PhD student: Optical methods for pollution monitoring of ambient air and fresh water

Your research topic

Are you passionate about combining theoretical and experimental concepts to solve real-world problems? If so, we want you on our team, where you’ll have the opportunity to conduct exciting research by developing innovative optical solutions for continuous monitoring of ambient air and freshwater quality. Your goal will be to detect and identify various pollutants, such as airborne particulate matter, waterborne microplastics and pathogenic microorganisms.

Monitoring and managing pollution of ambient air and fresh water is of utmost importance to determine current exposure rates, take swift action when the allowed concentrations are exceeded, and protect human health as well as the environment. In Europe alone, air pollution reduces life expectancy by about 2.2 years. On the other hand, fresh water is the most immediate source of drinking water in human consumption that can carry pollutants, including microplastics and pathogenic microorganisms, which can have potentially serious adverse effects on human health.

Your research will focus on combining optical methods such as digital holographic and fluorescence microscopy with various microfluidic platforms, which enable precise manipulation and analysis of airborne and waterborne microparticles at microliter flow rates. Digital holographic microscopy is currently a rapidly developing modality that is based on a computational reconstruction of size, morphology, refractive index distribution and birefringence of microscopic particles from an interference pattern. Fluorescence microscopy, on the other hand, offers the necessary complementary information related to the composition of microparticles.

What we offer

You will work in the Laboratory of Imaging Technologies at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana. Our laboratory offers a relaxed and stimulating working environment. We believe that every candidate brings unique skills and strengths to the table, and we are committed to providing our researchers with the opportunity to learn and develop the skills needed to have a successful scientific career. You will have an option to regularly attend international conferences and summer schools and will also have an opportunity for a longer research stay at a selected research institution abroad.

The employment is financed for 4 years with full health insurance coverage and social security. By the end of the financing period, you will obtain a PhD through the educational program available at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana.

Mandatory requirements

• Master’s degree in physics or related engineering fields awarded no more than four years ago
• Average GPA of courses and master’s thesis higher than C (ECTS grading scale)
• Experience in optics and optical systems
• Excellent writing and verbal skills in English

Preferred qualifications

• Motivation to learn and explore new ideas
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Programming skills (Python or C/C++ or Matlab)

Application deadline

July 14, 2023

Starting date

-

Application
Please send your CV, motivation letter and two letters of recommendation to peter.naglic@fe.uni-lj.si

Location

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Trzaska cesta 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

More information

• University of Ljubljana: https://www.uni-lj.si/eng/
• Faculty of Electrical Engineering: https://www.fe.uni-lj.si/en/
• Laboratory of Imaging Technologies: https://lit.fe.uni-lj.si/en/