PhD: Ammonium removal in municipal wastewater treatment with ion exchange

Are you interested in working on circular water systems? Do you want to better understand ion exchange as a technology for ammonium removal in the next generation of municipal wastewater treatment technologies? Join our research consortium!

The Department of Environmental Technology of Wageningen University & Research is looking for a PhD candidate within the research consortium BlueVantage. BlueVantage is a large research program with scientific and societal partners that aims to tackle growing water challenges by finding new ways to reuse water safely and sustainably. To that end, BlueVantage explores new treatment technologies to recover valuable resources from water and to remove persistent organic micropollutants, thereby ensuring a clean water cycle for economy, ecology and society. 

The research in BlueVantage is divided over different thematic work packages in which a number of PhDs, their supervisors and societal partners together work on the ambitions of BlueVantage. This PhD-position will be positioned in a work package focussed on the next generation of municipal wastewater treatment technologies. The work in this work package will be performed in collaboration with 2 other PhD-candidates, water authorities and technology developers. 

You will study the use of ion-exchange for ammonium removal from wastewater streams. You will identify strategies for reduction of chemical use in ion exchange by developing mechanistic models and by conducting laboratory experiments. 

Specifically, your duties and responsibilities include 

• obtain fundamental insights in ion exchange as a technology for ammonium removal and recovery from wastewater, applied in the next generation of wastewater treatment;
• conduct experiments to determine relevant parameters for ammonium removal in a complex matrix and for subsequent regeneration;
• develop a predictive model to describe competitive removal of ammonium and other ions by ion exchange in Julia, Python or Matlab;  
• take part in BlueVantage activities, such as consortium meetings, workshops, stakeholder interaction and courses;
• pro-actively communicate your research findings with partners within and outside of the BlueVantage consortium;
• publish your research in peer-reviewed journals and present your research at (inter)national conferences.

You will work here

The research is embedded within the Department of Environmental Technology (www.ete.wur.nl). You will be co-supervised by Dr. Paula van den Brink and by Dr. Jouke Dykstra. 

You are a pro-active communicator who enjoys working together with people from different backgrounds and organizations. You are well capable to switch from fundamental discussions with scientific peers to formulating the relevance of your research within the broader scope of water reuse. You have experience with laboratory experiments in complex matrices, with physical-chemical or process modelling, and with programming. 

You also possess: 

• a successfully completed MSc degree in environmental sciences, water technology, (bio) process technology, chemical engineering, or a closely related field;
• the availability to start your PhD on September 1, 2026;
• hands-on experience with experimental methods (in water technology) for separations and characterization;
• proven experience with physical-chemical or process modeling;
• the ability to bridge fundamental knowledge, such as adsorption science, with applied process engineering concepts. 

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

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

• 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 receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.
The gross salary for the first year is € 3.059,- per month rising to € 3.881,-  in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well. 

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. 

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.

For more information about the position, please contact Dr. Jouke Dykstra via email: Jouke.Dykstra@wur.nl.
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Evelien Janssen, Corporate Recruiter, via email: evelien.janssen@wur.nl.

Ready to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

To apply, please send the following documents (max. 3 pages in total for both documents):

• Complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae;
• Motivation letter.

The maximum length of the documents must not exceed 3 pages. If it exceeds, applications will not be considered. Additional files such as grades and transcripts are not required during this stage and will not be considered.

You can apply up to and including 25 May 2026. 

Additional information form
For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below:

https://forms.office.com/e/dtyELgugT7

Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process.

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.

​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.

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