Postdoctoral Researcher : Dübendorf, Switzerland

Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, is a Swiss-based and internationally networked aquatic research institute within the ETH domain (Swiss Federal Institutes of Science and Technology). It is committed to the ecologically, economically and socially responsible management of water resources and aquatic ecosystems.

The Department of Water Resources and Drinking Water is seeking a highly motivated

Postdoctoral Researcher

for the position of Geostatistical modeler for the prediction of arsenic and fluoride contamination in groundwater

The aim of this position is to develop regional and 2nd generation global models of arsenic and fluoride hazard maps and to participate in the training of partners. This position is part of the project Development of a Groundwater Quality Assessment Platform (GAP), an online open-source data and information portal for groundwater-related questions, with a special focus on the geogenic contaminants arsenic and fluoride. The platform will be developed over three years in partnership with UN agencies.

Groundwater is used by roughly a third of the world’s population for drinking water in both rural and urban areas and is generally seen as a safe alternative to drinking untreated, microbially contaminated surface water. However, around 10% of wells are contaminated with the natural geogenic contaminants arsenic and fluoride, causing severe health effects. Ingestion of excess arsenic over prolonged periods of time can result in various internal cancers amongst other conditions, while high levels of fluoride are responsible for the development of dental and crippling skeletal fluorosis. There is increasing awareness of the need to tackle chemical water quality. Indeed, the WHO’s Water Quality and Health Strategy 2013-2020 clearly states the need to tackle arsenic and fluoride drinking water-quality issues.

The first step of any strategy to reduce the number of people with diseases related to arsenic and fluoride ingestion is to determine the extent of the problem- the location of the wells, the number of people dependent on those wells, and so on. While the most severely affected countries may have carried out comprehensive well screening programs, many have not, and where data does exist it may not always be managed in an optimal manner. There are gaps in knowledge of potential arsenic and fluoride contamination, gaps in expertise to create and manage data and gaps in opportunity to share and exchange information.

GAP aims to fill these gaps. Central to GAP will be arsenic and fluoride hazard maps and tools to predict where geogenic contaminants may occur for areas that have not yet been comprehensively tested. GAP will consist of 2 main parts. The first is a public section where users can browse available data and the second is protected and users will be able to upload and share data and perform advanced data analysis and synthesis. The GAP team consists of senior scientists, a programmer, students and partners in India and Burkina Faso.

The tasks of the postdoctoral researcher will be to update a database of GIS information and to develop regional models with internal and external partners and from this develop 2nd generation global arsenic and fluoride contamination models for input to GAP. He/she will be expected to participate in training courses in partner countries.

The successful candidate will have a PhD in geochemistry, geology, soil science or similar. He/she will have an in-depth understanding of statistical analysis and computing skills and will be prepared to travel. Excellent spoken/written English with recorded skills in publishing in international journals is required. Experience with multilateral collaborations is desired.

The position starts as soon as possible for a project duration of three years.

Deadline for applications is 15 June 2014.

For further information, consult www.eawag.ch or contact Dr A. Johnson, Phone: +41 44 823 54 86 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +41 44 823 54 86 免费  end_of_the_skype_highlighting, Email annette.johnson@eawag.ch

We look forward to receiving your application including a motivation letter, a CV, a publication list and two letters of recommendation. Please send your application through this webpage, any other way of applying will not be considered. Please click on the following link, which will take you directly to the application form.
http://internet1.refline.ch/673277/0274/++publications++/1/index.html