Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Ecotoxicology (Microplastics)

About the role

The Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW) at the University of Exeter is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join Prof Ceri Lewis’s Microplastic Laboratory. The role starts in July and supports a South West Water‑funded project aimed at advancing microplastic analysis in complex environmental matrices.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and test rapid analytical techniques for microplastic detection in water, soils and sludge.
• Optimise standard operating procedures for FTIR‑based polymer identification and quantification.
• Develop and refine pyrolysis GC‑MS and fluorescence‑based methods in collaboration with analytical chemists and machine‑learning experts.
• Analyse large datasets, generate scientific reports and prepare manuscripts for peer‑reviewed publication.
• Work within the partnership framework between the University of Exeter and South West Water, handling business‑sensitive data responsibly.

Required profile

• PhD (or equivalent experience) in environmental science, chemistry, ecotoxicology or a related discipline.
• Proven experience with analytical techniques for microplastic isolation and spectral analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to meet tight deadlines and deliver high‑quality research outputs.
• Strong written communication skills for scientific publishing.

Required skills

• FTIR spectroscopy for polymer identification.
• Pyrolysis GC‑MS technique development.
• Fluorescence‑based analytical methods.
• Data analysis and statistical interpretation.
• Machine‑learning applications in analytical chemistry.

What we offer

• Fixed‑term contract until 30 June 2028 (Grade F, salary from £43,482 per annum).
• Access to state‑of‑the‑art laboratory facilities and interdisciplinary expertise.
• Opportunity to contribute to a high‑impact project addressing microplastic pollution.
• Supportive research environment within a top‑ranked Russell Group university.