PhD Position in Health Sciences (Utrecht University)

Faculty: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Department: Department of Population Health Sciences Hours per week: 36–40 Application Deadline: 28 February 2026 POSITION OVERVIEW Are you fascinated by plastics beyond what you can see and motivated to quantify microplastics in indoor and occupational air, and to design interventions that mitigate exposure? This PhD position focuses on quantifying indoor and occupational microplastic exposure and co-creating practical interventions to reduce exposure in everyday environments. The project is embedded in the interdisciplinary MOMENTUM 3.0 programme, funded by ZonMw, combining environmental exposure assessment, advanced analytical chemistry, behavioural science, and stakeholder engagement. Your research will directly feed into health risk assessment and toxicological studies. You will be supervised by an interdisciplinary team from the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) and Utrecht University (UU). Research activities will take place at both institutions, located at Utrecht Science Park, enabling close collaboration. You will also become a member of the MOMENTUM NextGen Early Career Research Network, supporting integration, training, and collaboration for PhDs and postdocs in the Netherlands. RESPONSIBILITIES Design and conduct indoor air measurements in homes and workplaces using a citizen-science approach Build and deploy active air-sampling setups to collect airborne microplastic samples Analyse samples using advanced techniques: TED-GC/MS (Thermal Extraction Desorption–Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry) SEM-EDX (Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy) µ-FTIR (Micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) Process and interpret complex datasets to identify exposure patterns and determinants Design and evaluate intervention strategies (e.g., HEPA filtration, behavioural guidance) Collaborate with multidisciplinary academic and societal partners Publish results in peer-reviewed journals and present at international conferences CANDIDATE PROFILE Required Qualifications: Master’s degree in Chemistry or closely related field Strong interest in environmental health, analytical techniques, and exposure assessment Laboratory experience and familiarity with spectroscopy or chromatography methods Ability to work independently and in multidisciplinary teams Good communication skills in English (Dutch is an advantage) TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT Fully funded PhD position, initial 12-month contract with extension to 4 years upon successful evaluation Working week: 38 hours Gross monthly salary: €3,059–€3,881 (salary scale P, CAO NU) 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus Pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible terms of employment Professional development, leave arrangements, sports and cultural activities available INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – trains veterinarians and researchers, providing care for animals and conducting impactful research. Focus on One Health: the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. Utrecht University: Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), research line One Health Chemical, led by Prof. Roel Vermeulen TNO: Department Environmental Modelling, Sensing and Analysis (EMSA), Particle Expertise Centre ADDITIONAL INFORMATION For more information, please contact: Dr. Luke Parker (TNO) – luke.parker@tno.nl Prof. Dr. Roel Vermeulen (UU) – r.c.h.vermeulen@uu.nl HOW TO APPLY Applications should include: Motivation letter Curriculum vitae Names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of at least two referees Submission: via the ‘apply now’ button on the Utrecht University application portal Intended start date: flexible, ideally before 1 May 2026 Application deadline: 28 February 2026 If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Medicinoxy

Faculty: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Department: Department of Population Health Sciences
Hours per week: 36–40
Application Deadline: 28 February 2026

POSITION OVERVIEW

Are you fascinated by plastics beyond what you can see and motivated to quantify microplastics in indoor and occupational air, and to design interventions that mitigate exposure?

This PhD position focuses on quantifying indoor and occupational microplastic exposure and co-creating practical interventions to reduce exposure in everyday environments.

The project is embedded in the interdisciplinary MOMENTUM 3.0 programme, funded by ZonMw, combining environmental exposure assessment, advanced analytical chemistry, behavioural science, and stakeholder engagement. Your research will directly feed into health risk assessment and toxicological studies.

You will be supervised by an interdisciplinary team from the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) and Utrecht University (UU). Research activities will take place at both institutions, located at Utrecht Science Park, enabling close collaboration.

You will also become a member of the MOMENTUM NextGen Early Career Research Network, supporting integration, training, and collaboration for PhDs and postdocs in the Netherlands.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Design and conduct indoor air measurements in homes and workplaces using a citizen-science approach
Build and deploy active air-sampling setups to collect airborne microplastic samples
Analyse samples using advanced techniques:
- TED-GC/MS (Thermal Extraction Desorption–Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry)
- SEM-EDX (Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy)
- µ-FTIR (Micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy)
Process and interpret complex datasets to identify exposure patterns and determinants
Design and evaluate intervention strategies (e.g., HEPA filtration, behavioural guidance)
Collaborate with multidisciplinary academic and societal partners
Publish results in peer-reviewed journals and present at international conferences

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Required Qualifications:

Master’s degree in Chemistry or closely related field
Strong interest in environmental health, analytical techniques, and exposure assessment
Laboratory experience and familiarity with spectroscopy or chromatography methods
Ability to work independently and in multidisciplinary teams
Good communication skills in English (Dutch is an advantage)

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

Fully funded PhD position, initial 12-month contract with extension to 4 years upon successful evaluation
Working week: 38 hours
Gross monthly salary: €3,059–€3,881 (salary scale P, CAO NU)
8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus
Pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible terms of employment
Professional development, leave arrangements, sports and cultural activities available

INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – trains veterinarians and researchers, providing care for animals and conducting impactful research. Focus on One Health: the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.

Utrecht University: Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), research line One Health Chemical, led by Prof. Roel Vermeulen
TNO: Department Environmental Modelling, Sensing and Analysis (EMSA), Particle Expertise Centre