Soil Projects > AquaTRAIN
AquaTRAIN Marie Curie Research Training Network on Geogenic Chemicals in Groundwaters and Soils
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AquaTRAIN is a Marie Curie Research Training Network established specifically to develop a better understanding of the behaviour and environmental impact, including human health, of geogenic elements, in groundwater and soils in the European Union. The AquaTRAIN research training network integrates leading centres in Europe active in soil/water systems research within a coherent framework of dedicated young researchers through a joint innovative research programme focused on the cycling of chemicals between soil/sediment and water, and the implications for environmental protection, remediation and management. Early Stage Researchers and Experienced ResearchersAquaTRAIN is inviting applications for 12 Early Stage Researcher posts (all of which may lead to the award of a PhD or European PhD) and for 3 experienced Researcher (Postdoctoral Research Assistant) posts.AquaTRAIN, a consortium of 15 leading European Universities and Research Institutes, has been awarded a maximum of €3,150,000.00 by the European Commission to set up a Marie Curie Research Training Network to foster a better understanding of geogenic chemicals (e.g. arsenic, selenium, manganese) and of the microbiological controls on their mobility, an essential step towards the development of novel remediation and protection technologies. AquaTRAIN will provide a group of 15 researchers with a rich and challenging interdisciplinary learning environment which will incorporate the biogeochemical processes controlling the cycling of chemicals in groundwater/soil systems, protection and remediation technologies, the biochemistry of chemical uptake in humans through the food chain, and the human health and environmental consequences of trace geogenic chemicals in groundwaters and soils. This will be provided through a joint innovative research and training programme involving individual training plans, mentoring, network-wide training workshops with invited international experts and strong links with other European and international research and training projects. ERs will be expected to play a prominent role in network management and transfer of knowledge activities. For each post, further details, including Scientists-in-Charge and location of host institutions, may be downloaded from the AquaTRAIN website http://www.AquaTRAIN.eu/ Competitive starting salaries are offered under the conditions of the Marie Curie Research Training Networks scheme. In addition generous travel, mobility and career exploration allowances are offered. Appointments will be overall for 36 months (13 posts) or 30 months (2 posts). For a number of ESR posts, further funding has also been independently secured to enable the researcher to complete a four year PhD programme, where this is necessary. Applications from women candidates are particularly encouraged. Informal enquiries should be made to the particular Scientist-in-Charge of the relevant research post. Alternatively general academic enquiries can be made to AquaTRAIN Co-ordinator, Dr David Polya, SEAES, The University of Manchester, UK. Tel: + 44 (0) 161 275 3818; fax: + 44 (0) 161 306 9361. These posts are funded under the European Commission Sixth Framework Programme (2002-2006), Marie Curie Actions - Human Resources Mobility Activity Area, Research Training Networks. JRC hosted 4 post graduated students:Claudia CascioClaudia Cascio graduated in 2004 in Biological Sciences from the University of Catania (Italy) with a thesis on the impact of Mercury on human health in a polluted site in the South-East of Sicily. In 2006 she gained a Master in Economics of Cultural Heritage. In 2007 she joined the project AquaTRAIN (a Marie Curie Actions Research Training Network) as an Early Stage Researcher and become a Ph.D student at De Montfort University of Leicester (UK). Her research deals with the impact of Geogenic Arsenic and Trace elements on human health in an EU context. She is currently applying a multidisciplinary approach involving analytical chemistry, proteomics and soil mapping to assess the exposure of the general population from some European study sites. As part of her Ph.D., she is currently at the Institute for Environment and Sustainability in theLand Management and Natural Hazard unit as a grantholder. Chris Parsons Chris Parsons is a geoscientist reading for his PhD as part of the AquaTRAIN Marie Curie Research Training Network. Chris graduated in July 2007 from the University of Manchester with a research masters in Earth Sciences (1st Class with honours). During his masters he worked in the Environmental Geochemistry and Geomicrobiology group under Professor Jon Lloyd where he studied acid mine drainage contaminated systems. In September 2007 he started his PhD entitled "Studies of redox processes affecting geogenic Arsenic and selenium in groundwater and flooded soils" under the supervision of Professor Laurent Charlet at the Laboratoire de Geophysique Interne et Tectonophysique at l'Universite Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France. As part of the AquaTRAIN program Chris will spend 6 months at the JRC-IES Soils Action (starting September 2008) where he will conduct geostatistical analysis of groundwater data from Nepal in collaboration with Binod Mani Dahal, Ph.D. from the Research & Development Division of the Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO), Kathmandu, Nepal. In addition, he will develop the geospatial/geostatistical aspects of his european project focusing on field sites in France and Spain. Julia Leventon Julia holds a BSc. (hons) (first class) in Environmental Science (awarded 2006), and an MSc (distinction) in International Development (environment and development) (awarded 2007) from the University of Manchester. Prior to embarking on her academic career, Julia spent time working for a non-profit foundation in Peru, and for environmental consultancy in the UK. Her research interests are interdisciplinary and focus on the intersections of science, society and policy in environmental management. She currently pursues this interest through her role as an Early Stage Researcher on the AquaTRAIN Marie Curie Research Training Network. As a part of this, she is enrolled on the PhD programme of the Department of Environmental Science and Policy at the Central European University in Budapest, Hungary. Her PhD examines groundwater policy in the EU, particularly in the context of new member states in areas with potential geogenic contamination issues. Julia is at the Soil Action as a part of the AquaTRAIN programme. During her time here she will be examining the institutional structures that exist in both science and policy for groundwater management in her case study countries of Hungary and Romania |
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