PD: Design and testing of biochars for pollution control in urban environments

Your job

Do you want to help design biochars for urban applications in pollution control and water purification? Are you excited about translating laboratory-scale discoveries into real-world field applications through a collaborative research project? If so, this postdoctoral position could be the perfect opportunity for you.

This position is part of a larger European Project led by the Municipality of Amsterdam in collaboration with other European cities (Berlin, Barcelona) examining the potential of improving the urban green transition through using biochar in the urban environment.

As a Post-doc will you will contribute to the overarching project goal to make locally produced biochar from urban green wastes a market ready carbon negative emission technology with co-benefits driving synergistic effects to improve the environmental footprint of municipalities across the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and chemical pollution.

You will develop, design, and test biochar for applications in urban environments with a specific focus on pollution control and contaminant mitigation in water treatment, soil remediation, and biochar application in composting. Your work will include the optimization of biochar production from different biomass types at different pyrolysis conditions to produce biochar with characteristics tailored for specific applications such as the treatment of road runoff. Thereafter, you will conduct batch- and laboratory column experiments to inform larger scale field testing. You will also be responsible for advising on the implementation of field tests and monitoring the performance of the biochar you designed under realistic application conditions at field scale.

This collaborative project will thus bridge fundamental scientific insights with field testing of biochar in Amsterdam. As such, your role includes proactive collaboration with the municipality of Amsterdam in producing and testing biochar and in designing and monitoring field tests.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• designing biochar towards urban applications in pollution control and water purification at laboratory scale;
• testing and benchmarking tailored designer biochar for targeted contaminant removal at laboratory scale;
• informing monitoring and evaluating field test sites for biochar application;
• synthesizing knowledge and producing dissemination materials for scientific audiences (peer-reviewed papers) and practitioners alike (technical guidance documents);
• student supervision on related topics;
• teaching activities.

Your team

You will work with Dr. Gabriel Sigmund and Dr. Nora Sutton at Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research.

You will work here

The research is embedded within the Environmental Technology division and the micropollutant and pathogen group, which is led by Dr. Nora Sutton and includes 4 staff members and around 15 PhD and postdocs. You will be co-supervised by Dr. Gabriel Sigmund and Dr. Nora Sutton.

Your qualities

You have experience in biochar production and characterization, contaminant sorption and leaching experiments in batch and column setups, and are able to translate lab-scale experiments to field scale applications.

You also possess:

• a successfully completed PhD degree in environmental engineering, environmental chemistry, environmental sciences, chemical engineering or a related subject;
• an excellent capacity to work and communicate with diverse and multidisciplinary teams;
• the capacity to work with academic collaborators and non-academic stakeholders alike;
• experience in teaching and in supervising students.

In our international working environment there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level C1.

We offer

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.546,- and € 5.538,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended - if possible within (company) organizational circumstances - on good performance, for the duration of the project.

We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment.

Coming from abroad

Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account, dual career programs or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

Important information

For more information about the position, please contact Gabriel Sigmund, Associate Professor, via email: Gabriel.sigmund@wur.nl.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Evelien Janssen, Corporate Recruiter, via email: Evelien.janssen@wur.nl.

Ready to apply?

Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

You can apply up to and including 24 August 2026. The first interviews are scheduled for 31 August 2026. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before 31 July 2026.

To apply, please send the following documents:

• complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae;
• motivation letter.

Additional files such as grades and transcripts are not required during this stage and will not be considered.

Procedure

As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure.

Welcome, safe, and valued

Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

We are

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.