PhD scholarship in maritime pollution: Linking pressure from mixture toxicity of shipping discharges to loss of biodiversity in the marine environment

This PhD study will develop assessment of shipping-related pollution on plankton - the base of the marine food webs. The study will combine development of damage modelling with new experimental evidence on the ecological effects of multiple contaminants and their behavior in the marine environment.
Are you interested in the interaction of biodiversity, climate and marine pollution, and have a fondness for the smallest organisms in the world’s oceans (=plankton)? If yes, maybe this is a PhD for you! One of the main challenges in assessing the anthropogenic impacts on the marine ecosystem is the lack of knowledge on cumulative effects of contaminants and their interaction with the climate change and ecosystem properties. Therefore, if we want to accurately model the risks that human activities pose to the marine ecosystems and the services that they provide, we must understand and be able to quantify the interactions between cumulative impacts and species resilience. This interaction and its integration into modelling is the primary aim of this PhD, focusing on the stressors originating from shipping discharges. The current efforts to decarbonize the shipping and reduce air emissions request new types of solutions, which in some cases – as with the scrubbers that merely transfer air pollution to marine pollution – have resulted in unwanted effects on marine biodiversity. With this PhD you will contribute to the understanding of ecosystem damage from mixture toxicity and support a better management of environmental effects of anthropogenic activities. You will be part of the inter-disciplinary and international research efforts for understanding and quantifying the anthropogenic impacts on the marine environment.

Responsibilities and qualifications
The main objectives of your PhD are 1) to develop a damage modelling framework for environmental pollutants in marine environments and 2) to enhance our understanding of the cumulative impacts of (shipping-relevant) contaminants, to be used as input to the damage model. The aim is to provide a holistic tool to assess the impacts of shipping on biodiversity, which will reduce the risks of mitigating one problem by causing another and in general contribute to maritime spatial planning and sustainable shipping. Your primary tasks will be to:

• Conduct ecological / eco-toxicological experiments investigating the effects of contaminant mixtures on marine plankton.
• Investigate the fate of the contaminates (e.g. biocides and toxic metals) during shipping activities.
• Develop damage modelling to quantify the environmental effects of shipping in a marine environment.
• Actively participate and contribute to the networks of researchers and PhD students in the Centre for Absolute Sustainability, DTU Aqua, DTU Sustain and Maritime DTU, as well as to the biodiversity networks of maritime industry and researchers.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree within natural sciences (e.g., marine biology, oceanography, eco-toxicology, environmental chemistry or environmental engineering).

We also expect you to have some experience in modelling, which could, for instance, be ecosystem modelling, statistical modelling or damage modelling. Experience in ecotoxicology, experimental plankton ecology, life cycle assessment and / or analytic chemistry is an advantage. In addition, you are expected to have:

• Flexibility concerning research stays abroad (a foreign stay of 3-6 months is mandatory)
• Good communication skills in English, both written and orally
• Ability to conduct research independently and good problem-solving skills
• Good collaborative skills and strong interest in participating in an inter-disciplinary and international research environment

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval. The candidate will be enrolled in the PhD school of DTU Aqua and be affiliated with the PhD environment of the Centre for Absolute Sustainability. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility. Your main supervisor will be Prof. Marja Koski in Section for Oceans and Arctic at DTU Aqua, and your co-supervisors will be Prof. Michael Zwicky Hauschild from Centre for Absolute Sustainability and Senior researcher Kai Tang from DTU Sustain.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

The expected starting date is 1 December 2024. The position is a full-time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Prof. Marja Koski, Institute for Aquatic Resources, Section of Ocean and Arctic ([email protected]). General information about the PhD school may be obtained from Susan Zumbach Johannesen ([email protected]).

You can read more about DTU Aqua at www.aqua.dtu.dk, The Centre for Absolute Sustainability at https://sustainability.dtu.dk/ and the Section of Water Technology and Process of DTU Sustain at https://sustain.dtu.dk/en

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 20 September 2024 (23:59 Danish time).

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• A draft project description: 2 or 3 pages with a concise proposal on the research idea within the PhD frame that you would like to explore

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU Aqua – National Institute of Aquatic Resources – works for well-functioning oceans, rivers, and lakes where biodiversity can thrive. Our research, advisory service, and education contribute to the development of a sustainable blue bioeconomy, robust aquatic ecosystems, and reduced effects of climate change. We have a large national and international network and cooperate with research partners, public authorities, industry, and NGOs. We have state-of-the-art research facilities and Denmark’s only ocean- and arctic-going research vessel. The Institute has 360 employees, one-half being scientific staff, including 40 PhD students. More than 35 nationalities are represented at the Institute, and we support an equal gender distribution. We are located in Lyngby, Hirtshals, Nykøbing Mors, and Silkeborg and have regular activities in Greenland. Learn more on aqua.dtu.dk

The research spectrum of the Section for Oceans and Arctic covers oceanography, population ecology, observation technology and the Arctic. The research into oceanography integrates biological, physical and chemical parameters’ interactions in the ocean, ranging from individual plankton to regional seas. We focus on understanding the key processes that govern the structure and function of pelagic food webs, as well as climate and ecosystem interactions. The research in population ecology establishes how processes affecting individuals shape populations and ecosystems.

DTU Sustain is one of Europe’s largest university departments specializing in environmental and resource engineering. We are working to develop new environmentally friendly and sustainable technologies, methods, and solutions, and to disseminate this knowledge to society and future generations of engineers

The DTU Centre for Absolute Sustainability is a cross-departmental initiative at DTU, bearing the mission of fostering research and innovation, to support fact-based strategic sustainability decision-making in Denmark and internationally. By bringing leading experts on assessment and engineering approaches together in an orchestrated collaboration, the Centre is strengthening and consolidating sustainability competencies at DTU and is enabling ground-breaking research results within technology-focused environmental sustainability transition.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

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