Postdoctoral Researcher in Adsorption and Environmental Fate of Water-Soluble Polymers

About the role

The Environmental Chemistry Group in the Department of Environmental Systems Sciences at ETH Zurich invites applications for a postdoctoral position investigating the adsorption and environmental fate of synthetic water-soluble polymers. The project is run jointly at ETH Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag). Water-soluble polymers are widely used in personal care, home care and agriculture, and their adsorption to mineral and organic surfaces affects transport, retention and bioavailability.

Key responsibilities

• Investigate polymer adsorption onto model mineral and organic surfaces and selected soils, sediments and sludge, establishing quantitative or semi-quantitative relationships between polymer properties, adsorption and mobility.
• Carry out batch adsorption and desorption experiments across polymers, sorbents and solution conditions.
• Run column experiments to assess polymer retention and transport under flowing conditions.
• Perform in situ surface measurements of adsorbed amounts and polymer conformations.
• Use high-resolution mass spectrometry to characterise polymer fractions remaining in solution and investigate selective adsorption.
• Contribute to research questions and experimental strategies, publish and present findings, exchange results with partners and support Master's thesis research.

Required profile

• PhD in surface or interfacial chemistry, colloid science, polymer science, environmental chemistry, materials science or a closely related field.
• Experimental experience in adsorption, desorption, attachment or characterisation of solid-water interfaces is welcomed, from fundamental or applied research.
• Experience with surface-sensitive analytical techniques, polymer characterisation, batch adsorption or column transport studies is valuable but not required.
• Good written and spoken English; curiosity and ability to design and quantitatively interpret experiments are sought.

What we offer

• Access to state-of-the-art analytical facilities and complementary expertise at ETH Zurich and Eawag.
• Integration into international research groups with English as the common working language.
• Support for professional training and career development.
• Fixed-term position funded for up to two years with a competitive postdoctoral salary.

Applications are submitted online as a single PDF containing a cover letter, CV, up to three publications, degree certificates and three references. Evaluation starts on 26 October 2026; the tentative start date is late 2026 or early 2027.