🔗 Project Summary

IMDEA Water is looking for a candidate to carry out a PhD thesis about plastic chemical additive release from plastic debris and their impact in soil ecosystems. The research will focus on evaluating the effects of plastic chemical additives on bioindicator organisms, determining their impact on key ecosystem services, and contributing to an integrated understanding of the risks associated with plastic contamination in soil ecosystems.

This approach will link the physicochemical processes currently investigated in the AddiPlaS project (Grant PID2022-140011OB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI) with their ecological consequences, providing a solid scientific basis for the sustainable management of soils.

The PhD thesis will integrate experiments at different scales (micro- and mesocosms), as well as spatial field surveys, shedding light on the role of additives in the environmental risk associated with plastic contamination.

🌟 Why This Scholarship Stands Out

This Fully Funded PhD: Plastic Chemical Additives in Soil is unique because it addresses an emerging environmental concern: not just plastic debris itself, but the chemical additives (plasticizers, flame retardants, stabilizers) that leach from plastics into soils. Unlike microplastic research that focuses on physical particles, this project focuses on the leachable chemical cocktail. The position is structured as a “bridging contract” – one year of guaranteed funding from IMDEA Water while you apply for external fellowships (FPU, Inphinit, Ramón Areces, PIPF) for the remaining 3-4 years. This is an honest and transparent approach: they invest in you for a year to help you secure longer-term funding. The research combines ecotoxicology (bioindicator organisms, biochemical biomarkers) with environmental chemistry (additive analysis) and field surveys. For someone passionate about soil health and plastic pollution, this offers a chance to do integrated, multi-scale research from lab to landscape.

✅ Candidate Profile and Eligibility

Essential Requirements

Valuable Additional Aspects:

• Ability to provide up to three reference letters in English from university professors or other relevant referees

📝 My Application Strategy

1. Calculate your grade equivalency early – The 8.0/10 minimum is strict. If you studied outside Spain, use the Spanish online portal for grade equivalence well before the deadline
2. Highlight ecotoxicology experience – Mention any work with bioindicator organisms, toxicity testing, or biochemical biomarkers (enzymes, oxidative stress markers)
3. Emphasize your understanding of plastic additives – Read about phthalates, bisphenols, brominated flame retardants, and other plastic-derived chemicals
4. Show you understand the “bridging contract” model – Acknowledge that you will need to apply for external fellowships. Mention specific fellowships you would target (FPU, Inphinit, Ramón Areces, PIPF)
5. Provide strong reference letters – Three letters in English from professors who know your research potential

💼 What They Offer

Note: During the one-year bridging period, the candidate should apply for external fellowships (Inphinit Retaining, FPU, Ramón Areces, PIPF) to secure a 3-4 year contract.

🎓 Who Should Apply

This Fully Funded PhD: Plastic Chemical Additives in Soil is perfect for a Master’s graduate in environmental science, biology, or chemistry with a strong academic record (minimum 8/10). If you are interested in emerging contaminants, ecotoxicology, and soil health – and are willing to actively pursue external fellowship funding – this position offers a pathway to a PhD at a well-connected Spanish research institute. Candidates with experience in bioassays, biochemical markers, or environmental chemistry are especially encouraged. The ideal candidate is someone who understands that plastic pollution is not just a physical problem but a chemical one – and who wants to connect additive release to ecological impacts.

Useful Links

• PhD Volatile Organic Solvents Water France | University of Poitiers
• PhD Meiotic Recombination Barley Germany | IPK Gatersleben
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