Consultant – Legacy and Emerging Organic Contaminants in the Marine Environment

Organizational Setting

The Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications implements the IAEA's Major Programme 2, "Nuclear Techniques for Development and Environmental Protection". This Major Programme comprises individual programmes on food and agriculture, human health, water resources, environment and radiation technologies. These programmes are supported by laboratories in Seibersdorf, Monaco and Vienna. The Major Programme's objective is to enhance the capacity of Member States to meet basic human needs and to assess and manage the marine and terrestrial environments through the use of nuclear and isotopic techniques in sustainable development programmes.

The IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories consists of three laboratories, which are located in Monaco. The Division supports Member States in enhancing their capacity to use nuclear and isotopic techniques to understand marine and atmospheric environmental processes and dynamics, and to identify and address environmental problems caused by radioactive and non-radioactive pollutants and climate change.

The Marine Environmental Studies Laboratory is the analytical support centre for isotopic and elemental analysis of trace elements, organic contaminants and long-lived radionuclides in the marine environment. It provides reference materials, recommends procedures and carries out proficiency tests and interlaboratory comparisons for quality assurance programmes for the determination of non-nuclear contaminants. It implements marine monitoring programmes in collaboration with regional laboratories and provides training in analytical techniques and metrology in chemistry.

Main Purpose

Among the programmatic activities of the IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories, one includes the development of analytical techniques for the determination of regulated, novel and emerging organic contaminants in marine environmental samples, including polyfluorinated compounds, emerging flame retardants, plasticizer additives, microplastics and other new contaminants recently added under the Stockholm Convention. The consultant will support the work of the Marine Environmental Studies Laboratory (MESL) in the development of analytical methods for the detection and quantification of novel and emerging organic contaminants using isotopic related techniques in Liquid Chromatograph Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) and Gas Chromatography - Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) equipment. These developed tools will assist Member States to enhance the monitoring and the comprehensive risk assessment of these emerging contaminants in the environment. He/she will also participate in studies to better assess, in the context of global environmental and climate change, the impacts of organic contaminants in microplastics on ecosystem services.

Functions / Key Results Expected

The consultant shall\:

• Develop and optimize analytical methods for the detection and quantification of regulated and emerging organic contaminants, using the GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS equipment.
• Carry out analysis of regulated and emergent contaminants to trace microplastics using tandem mass spectrometry as requested in the regular programme and extra budgetary projects of MESL.
• Apply the developed validated protocols to marine environmental samples (sediments and seafood) using LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS to trace the organic pollution and microplastics.
• Participate in experimental studies to assess the impacts and transfer of organic contaminants in microplastics on the ecosystems
• Provide technical expertise to writing up the results into reports for further dissemination in scientific peer reviewed publications.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Required 

Core Competencies

Functional

Skills and Expertise

•    Measuring Contaminants and Biotoxins in Environmental Samples

•    Analytical Chemistry

•    Mass Spectrometry

Assets 

Functional

Skills and Expertise

•    Food and Environmental Contaminant Detection

•    Environmental  Monitoring and Assessment

•    Organic Chemistry

Qualifications and Experience

• Master's Degree in Environmental Geosciences 

• University degree in chemistry, environmental sciences, or a related scientific field with a demonstrated knowledge in the field of analytical methodology, used for the determination of non-nuclear pollutants in marine environment

• Experience in chemical sample preparation for organic contaminants  

• Knowledge in high resolution chromatographic separation methods, including gas and liquid chromatography 

• Knowledge in mass spectrometry, including target screening of organic contaminants in environmental matrices

Remuneration

The remuneration for this consultancy is a daily fee of up to a maximum of € 150, based on qualifications and experience. In case duty travel is required within the assignment, a daily subsistence allowance (DSA) and travel costs are provided. Health coverage and pension fund are the responsibility of the incumbent.