Salary & allowances: Generous; as determined Marie Curie RTN Guidelines.
Ref. ESR8A & ESR8B

Applications are invited for two Early Stage Researcher (ESR) positions.

(I) ESR8A - to be based at CEREGE (CNRS-University Paul Cézanne-AIX -France) for 12 months and focussing on factors controlling As uptake by plants, particularly in the Camargue where low soil and water As still result in relatively high As concentration in rice grains. The role of iron plaques and biogenic silica phytolites will also be considered. Methodologies will include field experiments, laboratory culture and state of the art microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. Funding is available for further site/laboratory visits.

(II) ESR8B - to be based at DMU (De Montfort University, Leicester - UK) for 12 months and focussing on both (a) soil/plant transfer and also (b) the nature and distribution of arsenic in the food chain (on which subject the candidate will be expected to complete, with the aim of publishing, a substantive review). Funding is available for further site/laboratory visits inc. to the arsenic speciation measurement facilities at University of Aberdeen.

For both posts the preferred starting date is 15 March 2009, but this is subject to negotiation between the respective host institutions and the successful candidate.

Selection requirements: The candidate must hold an MSc or equivalent. Ideally, this MSc will have been obtained in environmental, biological or analytical chemistry; The candidate must have experience with (or interest in) field work and laboratory experiments on environmental samples and plants. Proficiency in English language is a requirement.

Generic EU Marie Curie Actions Eligibility Criteria: Applicants should not be either (i) a national of; or (ii) resident for greater than 12 months of the last 36 months in the country of the host institution unless they have spent more than 4 of the last 5 years outside the EU and Associated States. No more than 12 months in total for these posts may be allocated to candidates from Third Countries.

Either of these posts would be ideal for current PhD students seeking a 12 month research placement during the course of their PhD. Strong preference will be given to such candidates, who can also demonstrate that such a placement meets with the approval of their PhD provider. We note that such a placement would fulfil one of the requirements for the award of a European PhD. We will also consider current PhD students seeking shorter (6 months) placements at CEREGE but preference will be given to candidates seeking the full 12 month placement.

Applications from women researchers are particularly welcomed.

Informal enquiries should be made to Dr Jerome Rose (rose@cerege.fr) for Post ESR8A or to Dr Parvez Haris (pharis@dmu.ac.uk) for Post ESR8B.

Further information about the AquaTRAIN Network as well as detailed application instructions are available from http://www.AquaTRAIN.eu/ .

Closing date: 29 January 2009.

Review of candidates' applications will commence immediately after the stated deadlines, however we may consider applications received after these deadlines until each post is filled.