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5 Fully Funded PhD Positions in Water Technology & Sustainable Materials (Wetsus PhD Call – September 2026)

PhD position

9/14/2026

Opportunity at a glance

  • Programme: Wetsus PhD Call – September 2026

  • Type: 5 fully funded PhD positions in water technology, sensing, and sustainable materials

  • Funding: Wetsus (European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology) and partner organisations

  • Eligibility: Master's degree (or equivalent) in environmental engineering, water technology, chemistry, materials science, biophysics, data science, or related fields

  • Deadline: 16 October 2026, 15:00 CEST

  • Location: Leeuwarden and partner institutions, Netherlands (with field work and collaborations as required)

  • Start: 2027 (exact start date project‑dependent)

Why Wetsus matters

Water technology is central to:

  • Clean drinking water and sanitation

  • Industrial process water and wastewater treatment

  • Resource recovery (nutrients, energy, materials)

  • Environmental monitoring and ecosystem health

  • Sustainable materials and circular economy solutions

Wetsus is the European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, based in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. It brings together:

  • Universities and research institutes

  • Water boards, municipalities, and utilities

  • Industry partners across the water and materials value chain

Wetsus PhD candidates work on real‑world water challenges with access to pilot facilities, field sites, and strong industrial networks. The centre emphasises interdisciplinary research, combining chemistry, biology, engineering, data science, and systems thinking.

The 5 PhD projects (September 2026 call)

You can apply to one or more positions; each has its own research focus and skill profile.

2026.12 – From Weeds to Decisions

Proximal sensing; GIS; field spectroscopy; soil biology; plant traits; machine learning

Focus: Use proximal sensing, field spectroscopy, and GIS to link aquatic/riparian vegetation ("weeds") with soil biology, plant traits, and water‑system functioning, supporting data‑driven management decisions.

Typical methods & skills:

  • Field spectroscopy and remote/proximal sensing

  • GIS and spatial analysis

  • Soil biology and plant trait measurements

  • Machine learning for pattern recognition and predictive modelling

  • Integration of ecological and hydrological data

Ideal background: Environmental engineering, eco‑hydrology, remote sensing, ecology, data science, or related fields with interest in water–vegetation–soil interactions.

2026.16 – Designing Next‑Generation Water Treatment Trains for PFAS and Micropollutant Removal

Advanced oxidation processes; GAC filtration; PFAS removal; transformation products; radical exposure

Focus: Design and optimise multi‑barrier water treatment trains that effectively remove PFAS and other micropollutants, while controlling formation of transformation products and managing radical exposure.

Typical methods & skills:

  • Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs: UV/H₂O₂, ozone, etc.)

  • Granular activated carbon (GAC) and other adsorption technologies

  • Analytical chemistry for PFAS and micropollutants (LC‑MS/MS, etc.)

  • Reaction pathway analysis and transformation‑product identification

  • Process design, pilot testing, and performance evaluation

Ideal background: Environmental/chemical engineering, chemistry, water technology, or related fields with interest in advanced water treatment and emerging contaminants.

2026.17 – Ultra‑Weak Photon Emission of Water

Biophotonics; delayed luminescence; water technology; colloidal analysis; photon counting

Focus: Investigate ultra‑weak photon emission (biophotonics) from water samples as a novel indicator of water quality, colloidal state, and biological activity.

Typical methods & skills:

  • Photon‑counting and low‑light detection techniques

  • Delayed luminescence and biophotonics measurements

  • Colloidal and interfacial analysis of water samples

  • Correlation of optical signals with chemical/biological parameters

  • Development of sensing concepts for water technology

Ideal background: Physics, biophysics, analytical chemistry, optical engineering, or related fields with interest in novel water‑quality sensing and fundamental water science.

2026.18 – Flagship Sustainable‑by‑Design Circular Composite Bioplastics

Biopolymer blends; structure–property relationships; crystallization; melt‑processing; mechanical testing; impurity tracking; analytical tools; production quality control

Focus: Develop sustainable, circular composite bioplastics from biopolymer blends, with controlled structure–property relationships, suitable for water‑technology and related applications.

Typical methods & skills:

  • Formulation of biopolymer blends and composites

  • Crystallization and thermal analysis (DSC, TGA, etc.)

  • Melt‑processing (extrusion, injection moulding, etc.)

  • Mechanical testing and durability assessment

  • Impurity tracking, analytical characterisation, and quality control in production

Ideal background: Materials science, polymer science, chemical engineering, sustainable materials, or related fields with interest in circular economy and biobased materials.

2026.19 – Beyond the Boundaries of Phosphate Desorption

Material Science; Surface Chemistry; Resource Recovery; Water Technologies; Advanced Characterization

Focus: Advance phosphate desorption and recovery from water and sludge streams using novel materials and surface‑chemistry strategies, supporting nutrient recovery and circular resource management.

