PHD Research Project

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- JOB - Netherlands - Wetsus - European centre of excellence for sustainable water technology - Posted on: 9 September 2026
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9 Sep 2026
Wetsus - European centre of excellence for sustainable water technology Research Field
Physics » Chemical physics
Physics » Biophysics
Technology » Water technology
Chemistry » Other Researcher Profile
First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions
PhD Positions Application Deadline
16 Oct 2026 - 15:00 (Europe/Amsterdam) Country
Netherlands Type of Contract
Temporary Job Status
Full-time Hours Per Week
40 Offer Starting Date
1 Mar 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number
2026.17 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No
Offer Description
Assessing ultra-weak photon emission as a marker of treatment-induced changes in water
Ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) is a very weak light signal that has been measured in many biological systems and is mainly linked to oxidative and physicochemical processes. In water systems, however, spontaneous photon emission remains poorly understood and experimentally challenging. This project investigates the origins of UPE and whether and how these signals are related to physical, chemical or microbiological parameters. The project further investigates the applicabilty of UPE as detection tool for non-chemical water treatment methods. Measurements will include ultra-sensitive photon counting, delayed luminescence, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, flow cytometry and microbiological profiling. The project combines photonics, water technology and microbiological analysis to create a scientifically controlled framework for evaluating treatment-induced changes in water.
Research challenges
The main challenge is that ultra-weak photon signals from water are extremely small and can easily be influenced b...