Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
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PhD position in Tire and Road Wear Particles in the Environment Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology in Switzerland
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
The PhD project is funded by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) and lasts four years. The successful candidate will be enrolled as a doctoral student at ETH Zurich. No stipend amount is stated.
Deadline
Oct 25, 2026
Country
Switzerland
University
Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
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About this position
Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, is advertising a PhD position in the field of Tire and Road Wear Particles in the Environment within the Department of Process Engineering (ENG). The project focuses on developing and validating particle-based analytical approaches for quantifying tire and road wear particles (TRWP) in environmental samples and comparing their distribution with conventional microplastics.
Research topics include: (1) number-based identification and quantification of TRWP in atmospheric wet and dry deposition using automated optical microscopy, AI-supported image analysis, and SEM-based morphological/elemental fingerprinting; (2) extension of the analytical pipeline to complex matrices such as surface waters, wastewater effluents, stormwater runoff, soils, sediments, and sewage sludge; and (3) pilot monitoring of TRWP and microplastics across selected compartments to inform a future monitoring framework for Switzerland.
The position is hosted in the particle laboratory at Eawag in Dübendorf, Switzerland, with access to FT-IR microscopes and automated optical and scanning electron microscopy systems. The project is part of a consortium involving Eawag, Empa, Agroscope, and ETH Zurich, and the successful candidate will be enrolled as a doctoral student at ETH Zurich.
Funding is provided by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) for four years. Applicants should hold a master’s degree in environmental sciences or engineering, analytical chemistry, process engineering, materials science, or a related field. Experience with microscopy, vibrational spectroscopy, particle analysis in complex matrices, and image analysis/data processing (Python or R) is advantageous. Strong English communication skills, ideally German, and teamwork ability are required.
The application deadline is 25 October 2026 or until the position is filled. Applicants must submit a cover letter, CV, one reference letter, and contact details for two to three academic references via the official application webpage only.
Funding details
The PhD project is funded by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) and lasts four years. The successful candidate will be enrolled as a doctoral student at ETH Zurich. No stipend amount is stated.
What's required
Applicants should have a master’s degree in environmental sciences or engineering, analytical chemistry, process engineering, materials science, or a related field. Experience with microscopy, vibrational spectroscopy, or analysis of particles in complex environmental matrices is an asset. Affinity for image analysis and data processing (e.g. Python or R) is desirable. Strong communication skills in English and ideally German, plus the ability and willingness to work in a team, are essential. Academic references are required.
How to apply
Prepare a cover letter, complete CV, one reference letter, and the names and contact information of two to three academic references. Submit the application only through the webpage/application form linked in the post; other application methods will not be considered.
More information can be found here
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