Postdoctoral Fellow (AuSpire Project) - Water Use Fit for Purpose by Recycling

RMIT Europe, in collaboration with RMIT University and Eurecat, is looking for a Postdoctoral Fellow to join the AuSpire Program. This position will focus on Water Use Fit for Purpose. Applicants are invited to propose a research project of their own design that develops innovative solutions to improve the treatment of water contaminated from urban stormwater, agricultural activities and treated wastewater for its reuse for environmental and anthropogenic uses.

The Australia-Spain Network for Innovation and Research Excellence (AuSpire) is an ambitious, interdisciplinary program co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement Nº 101177949 that links Spanish and Australian research communities through 28 Postdoctoral Fellowships. Centred on the concept of Planetary Wellbeing, AuSpire aims to address global challenges by fostering research with meaningful, positive impacts on the planet’s inhabitants and ecosystems.

The successful candidates will be employed in Spain by renowned companies, research centres, and universities for 36 months (3 years) and benefit from international and/or intersectoral co-supervision and secondments with counterpart organisations in Spain and Australia for up to 12 months of duration.

To be successful in this position, you will have:

• Minimum of 6 publications including at least 2 as lead author in this field.

• Experience mentoring students.

• Project management experience.

• Leadership ability

• Good Initiative.

• Good communication skills.

• Scientific rigor.

• Proven ability to work in a team

Qualifications and requirements

• Candidate should have a PhD in chemistry, aquatic ecotoxicology or aquatic ecology or similar and expertise in one or more of these areas is required: Conducting laboratory toxicity tests

• Field aquatic biology field studies

• Use of biomarkers for assessing effects of environmental contaminants

What we offer

• A full-time employment contract in Spain for 36 months (3 years) with attractive salaries including social security benefits. The salaries offered by AuSpire are above the average salary for postdoctoral researchers in Spain. You may find an estimation of your salary in the Position Description (the definite amount to be received by the Postdoctoral Fellow is subject to Spanish tax legislation).

• 4,000 EUR relocation for employment stipend to cover costs associated with taking up employment (flights, visa, insurance, etc.), to be distributed monthly as a top-up to the gross salary.

• 9,000 EUR relocation for secondment stipend to cover compulsory project-related travel and accommodation costs (flights, visa, insurance, accommodation, etc.)

• 314 EUR monthly family allowance offered to candidates who meet the criteria.

• 3,000 EUR travel stipend to cover flights and accommodation for participating in compulsory AuSpire training and networking events in Spain over the 3 years.

• Innovative projects of high societal and commercial value in a unique international research environment and multidisciplinary network of researchers and chief investigators from leading industries, research centres and universities.

• Unique training in Planetary Wellbeing and the opportunity to shape your research to offer true value to society and a positive impact on our planet’s inhabitants and ecosystem.

Selection process

Online application: Submit your complete application through the (SlideRoom ) online portal (https://rmiteuropeprograms.slideroom.com/#/Login),  before 29 May 2025 at 11:59 PM CET.

Eligibility check: AuSpire Program Management Team will check that the application complies with requirements and meets the MSCA eligibility criteria. Evaluation of eligible applications and first ranking: Eligible applications will be assessed by the Selection Panel against the Evaluation Criteria detailed in section 4 of the Guide for Applicants.

Interviews: Applicants shortlisted by the Selection Panel will be invited for an interview (by videoconference). Applicants will be contacted at least 5 days ahead of the interview)

Final ranking and allocation of positions: The preferred candidate will receive a conditional offer letter for admission into the AuSpire Program.

Onboarding of successful Applicants: Formalise your employment contract at the Employing Entity. 

Start your postdoctoral fellowship in September 2025.

Additional comments

The remuneration, in line with the European Commission rules for Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant holders, will consist of a gross annual salary of 37,000 EUR. The definite amount to be received by the Postdoctoral Fellow is subject to Spanish tax legislation.

For more details, please see the position description: RMIT-PF2 – Auspire

Applications Close:
29 May 2025 11.59 pm

RMIT Europe is the European hub of RMIT University, one of Australia's largest tertiary institutions. Based in Barcelona, we're focused on expanding RMIT’s reputation as a global university of technology, design and enterprise.