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PhD Position Ceramic Nanofiltration for Water Treatment

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)

Posted on Dec 2, 2025

Join our team in the Water Management Department and help tackle one of the world's greatest challenges: providing clean, safe, and sustainable drinking water.

Job description

Water scarcity and pollution are among the most pressing global challenges. Membrane-based systems are crucial for producing high-quality drinking water, but they also generate concentrate streams rich in emerging contaminants such as PFAS and micropollutants. These streams are often released into the environment, posing risks to both people and ecosystems.

In this PhD project, you will work on the development and optimization of ceramic nanofiltration, integrating advanced materials and innovative water treatment process design to safely manage and minimize these concentrate streams. Your work will contribute directly to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and 13 (Climate Action), as well as to Horizon Europe Cluster 6 priorities.

In this role you will focus on:

• Modifying ceramic membranes for selective ion rejection from water.
• Conducting water treatment experiments and membrane characterization.
• Collaborating with other PhD researchers and team members to ensure that findings contribute to the shared goals of advancing sustainable water treatment.

You will join the Sanitary Engineering Section of TU Delft's Department of Water Management, working in a multidisciplinary environment focused on water quality and treatment. You will have access to the TU Delft WaterLab to test and validate new technologies. Within our friendly and diverse team, your ideas are valued, and you will receive the guidance and support you need to grow both academically and professionally.

Job requirements

We are looking for our new colleague, who is a curiosity-driven researcher with a strong interest in experimental studies.

• Master's degree in environmental engineering, chemical engineering, or a closely related field.
• Fundamental knowledge of separation and filtration techniques for water treatment.
• Proven background and strong interest in water treatment processes and experimental studies.
• Ability to cooperate effectively with group members from different fields of water management, with excellent communication skills, including proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Experience with membrane-based filtration in lab- and/or pilot-scale experimental studies is an advantage.

TU Delft

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from €3059 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service , offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Begüm Tanis .