JUNIOR RESEARCHER (InvJunior_SSR_AgriSolutions)

Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA); España; On-site; EUR 22,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA) in Girona, Spain, seeks a junior researcher with a PhD in Environmental Chemistry or related fields to join the Research Support Services Unit. The position focuses on environmental chemistry, water quality, and nature-based solutions, with an emphasis on emerging contaminants and data integration.

The successful candidate will design, coordinate and monitor experimental studies, develop analytical methods, coordinate projects and contribute to

Qualifications

• PhD in Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Sciences or Chemistry.
• Minimum of 6 years of postdoctoral experience.
• Experience with planning laboratory experiments and monitoring activities.

Responsibilities

• Participate in research, innovation and knowledge transfer projects related to environmental chemistry and water quality.
• Coordinate sampling campaigns, field studies and experimental activities.
• Develop and apply methodologies for determining emerging contaminants.
• Analyse data to assess behaviour, transport and fate of contaminants.
• Prepare technical reports, publications and project materials.
• Supervise students and interact with stakeholders.

Skills

Lab planning

Sample handling

HRMS analysis

Data management

Education

PhD in Environmental Chemistry/Environmental Sciences/Chemistry

Tools

HRMS

Job description

Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA)

Organisation/Company Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA) Research Field Chemistry Environmental science Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 5 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? Yes

Offer Description

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE JOB

• Job location: ICRA – Catalan Institute for Water Research, Girona (Spain)
• Number of positions available: 1
• Expected start: 1st January 2027
• Expected duration of the contract: 6 months (renewable)

OFFER DESCRIPTION

ICRA, within the Research Support Services Unit, is seeking to recruit a junior researcher to participate in research, innovation and knowledge transfer projects in the fields of environmental chemistry, water quality and reuse, agricultural systems, and nature-based solutions applied to the study, monitoring, mitigation and removal of emerging contaminants.

The selected candidate will be involved in projects focused on understanding the behaviour, fate and impacts of emerging contaminants in different environmental compartments, including water, soil, rhizosphere and crops, as well as assessing their potential environmental effects and risks to human health.

The position includes the development and application of advanced analytical methodologies, the design, coordination and monitoring of experimental studies, sampling campaigns and environmental monitoring activities, the interpretation and integration of complex datasets, and the assessment of emerging contaminants in agricultural systems and nature-based solutions aimed at their control and mitigation. It also includes the preparation of competitive funding proposals, technical coordination of projects, supervision of students, and interaction with public administrations, water management stakeholders, agricultural communities, companies and other stakeholder groups.

The successful candidate will also contribute to knowledge transfer, communication, dissemination, training, co-creation and citizen engagement activities, with the aim of facilitating the uptake of project outcomes and strengthening the scientific, technological and societal impact of the research carried out at ICRA.

KEY DUTIES

The candidate should be able to perform the following functions:

• Participate in research, innovation and knowledge transfer projects related to environmental chemistry, water quality and reuse, agricultural systems, and nature-based solutions applied to the study and mitigation of emerging contaminants.
• Contribute to the preparation and submission of proposals to competitive funding calls and, where appropriate, assume coordination or technical leadership responsibilities.
• Design, plan and coordinate sampling campaigns, field studies and experimental activities involving water, soil, rhizosphere, crops and treatment systems based on nature-based solutions.
• Develop, adapt and apply methodologies for the determination and assessment of emerging contaminants and their transformation products in complex environmental matrices.
• Analyse, interpret and integrate chemical, environmental, agronomic and ecotoxicological data to assess the behaviour, transport, removal and impacts of emerging contaminants.
• Contribute to environmental and human health risk assessments related to the presence of emerging contaminants and water reuse practices.
• Coordinate technical activities within projects and collaborate with public administrations, water management stakeholders, agricultural communities, companies and other stakeholder groups.
• Supervise and train internship, undergraduate, master’s and PhD students, as well as technical and research staff involved in the projects.
• Prepare technical reports, scientific publications and other project-related materials.
• Develop knowledge transfer, communication, dissemination, training, co-creation and stakeholder engagement activities to promote the uptake of research outcomes

PhD in Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Sciences or Chemistry.

