: 31 July 2026.