Typical methods & skills:

  • Synthesis and modification of sorbent materials (e.g., metal oxides, layered materials, functionalised carbons)

  • Surface chemistry and adsorption/desorption studies

  • Batch and column experiments for phosphate recovery

  • Advanced characterisation (XRD, XPS, BET, SEM/EDX, etc.)

  • Integration into water‑treatment and resource‑recovery processes

Ideal background: Materials science, surface chemistry, environmental engineering, chemical engineering, or related fields with interest in nutrient recovery and sustainable water technologies.

Who should apply

Typical backgrounds (depending on the project):

  • Environmental / Water / Chemical Engineering

  • Chemistry / Analytical Chemistry

  • Materials Science / Polymer Science

  • Physics / Biophysics / Optical Engineering

  • Ecology / Eco‑hydrology / Remote Sensing / GIS

  • Data Science / Machine Learning (applied to environmental systems)

Skills and attributes that strengthen your application:

  • Strong foundation in your core discipline (e.g., water treatment, materials, optics, ecology, data science)

  • Experience with laboratory work, field measurements, or modelling relevant to your chosen project

  • Familiarity with data analysis and scientific programming (Python, R, MATLAB) is advantageous, especially for sensing/GIS/ML‑oriented projects

  • Interest in sustainability, circular economy, and real‑world water challenges

  • Ability to work in interdisciplinary teams with academic and industrial partners

English language requirement:

  • Strong written and spoken English is required for research, training, and collaboration.

  • Some host institutions may ask for formal proof (e.g., IELTS/TOEFL) if your degree was not in English.

Funding & benefits

Wetsus PhD positions are typically:

  • Fully funded for the duration of the PhD (usually 4 years in the Netherlands)

  • Employed under Dutch university or research‑institute conditions, with:

    • Competitive salary according to Dutch collective labour agreements (CAO) for PhD candidates

    • Pension, holiday allowance, and end‑of‑year bonus

    • Access to university facilities, courses, and doctoral schools

In addition, you will benefit from:

  • Interdisciplinary research environment at Wetsus and partner institutions

  • Access to pilot facilities, field sites, and industrial partners

  • Opportunities for secondments and collaborations within the Wetsus network

  • Training in scientific communication, project management, and innovation/entrepreneurship

  • Participation in workshops, conferences, and stakeholder events

Exact contract terms, salary scale, and benefits depend on the host institution and project.

How to apply

  1. Review the 5 project descriptions (2026.12, 2026.16, 2026.17, 2026.18, 2026.19) and identify those that best match your background and interests.

  2. Prepare your application materials, typically including:

    • Detailed CV (with publications, thesis topic, key techniques, and coding/analysis skills if relevant)

    • Academic transcripts and degree certificates (Bachelor's and Master's)

    • Motivation letter tailored to Wetsus and your chosen project(s), explaining:

      • Why you are interested in that specific project

      • How your background and skills align with the methods and goals

      • How the project fits your long‑term career plans in water technology / sustainable materials

    • Evidence of research experience (thesis abstract, project reports, code repositories, posters, etc.)

    • English proficiency proof (if available or required)

  3. Submit your application via the Wetsus PhD positions portal before the deadline:

  4. If you are interested in multiple projects, you may be able to indicate more than one preference in the application form or mention this in your motivation letter (check the portal instructions).

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews (likely in October–November 2026), after which final decisions will be communicated.

Recruitment timeline

  • Call opened: September 2026 (officially announced on the Wetsus PhD positions website)

  • Application deadline: 16 October 2026, 15:00 CEST

  • Selection period: October–November 2026 (project‑dependent)

  • Expected start: 2027 (exact date project‑dependent)

How we can help

If you're considering the Wetsus PhD call:

  • We can help you match your profile (e.g., water treatment & PFAS, biophotonics & sensing, materials & bioplastics, phosphate recovery, eco‑hydrology & ML) to the most suitable projects.

  • Your mentor can help you craft targeted motivation letters that clearly link your past work (thesis, projects, techniques, software) to Wetsus goals and the specific project aims.

  • We can review your CV and research statement to highlight the skills Wetsus supervisors value: experimental design, analytical methods, field work, modelling, coding, data analysis, and interdisciplinary thinking.

Found a fit? Share your shortlist (e.g., "2026.16 PFAS treatment", "2026.17 biophotonics", "2026.19 phosphate recovery") and a draft CV/motivation letter, and we'll help you turn this into a strong, submission‑ready application before the 16 October deadline.

For more personalized tips or templates contact our team.

www.applywithmentors.com