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Consultant – Microplastics and Interaction with Priority and Emergent Inorganic Contaminants

Monaco

  • Organization: IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency
  • Location: Monaco
  • Grade: Consultancy - International Consultant - Internationally recruited Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
  • Closing Date: Closed

 

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 contaminants in marine environmental samples, including micro and nano-plastics. 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 inorganic contaminants associated with micro and nano-plastics using isotopic related techniques as Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (TQ ICP-MS) and High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (HR SF ICP-MS) equipment as well as associated with the microplastics inorganic contaminants. These developed tools will assist Member States to enhance the monitoring and the comprehensive risk assessment of these priority and 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 inorganic contaminants in microplastics and the role of microplastics as a vector for toxic and priority trace elements on the ecosystem services.

  

Functions / Key Results Expected

 

The consultant shall\:

  • Develop and optimize methods for the detection and quantification of regulated and emerging inorganic contaminants absorbed and transported
         by themicroplastics, using the single particles TQ ICP-MS and HR SF ICP-MS equipment.
  • Carry out in situ experiments with regulated and emergent inorganic contaminants to study absorption-desorption capacities of microplastics using labelled
         isotopes and ICP-MS techniques as requested in the regular programme and extra budgetary projects of MESL.
  • Apply the developed validated protocols to microplastics decomposition to trace the inorganic pollutant integrated in microplastics.
  • Participate in experimental studies to assess the impacts and transfer of inorganic contaminants in microplastics on the ecosystems.
  • Develop and optimize methods for quantification of nanoparticles/nano-plastics, based on single particle ICP-MS methodology
  • 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 Techniques
  •    Mass Spectrometry

 

Assets -

Functional

Skills and Expertise

  •    Food and Environmental Contaminant Detection

  •    Environmental  Monitoring and Assessment

  •    Inorganic Chemistry

 

Qualifications and Experience

 

  • Master's Degree in Environmental Chemistry

  • 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 trace elements

  • Knowledge in mass spectrometry TQ ICP-MS and HR ICP-MS instrumentation

  • Knowledge on nanoparticle analysis in the complex matrices with sp ICP-MS

 

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.

 

 

This vacancy is now closed.
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