Master student in chemistry or environmental sciences (f/m/d)

Area of research

Diploma & Master

Part-Time Suitability

The position is suitable for part-time employment.

Job description

Master student in chemistry or environmental sciences (f/m/d)

Background

Microplastics (MPs, <5 mm) are increasingly being detected in sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants, as they are not fully removed during conventional treatment processes. These particles can accumulate in the sludge, which is often applied to agricultural land, potentially introducing MPs into soils and the wider environment. Monitoring and analyzing MPs in sewage sludge is therefore critical to understanding their environmental fate and potential risks. Within the framework of the project MikroStrat‑SH2, sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants in the region of Schleswig‑Holstein will be analysed for MPs.

Your Tasks

As part of the Master’s thesis, efficient methods for extracting MPs from sewage sludge will be optimized, and environmental samples will be analyzed. The samples will be extracted and purified, then analyzed using LUMOS II micro‑FTIR spectroscopy.

Your Profile

• Enrolled at a university
• Keen interest in plastic pollution

Further Information

You are interested?

For more information or questions regarding the project, please contact Dr. Fangzhu Wu ( ), Dr. Gunnar Gerdts ( ) and Dr. Sebastian Primpke ( ).

Please forward your applications with the standard documentation (cover letter with motivation, CV) by January 30, 2026 to: Dr. Fangzhu Wu ( ), Dr. Gunnar Gerdts ( ) or Dr. Sebastian Primpke ( ).

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.