PhD on microbial transformation in contaminated sediments, studying pollutant degradation pathways, microbial communities, and bioreactor concepts for sustainable sediment management
Job description
Contaminated sediment depots contain mixtures of polluted dredged sediments that have long term evolved under anaerobic and often brackish environmental conditions. While these depots are extensive monitored, little is known about the changes in microbial communities and pollutants over decades of in-situ storage. The system is strongly stratified, poorly mixed, and exhibits sharp gradients in geochemistry and microbial activity, resulting in major uncertainties in pollutant fate, microbial processes, and long term environmental impacts
A central knowledge gap concerns whether indigenous anaerobic microbial communities can transform persistent pollutants. Identifying degradation pathways, responsible enzymes, and the environmental conditions that drive these transformations is essential to support risk assessment, future remediation technologies, and the potential development of circular resource concepts.
This PhD project focuses on microbial process discovery, using advanced omics based tools to identify organisms, enzymes, and metabolic pathways capable of transforming selected pollutants under anaerobic conditions.
You will:
- collect and characterize sediment samples from the depot
- perform metagenomics, metaproteomics, and non targeted mass spectrometry analyses
- identify active transformation pathways and link enzymes to organisms
- perform enrichment cultivation under controlled redox conditions
- develop proof of concept bioreactor experiments to demonstrate microbial degradation of selected contaminates
The PhD will work closely with a Postdoc who focuses on physicochemical treatment and resource recovery strategies. Together, you form the core research team within the Sludge to Resource program, part of the Haskoning Innovation & Education Fund and co funded by the TKI ChemistryNL research programme.
This project will deliver fundamental insight into microbial processes occurring in long term sediment depots, providing the scientific foundation for future remediation and circular water treatment technologies.
Job requirements
- MSc degree in microbiology, biotechnology, environmental engineering, environmental microbiology, biogeochemistry, or a related field.
- Strong affinity with microbial ecology and/or microbial physiology or contaminant removal.
- Experience with one or more of the following is an asset: (meta)genomics, (meta)proteomics, analytical chemistry (LC MS/MS), anaerobic cultivation, microbial enrichment.
- Ability to independently design and conduct experiments, analyse data, and report findings clearly.
- Motivation to work in an interdisciplinary team at the interface of microbiology, environmental engineering, and geochemistry.
- Excellent command of written and spoken English, as you will be working in an international research environment.
If your mother language is not English and you do not hold a degree from an institution in which English is the language of instruction, you must submit proof of English proficiency from either TOEFL (minimum total score of 100) or IELTS (minimum total score of 7.0). Proof of English language proficiency certificates older than two years are not accepted.
TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.
At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.
Challenge. Change. Impact!
With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.
Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.
Conditions of employment
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.
Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from €3059 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.
The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.
Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.
Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Mark van Loosdrecht, email: M.C.M.vanLoosdrecht@tudelft.nl.
Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 25 May 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:
Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.
Please note:
- You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
- As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
- Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.
