Postdoc in Physicochemical Processes in Sediment Depots for Resource Recovery

This postdoctoral position focuses on biogeochemical and physicochemical processes in contaminated sediment depots, with emphasis on pollutant transformation, resource recovery, and sustainable management.

Job description

Sediment depots contain complex and heterogeneous mixtures of contaminated dredged sediments with significant potential for resource recovery. While historical records of deposited materials exist, there is currently limited understanding of how these sediments and associated pollutants have evolved under the unique environmental conditions within the depot. The system is highly stratified and poorly mixed, leading to strong spatial variability in physicochemical and biological processes, and consequently large uncertainties in pollutant distribution, transformation, and resource potential.

A key knowledge gap concerns the role of indigenous microbial communities in contaminant degradation and transformation. Understanding whether and where biodegradation occurs is essential for predicting long-term environmental risks and identifying opportunities for microbial treatment and resource recovery. At the same time, there is an urgent need to develop strategies for sediment management, purification, and capacity maintenance.

This postdoctoral project aims to establish a comprehensive geochemical characterization of the sediments and associated pollutants. The work will provide insights into contaminant concentrations, microbial activity, vertical heterogeneity, and hotspot zones, forming a critical baseline for evaluating treatment strategies and enabling beneficial reuse of materials.

The postdoc will focus on physicochemical processes and technology development for potential valuable resource isolation and recovery. This includes evaluating and advancing existing techniques such as electrochemical extraction, chemical and bio-leaching, adsorption, and physical separation. A key objective is to assess the effectiveness of current technologies, identify limitations, and define pathways for their improvement or redesign in the context of complex sediment matrices.

The research will be conducted in close collaboration with a PhD candidate working on pollutant identification and microbial processes, within the framework of the Contaminated Sludge to Resource project, part of the Haskoning Innovation & Education Fund and co-funded by the TKI ChemistryNL research programme.

The project will integrate long-term monitoring data with new sediment core analyses to assess both known and emerging contaminants, including their spatial distribution. Analytical techniques such as grain size analysis, X-ray diffraction, and ICP-MS and/or ICP-OES will be used to characterize sediment composition, mineralogy, metal distribution, and mobility.

The postdoc will develop an integrated roadmap combining physicochemical and microbial approaches for sustainable sediment management and resource recovery. This work will contribute to a new interdisciplinary research line, established through interdepartmental collaboration, at the interface of biogeochemistry, microbiology, and engineering, with direct relevance for large-scale sediment management practices. The position is embedded in the Department of Hydraulic Engineering at TU Delft, internationally recognised for research and education.

Job requirements

• PhD in chemical engineering, materials science, environmental engineering, geochemistry or a related field.
• Experience with laboratory testing of materials, preferably soils, sediments, or construction materials.
• Ability to design and perform experimental work, analyse results, and report findings clearly.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to work independently within a multidisciplinary team.
• Affinity with environmental biogeochemistry.
• Knowledge of circular materials and separation techniques applied to metal recovery is an advantage.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English, as you will be working in an international environment.

About the employer

At TU Delft, this position is embedded in the Department of Hydraulic Engineering and contributes to research and education with direct relevance for large-scale sediment management practices.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 2 years. Temporary external finance.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.