About the Project
A fully funded PhD position (100%) over 3.5 years is available in the Exposure Science Unit in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health at the Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté) and University of Lausanne. The PhD student will conduct occupational hygiene studies focusing on biological monitoring in industry.
Occupational hygiene is vital for occupational health and safety as many workers use toxic substances. An occupational hygienist’s role is to prevent occupational injury and disease by anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling occupational health and safety hazards. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous chemicals that interfere with hormone action, thereby increasing the risk of adverse health outcomes, including cancer, reproductive impairment, cognitive deficits and obesity. EDCs such as phthalates are used in industrial productions to make plastic soft. Although, EDC hazards might be known, the extent of exposures and in particular internal exposures among workers for different types of jobs are less known. Therefore, the current EDC risk assessment paradigm makes large assumptions based on very uncertain data to estimate exposures via inhalation and skin exposures to particulates, aerosols, and vapors. The Swiss Center for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT) has recognized these important shortcomings and have initiated a male reproductive toxicity program including the aim of exposure assessment of EDCs using biomonitoring to relate health effects from exposures.
The successful candidate will have a Master Degree or equivalent in the field of any of the scientific domains: toxicology, biology, chemistry, or physics. The applicant will need to be accepted as a PhD student at the University of Lausanne. We are looking for a highly motivated individual with a strong scientific background and excellent communication skills.
The working language is French, English, and German.
Application/contact
Please apply online
For questions regarding the position please contact PD Dr. N.B. Hopf: Nancy.Hopf@unisante.ch
