Internship | Mapping metal behavior in Dutch peatlands

About this internship

Peat soils cover 9% of the Netherlands and are essential for climate regulation and resilient landscapes. They also bind toxic metals. However, climate change, land subsidence, and shifting water management alter geochemical conditions, which impacts how metals are stored or released into groundwater and surface waters. In this internship, you will help uncover how metals are stored and transformed in Dutch peatlands using a variety of laboratory techniques. Your work will support the identification of areas at risk of future contamination and inform strategies to protect water resources.

What will be your role?

You will take the lead in characterizing peat soils collected from different regions of the Netherlands. Your focus will be to determine how trace metals are bound within these soils. You will also perform soil-column experiments that stimulate changes in the water table, allowing you to study how drainage and flooding influence metal mobility.

You will be part of the Geochemistry team within the Hydrology and Reservoir Engineering Department at the Dutch Geological Survey. The team works on questions related to groundwater quality and the environmental impact of anthropogenic materials, and we look forward to supporting your project.

What we expect from you

You are a Master’s student with a strong interest in environmental geochemistry and, ideally, some laboratory experience. You are curious, enjoy learning new methods, and can work independently while also collaborating well within a team. Most importantly, you are motivated to contribute to understanding how peatlands respond to environmental change.

What you'll get in return

TNO attaches a great deal of value to your personal and professional development. You will be properly supervised during your work placement and be given the scope for you to get the best out of yourself. Furthermore, we provide:

• A highly professional, innovative internship environment, within a team of top experts.
• A suitable internship allowance (615 euro for wo-, hbo- and mbo-students, for a full-time internship).
• Possibility of eight hours of free leave per internship month (for a full-time internship).
• A free membership of Jong TNO, where you can meet other TNO professionals and join several activities, such as sports activities, (work-related) courses or the yearly ski-trip.
• Use of a laptop.
• An allowance for travel expenses in case you don’t receive an OV-card.

TNO as an employer

At TNO, we innovate for a healthier, safer and more sustainable life, and for a strong economy. You work with people who will challenge you, inspire you and want to learn from you. Our state-of-the-art facilities are there to realize your vision. What you do at TNO matters: impact makes the difference.