Ph.D. student Position -MISCEA thesis offer ESR09 – Biocides in urban runoff: modelling emissions and transfer to the receiving environment for different stormwater management scenarios

While the use of pesticides in urban environments is becoming increasingly controlled, biocidal substances are being used more and more, particularly as fungicides, algaecides, demossing agent or insecticides in building materials and for pest control (ANSES, 2019; Paijens et al., 2020a). These biocides are emitted in runoff from buildings, discharged onto the ground or into the stormwater management system and reach the environment, with a potentially negative impact on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems (Kresmann et al. 2018; Paijens et al. 2020a). However, these urban emissions of biocides and their impact on receiving environments are poorly documented. Claudia Paijens’ (2019) thesis work at Leesu has shown (i) that biocides are ubiquitous in urban waters, posing a risk to the aquatic environment, (ii) that an increase in biocide flows between upstream and downstream of the Paris conurbation has been observed for several molecules, and (iii) that the presence of several biocides is related to stormwater flows, likely via leaching from building materials (Paijens et al, 2020b, 2021). Although biocide emissions from construction materials have been extensively studied in the laboratory or on the scale of test benches (Bollmann et al., 2016; Burkhardt al., 2011; Gromaire et al, 2015), few studies have quantified emissions at the scale of an urban neighbourhood and addressed the link between urban emissions of biocides, their fate in the stormwater management system and their transfer to the surface or underground aquatic environment (Burkhardt et al., 2011; Gallé et al., 2020; Paijens et al., 2020a).

The development of measures to control stormwater at source that promote on site infiltration of urban runoff raises concerns about the fate of biocides in the soil of infiltration systems and their potential transport to the groundwater. As predominantly hydrophilic molecules, biocides should not be strongly retained by the soil, unlike the micropollutants generally studied in runoff, such as metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Tedoldi et al., 2016). In addition, biocides can evolve into transformation products (TPs), which are poorly documented and represent an unknown risk of exposure for receiving environments. Very diffuse runoff management, in nature-based solutions (NBS) constructed with adapted/engineered soils, could allow temporary retention and biodegradation of biocides, but the real importance of these processes has not been assessed to date.

In this context, we have identified several objectives for this thesis proposal: (i) to assess the potential for biocides to be emitted from building facades in the urban context of the Paris region; (ii) to evaluate soil contamination levels and the fate of biocides in the soil; (iii) to assess the effect of different runoff management strategies at the scale of a building complex on the transfer of biocides into the environment

Requirements

Research FieldEnvironmental science » Water scienceEducation LevelMaster Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Urban hydrology, water quality, modelingLevelExcellent

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria

Description of the project and the candidates’ eligibility criteria:

This position will be part of the EU-funded project MISCEA, which is an ambitious inter- and multidisciplinary Doctoral Training Network under the Horizon-Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. 

PhD candidates’ can be of any nationality but you have to meet these eligibility criteria:

• Not being a current employee working at ENPC.
• Not having resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc) in France for more than 12 months during the past 36 months immediately before the deadline of the MISCEA Programme’s call. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account.
• Holding a Master’s degree (or about to obtain one) or having a University degree equivalent to a European Master’s degree (5-year duration) at the deadline of the MISCEA Programme’s call.
• Researchers must be doctoral candidates, i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the co-funded programme’s call. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will NOT be considered eligible.
• Signing a declaration of the veracity of the information provided (Declaration of honour, free of form).

If you comply with the eligibility criteria and you wish to submit your application, you must:

• Contact the thesis supervisor and explain your thesis project to her/him so that she/he validates your application.
• Submit a 5-pages thesis proposal under the proposed research areas, with the agreement of the future supervisor + 1 page cover letter with: the relevance of your educational/professional background to carry out your thesis topic. Additionally, to the submission of the 5-pages thesis proposal, the applicant will have to complete an ethics checklist based on ethics guidance from the HorizonEurope programme guide.
• English-translated transcripts from the master’s degree or equivalent.
• Any specific requirements of the Doctoral School corresponding to the targeted MISCEA fellowship offer.
• English curriculum vitae, including information about the level on English language knowledge.
• One letter of reference, at least.

Templates are available on the MISCEA website (link).

Then your candidature is complete, please send inquiries to miscea-program@enpc.fr

Additional comments

The present offer of a doctoral contract in France is for a period of three years.

Full-Time employment : estimated monthly brut salary : ~2700euros (estimated monthly net salary before income taxes: ~2100euros)