PhD position in Environmental Chemistry of Biodegradable Polymers

PhD position in Environmental Chemistry of Biodegradable Polymers

The Environmental Chemistry Group within the Department of Environmental Systems Science conducts cutting‑edge research on the environmental chemistry and fate of synthetic biodegradable polymers. These materials—ranging from structural to water‑soluble polymers—are designed for complete microbial metabolic utilization in their intended receiving environments (e.g., aquatic systems, soils, wastewater). By ensuring that no persistent polymers accumulate, biodegradable polymers play a key role in advancing a circular polymer economy.

Our group focuses on fundamental and mechanistic investigations of polymer biodegradation using advanced analytical approaches. We translate our scientific insights into practice by supporting the development of next‑generation biodegradable polymers and informing current and future regulatory frameworks. This research field is highly interdisciplinary and involves close collaboration with partners from both academia and industry.

The PhD project aims at advancing our understanding of the biodegradability of water‑soluble polymers. These polymers are broadly used in cosmetics, home care, and agricultural formulations and have diverse input pathways into engineered systems (i.e., wastewater) and natural terrestrial and aquatic environments (soils, rivers, lakes). The project will study enzymatic and abiotic breakdown of these polymers, the uptake of breakdown products into microbial cells, and their intracellular metabolic conversion to carbon dioxide and biomass.

To elucidate these steps, the research will account for both polymer chemistry and the characteristics of the receiving environments (e.g., soil, aquatic systems, and sludge). The project is part of a larger academic–industry collaboration and will be conducted with academic partners at both ETH and the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag).

You will conduct fundamental research on the biodegradation of water‑soluble polymers. The goal is to establish structure‑biodegradability relationships by linking polymer physicochemical properties (e.g., molecular weight, backbone chemistry, side chain chemistry) and system characteristics (e.g., temperature, water content, microbial activity) to experimentally determined polymer biodegradation rates and extents.

Specific project tasks and responsibilities are:

• Conduct systematic assessments of the enzymatic and abiotic breakdown of selected water‑soluble polymers and characterise the resulting ensemble of breakdown products.
• Run laboratory incubations of selected polymers at small and meso‑scales, coupled to respirometric analysis of polymer conversion into CO₂ and microbial biomass—using both unlabeled and stable‑carbon‑isotope‑labelled polymers.
• Establish (quantitative) polymer structure–biodegradability relationships.
• Advance the analytical chemistry of water‑soluble polymers, including mass‑spectrometric and stable‑isotope‑tracing approaches.
• Attend international conferences, prepare periodic reports for collaboration partners, and publish your results in top peer‑reviewed scientific journals.

You should hold a:

• Master’s degree in organic or polymer chemistry, environmental chemistry or sciences, environmental microbiology, carbon biogeochemistry, or closely related fields.
• Proficiency in English is mandatory, both spoken and written.

Essential competencies required are:

• High motivation to conduct fundamental experimental research in an environmental context, driven by curiosity and openness to new ideas, solutions, and technologies.
• The ability to engage in teamwork, work synergistically, and communicate in an efficient, respectful, and inclusive manner.
• Interest in engaging with a larger group of scientists dedicated to advancing sustainability science on polymers.
• Interest in coaching and advising master and bachelor students on their practical thesis work.

We offer excellent working conditions, with access to advanced analytical facilities. The workplace is located at both ETH Zurich (in the city center) and Eawag (in Dübendorf, about 20–30 minutes…