Skills:

Planning of laboratory experiments and monitoring activities; handling and extraction of water, soil and plant samples; analysis of organic microcontaminants using mass spectrometry techniques, including HRMS; experience with data management and analysis software.

Required Languages:

English, Spanish and Catalan.

Required Experience:

• A minimum of 6 years of postdoctoral experience is required.
• Experience in laboratory work and sampling campaigns (planning, coordination or execution); experience in the handling and analysis of environmental samples (including water, soil, rhizosphere and plant material);
• Demonstrated experience in environmental and analytical chemistry for the determination of organic contaminants (particularly plastic additives, pharmaceuticals and other emerging contaminants); experience in the study of the fate, transport and accumulation of contaminants in environmental and agro-environmental systems;
• Experience in water treatment and reuse systems, including Nature-Based Solutions related to the analysis and study of the occurrence, removal, transfer and fate of emerging contaminants; experience in the optimisation, development and adaptation of analytical methods;
• Experience in the design and execution of experiments under controlled laboratory conditions or in pilot platforms;
• Experience in database management and scientific data processing;
• Experience in presentations at knowledge transfer platforms and technical forums, as well as in the preparation of scientific publications and technical reports;
• Experience in the organisation of and participation in outreach activities and collaboration with non-scientific stakeholders (citizen associations, companies, etc.), including training, communication, stakeholder engagement and citizen science activities.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Creative, flexible and motivated to learn and expand their scientific network.
• Experience with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) for suspect and non-target screening analysis.
• Knowledge of Nature-Based Solutions for wastewater and greywater treatment, including green walls, constructed wetlands and/or hydroponic systems, in relation to the occurrence, behaviour and fate of organic microcontaminants.

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

Languages SPANISH Level Good

Languages CATALAN Level Good

Research Field ChemistryEnvironmental science Years of Research Experience 4 - 10

Additional Information

Working conditions: Employed in compliance with Spanish legislation and regulations. Employees receive the benefits of the Spanish Social Security system covering sickness, maternity/paternity leaves and injuries at work.

International Environment: The opportunity to join a prestigious international research institution and become a member of a young and growing team.

Continuous training in a high-quality environment.

In ICRA we are committed to maintaining and developing a work environment in which the values and principles of our organization are respected and equal opportunities and equality of opportunity and treatment is promoted in each of the areas in which we operate, creating a context favorable to diversity and to eradicate any type of direct or indirect discrimination based on age criteria (within the limits set by the Workers’ Statute), marital status, racial or ethnic origin, social status, religion or convictions, political tendency, sexual orientation, sexual identity, gender expression, sexual characteristics, union membership or not, because of language, disability or because of sex, including any unfavorable treatment dispensed for the exercise of conciliation rights or co-responsibility of family and work life.

Recruitment will be carried out as provided for in Article 15 of Royal Legislative Decree 1/1995 of 24 March passing the text of the Workers’ Statute Act, in accordance with the provisions of Article 2 of Royal Decree 2720/98 of 18 December (B.O.E. 8 January 1999), Act nº 12/2001 of July 9 (B.O.E. 10 July) and concordant regulations.

The principle of equality between men and women is taken into account, in accordance with Article 14 of the Spanish Constitution, the EU Directive of 9 February 1976 and the provisions of the Agreement of the Council of Ministers of March 4, 2005, passing the Plan for gender equality in the General State Administration.

Universal accessibility for persons with disabilities is taken into account, in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 1 of Act nº 51/2003 of 2 December on equal opportunities, and 7% of vacancies are reserved provided the candidates pass the selection processes and are able to accredit disability and compatibility in performing the tasks so that we will progressively reach 2% of the total workforce.

Ensures effective compliance with the rights to equal treatment and non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and identity, gender expression or sexual characteristics of LGBTI people in the ICRA workplace, in accordance with Royal Decree 1026/ 2024, of October 8, which develops the planned set of measures for equality and non-discrimination of LGBTI people in companies.

Basic information on Data Protection Responsible: Fundació Institut Català de Recerca de l’Aigua (ICRA); Purpose: The selection of candidates for current and future jobs offered by our organization; Rights: You have the right to access, rectify and delete the data, as well as other rights indicated in the additional information; Additional information: You can consult the additional and detailed information on Data Protection on our website: http://www.icra.cat/politica-de-privacidad