Institution: University of Antwerp Faculty: Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences Department: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Location: Antwerp, Belgium Position Type: Full-time Postdoctoral Researcher About the University of Antwerp The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20,000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6,000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape. The Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences is looking for a full-time postdoctoral researcher to improve our understanding of the human exposure pathways of PFAS and PFAS-free alternatives in the health care sector, as part of the EU HORIZON-IHI project PFAROS. This position will aim at performing high-quality research related to human exposure to PFAS (including F-polymers) from all types of production equipment, consumables, packaging, delivery devices, medical devices, complex machinery parts, and cleaning agents used in the health care sector. Existing data will be enriched with innovative measurements on leachables/extractables using advanced mass spectrometry techniques. The research will be executed at the Toxicological Centre (TC), University of Antwerp, Belgium, which has extensive analytical expertise and instrumental capabilities related to human exposure assessment and environmental and analytical toxicology. Position Contribute to mapping PFAS use across healthcare to support substitution and risk assessment. Together with other project partners, categorize PFAS by properties and functions, compile toxicity, fate, exposure, and supply-chain data, and document potential PFAS-free alternatives. Contribute to the chemical analysis of PFAS and PFAS-free alternatives in selected articles and products using state-of-the-art chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques, including (non-targeted) screening and cheminformatics approaches. Contribute to exposure assessment, including extractables/leachables, through the compilation of existing data, exposure modelling, and analysis of selected scenarios using fit-for-purpose standardised methods (e.g. ISO, CEN, etc.) or LC-HRMS and/or GC-HRMS. This includes human health exposure through leachables during use. Refine and implement existing analytical methods at the Toxicological Centre and validate new methods for PFAS in matrices of emerging interest. Conduct research and publish results to disseminate scientific insights. Contribute to attracting external funding for the Toxicological Centre and coordinate project proposals in the field of PFAS research. Participate in the provision of academic services by representing the research group internally and externally. Build and maintain international scientific contacts. Supervise and evaluate Master’s and PhD students with a view to successfully completing and defending their thesis. Profile You hold a PhD in analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, biomedical or environmental sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, or a similar discipline. The preferred candidate should have an excellent track record of peer-reviewed publications in recognized journals in the field and experience with external funding. You have experience with target and non-target analysis of PFAS at trace levels (by LC and/or GC-(HR)MS) in different matrices. Additional experience with consumer (polymeric) products and leaching testing will be beneficial. You have experience in bioinformatics to process (HR)MS data for annotation workflows and statistical analyses. You are up-to-date with technical developments in the field of analytical chemistry and will integrate them into your research. Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies. You possess excellent English communication skills, both written and oral. You are available to work full time, with high motivation, good planning, communication, and organizational skills. You also act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity, and cooperation. You can work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary, international, and multicultural team, while managing conflicting demands and meeting deadlines. What We Offer A full-time appointment as a postdoctoral scholarship holder for a period of 12 months, with the possibility of extension to 36 months following a positive evaluation. Planned start date: 1 November 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. Scientific development opportunities in an international, cooperative, interdisciplinary research environment and an excellent working atmosphere in a dynamic, international, and professional team. Access to extensive state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure. Opportunities to present research at international conferences and participate in workshops. A monthly scholarship calculated according to the scholarship amounts for postdoctoral scholarship holders on the pay scales for Contract Research Staff (Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP). Additional benefits including: Ecocheques Internet connectivity allowance Bicycle allowance or full reimbursement of public transport commuting costs How to Apply You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including 17 August 2026 (midnight Brussels time). Please include the following documents: Motivation letter Academic CV One to two letters of recommendation The selection committee reviews all applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. Applicants will be notified once a decision has been made. Candidates who remain eligible after the pre-selection will be informed about the next steps in the selection procedure. For questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or email jobs@uantwerpen.be. For questions about the position, please contact Prof. Dr. Adrian Covaci at adrian.covaci@uantwerpen.be. Equal Opportunity The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. The University is a sustainable, family-friendly organisation that invests in its employees’ growth. It encourages diversity and attaches great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or age. Applications from people with diverse backgrounds and characteristics are strongly encouraged. Application Deadline Applications close 17 August 2026 (midnight Brussels time). If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Academicoxy

Institution: University of Antwerp
Faculty: Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences
Department: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Location: Antwerp, Belgium
Position Type: Full-time Postdoctoral Researcher

About the University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20,000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6,000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape.

The Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences is looking for a full-time postdoctoral researcher to improve our understanding of the human exposure pathways of PFAS and PFAS-free alternatives in the health care sector, as part of the EU HORIZON-IHI project PFAROS.

This position will aim at performing high-quality research related to human exposure to PFAS (including F-polymers) from all types of production equipment, consumables, packaging, delivery devices, medical devices, complex machinery parts, and cleaning agents used in the health care sector.

Existing data will be enriched with innovative measurements on leachables/extractables using advanced mass spectrometry techniques.

The research will be executed at the Toxicological Centre (TC), University of Antwerp, Belgium, which has extensive analytical expertise and instrumental capabilities related to human exposure assessment and environmental and analytical toxicology.

Position

Contribute to mapping PFAS use across healthcare to support substitution and risk assessment. Together with other project partners, categorize PFAS by properties and functions, compile toxicity, fate, exposure, and supply-chain data, and document potential PFAS-free alternatives.
Contribute to the chemical analysis of PFAS and PFAS-free alternatives in selected articles and products using state-of-the-art chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques, including (non-targeted) screening and cheminformatics approaches.
Contribute to exposure assessment, including extractables/leachables, through the compilation of existing data, exposure modelling, and analysis of selected scenarios using fit-for-purpose standardised methods (e.g. ISO, CEN, etc.) or LC-HRMS and/or GC-HRMS. This includes human health exposure through leachables during use.
Refine and implement existing analytical methods at the Toxicological Centre and validate new methods for PFAS in matrices of emerging interest.
Conduct research and publish results to disseminate scientific insights.
Contribute to attracting external funding for the Toxicological Centre and coordinate project proposals in the field of PFAS research.
Participate in the provision of academic services by representing the research group internally and externally.
Build and maintain international scientific contacts.
Supervise and evaluate Master’s and PhD students with a view to successfully completing and defending their thesis.

Profile

You hold a PhD in analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, biomedical or environmental sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, or a similar discipline. The preferred candidate should have an excellent track record of peer-reviewed publications in recognized journals in the field and experience with external funding.
You have experience with target and non-target analysis of PFAS at trace levels (by LC and/or GC-(HR)MS) in different matrices. Additional experience with consumer (polymeric) products and leaching testing will be beneficial.
You have experience in bioinformatics to process (HR)MS data for annotation workflows and statistical analyses.
You are up-to-date with technical developments in the field of analytical chemistry and will integrate them into your research.
Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
You possess excellent English communication skills, both written and oral.
You are available to work full time, with high motivation, good planning, communication, and organizational skills. You also act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity, and cooperation.
You can work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary, international, and multicultural team, while managing conflicting demands and meeting deadlines.

What We Offer

A full-time appointment as a postdoctoral scholarship holder for a period of 12 months, with the possibility of extension to 36 months following a positive evaluation.
Planned start date: 1 November 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.
Scientific development opportunities in an international, cooperative, interdisciplinary research environment and an excellent working atmosphere in a dynamic, international, and professional team.
Access to extensive state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure.
Opportunities to present research at international conferences and participate in workshops.
A monthly scholarship calculated according to the scholarship amounts for postdoctoral scholarship holders on the pay scales for Contract Research Staff (Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).
Additional benefits including:
- Ecocheques
- Internet connectivity allowance
- Bicycle allowance or full reimbursement of public transport commuting costs

How to Apply

You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including 17 August 2026 (midnight Brussels time).

Please include the following documents:

Motivation letter
Academic CV
One to two letters of recommendation

The selection committee reviews all applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. Applicants will be notified once a decision has been made. Candidates who remain eligible after the pre-selection will be informed about the next steps in the selection procedure.

For questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or email jobs@uantwerpen.be.

For questions about the position, please contact Prof. Dr. Adrian Covaci at adrian.covaci@uantwerpen.be.

Equal Opportunity

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy.

The University is a sustainable, family-friendly organisation that invests in its employees’ growth. It encourages diversity and attaches great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or age. Applications from people with diverse backgrounds and characteristics are strongly encouraged.