Postdoctoral scientist in chemical risk assessment (M/F) Ref°522

The Department of Health Protection mainly works for the Ministry of Health and is an active partner in the European Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC). PARC is a 7-year science-policy Research & Innovation programme that has been launched in May 2022 and that is co-funded by the European Union. PARC aims to develop next-generation chemical risk assessment to protect human health and the environment and to support the EU Chemical Strategy for Sustainability and the European Green Deal`s “Zero pollution” ambition with new data, knowledge, methods and tools, expertise and networks. The programme involves 200 partners from 28 countries and the EU, including national and EU risk assessment and regulatory agencies as well as affiliated research organisations working in environmental, occupational and/or public health. As national institute, LNS is key partner in several work packages and involved in human biomonitoring, exposure and risk assessment projects (general and occupational population context).

The Departments` senior experts in the specific domains of toxicology, exposure science and human health risk assessment are actively involved in international and European experts groups and committees, such as the ECHA Risk Assessment Committee, OECD working groups and projects, in scientific societies, such as ISES. The Department` expertise thus is internationally recognized and well connected to follow the latest state-of-the-art in the expert domain of exposure assessment, risk assessment and the regulatory arena.

Job description

As an expert in exposure and human health risk assessment and working in the PARC project, you report directly to the Senior Project Manager Environmental Health and Risk Assessment with a PhD in Toxicology and more than 15 years of experience in risk assessment. More specifically, you will:

• Contribute to dedicated PARC projects on source-to-dose and aggregated exposure assessment aiming to develop a strategy and model toolbox for aggregated exposure assessment for the regulatory context;
• Analyze human biomonitoring and indoor exposure data for its suitability for evaluation and further development of exposure models;
• Conduct risk assessments based human biomonitoring data; process analytical results and perform human health risk assessment tasks, including the chemical analytical data evaluation, exposure assessment, and human health risk assessment;
• Use advanced human health exposure and risk assessment models, such as MCRA (Monte Carlo Risk Assessment);
• Participate and co-lead PARC working groups and case studies on indoor and occupational exposure;
• Participate in the different working groups and meetings in PARC related to exposure and risk assessment;
• Be responsible for the technical reporting in PARC for your tasks and the domains you are involved in;
• Publish your work in international peer-review journals and present at international conferences;
• Contribute to the development of training and capacity building materials on human biomonitoring, occupational and indoor environmental exposure, occupational safety and health, environmental health;
• With your role in PARC linked to exposure assessment and innovation in regulatory risk assessment you connect to and actively support the Departments` experts in their work in international working groups and committees as an advisor: you will understand regulatory and technical requirements for conducting risk assessments under specific regulatory programs, contribute to the scientific-technical expert work, foster the synergies between the Department` activities and contribute to early uptake and valorization of knowledge, tools and methods developed in PARC in the context of regulatory risk assessment.

This list of tasks should not be considered exhaustive. Missions may vary depending on the specific needs of the Department, the PARC project and the role of the Department in PARC.

Job specific skills

• Sc., PhD or equivalent in toxicology, chemistry, bioengineering, veterinarian or pharmacy, and related, in particular trainings on risk assessment, exposure assessment and computational science;
• Proven track record in estimating the impact of environmental pollution on human health with experience in chemical risk assessment and exposure assessment based on modelling and monitoring;
• Proven track record in human exposure modelling with strong mathematical skills;
• Knowledge and experience in exposure model development is a strong asset;
• Knowledge and experience in human health risk assessment based on human biomonitoring data is a strong asset;
• Knowledge of European regulatory human health risk assessment principles, procedures, and guidance is preferred.

Key skills

• Strong analytical thinking;
• Strong organizational skills and structured way of working;
• Excellent team working skills;
• Strong writing skills for scientific journals and technical reports;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, including excellent presentation skills and communicating technical information effectively;
• Perfect fluency in English;
• Knowledge of one of the following languages will be considered as an asset: French or German (oral and written).

We offer

• A highly competitive salary;
• A dynamic department in full expansion and developing new activities at request of its stakeholders;
• An international and multidisciplinary environment;
• Continuous training possibilities.

If you meet the above profile requirements and wish to apply, please send your application (CV, letter of intent and copies of your degrees) by clicking on the application button below.

Applications will be processed in order of arrival. The utmost confidentiality will be granted to each application.

At the final stages of the recruitment process, the successful candidate will be asked to provide supporting documentation such as, copies of diplomas and certificates of employment. An official criminal record (bulletin no.3) will also be required for consultation purpose.