How will you contribute?

As part of a Research and Technology Organization (RTO), the work of the Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department tackles some of the major environmental challenges our society is facing today, such as climate change mitigation, ecosystem resilience, sustainable energy systems, the efficient use of renewable resources, and environmental pollution prevention and control. To this end, the mission of the ERIN department is:

(1) To conduct impact-driven scientific research and development, as well as technological innovation

(2) To support companies in the implementation of new environmental regulations and advise governments on determining sustainable policies for the future, with the objectives of:

·       Analysing, managing and exploiting sustainable resources (water, air, soil, renewable energy, bio-resources)

·       Reducing the environmental impact of human consumption and production activities.

The selected applicant will join ERIN's Environmental Sustainability Assessment and Circularity (SUSTAIN) Unit which is developing knowledge, transferable (software) technologies and practical methods for the integrative evaluation and management of the sustainability and toxicological risks of human driven systems. Its final purpose is to foster sustainable, technology driven eco-innovation in industry and to support sustainability-oriented policy making. Within the SUSTAIN Unit, the applicant will be incorporated in the Environmental Health (EH) research group. The activities conducted within the EH group contribute to sustainability by developing complex 3D - in vitro models for toxicological testing as a major research activity. Such models undergo in house pre-validation under laboratory conditions and are applied to a wide range of contaminants from chemicals to nanomaterials. These models are then applied within nationally and internationally funded research projects and in collaborative research projects with industry early in product development and support thereby the SSbD concept.

The applicant will work within the EH group and in collaboration with the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) research group of SUSTAIN to further develop, implement and apply Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) tools, methods and concepts (aspects of chemical safety).

LIST has adopted Sustainable by Design as a value and considers the development of a robust SSbD framework important. To this end the successful candidate will contribute to the further development of the Unit activities on SSbD of substances, materials, products and processes with a special focus on assessment of chemical safety. The candidate is expected to advance the SSbD assessment practice and framework implementation at LIST and to provide targeted support on safety assessment to RDI projects in the definition and workplan implementation phases. The candidate should contribute to the further development of the international network and visibility of the group. Scientific reporting and dissemination of results in high impact factor journals is another important aspect of the expected experience. Preferably the candidate has already experience in cooperation within international research consortia.

We need an experienced scientist with knowledge in New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), tools and concepts for Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) assessment and hands-on experience in chemical safety assessment and risk assessment (testing and results evaluation).

• Develop R&D activities in SSbD, in the framework of European and national research projects and collaborative/contract research projects with industrial partners
• Assess chemical hazards and safety in the context of SSbD and Innovation of new technologies, processes, applications in large EU funded projects on nanomaterials safety and PFAS substitution
• Develop, apply, and implement Safe by Design methodologies and tools, criteria, guidance, and frameworks to support RDI projects, in particular application of the EC framework on SSbD
• Collaborate with researchers specialised in life cycle sustainability and circularity assessment towards an integrated SSbD assessment
• Set-up test strategies using New Approach Methodologies (in vitro, in silico) in the context for SSbD projects
• Attract European and national funding, by submitting highly competitive research proposals as principal investigator or contributor, in the field of SSbD.
• Publish high-quality research articles in peer-reviewed international journals.
• Generate and protect IP in the context of your research activities (e.g., patents, licenses).
• Attend international conferences.