Master thesis: Towards Standardized Workflows — Method Development for Microplastic Analysis of Polar Environmental Samples (f/m/d/x)

Master thesis: Towards Standardized Workflows — Method Development for Microplastic Analysis of Polar Environmental Samples (f/m/d/x)

The Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) is a member of the Helmholtz Association (HGF) and funded by federal and state government. AWI focuses on polar and marine research in a variety of disciplines such as biology, oceanography, geology, geochemistry and geophysics thus allowing multidisciplinary approaches to scientific goals.

Master thesis: Towards Standardized Workflows — Method Development for Microplastic Analysis of Polar Environmental Samples (f/m/d/x)

Background
Microplastics are a growing global concern and have reached even the most remote regions of the planet, including the Arctic and Antarctica, where they may interact with marine organisms in ways that are not yet fully understood. To improve our understanding of their distribution and potential impacts on polar ecosystems, reliable identification and quantification are essential. However, there is currently no clear consensus on standardized sampling strategies or analytical methodologies for microplastic detection. The analysis of polar samples is particularly challenging, as the high lipid content in many organisms can interfere with the accurate identification of microplastics.

This project focuses on the development of a reproducible analytical workflow for the extraction and characterization of microplastics in heterogeneous sample matrices, such as zooplankton, fish tissue, and sediments. It builds on a previous Master’s thesis within the Helmholtz Young Investigator Group Double-Trouble (Junior Research Group - AWI).


Your Tasks

• You will optimize existing workflows for the extraction of microplastics from biological material to ultimately establish reliable methods for varying matrices
• You will extract microplastic polymers from different matrices (e.g., zooplankton, fish tissues) and analyse the composition via micro-Fourier Transform Infrared (µFTIR) and/or Raman microscopy
• You will analyse and interpret your data and present your findings in a written thesis and scientific presentation

Your Profile

• You are enrolled in a Master’s programme (e.g. Marine Biology, Ecotoxicology, Environmental Science, or related fields)
• You are interested in method development, polar ecosystems and environmental stressors
• You have good organisational and problem-solving skills
• You are able to work independently and carefully in a lab environment
• You have experience with laboratory work

Further Information
The place of employment will be Helgoland, Germany.

Start: February 2027 (flexible starting date) 

You are interested?
Then please send your application (cover letter, resume and a reference contact merged into one PDF file) by e-mail to Dr Sebastian Primpke ([email protected]) and Dr Doreen Kohlbach ([email protected]).

For further information please contact Dr Doreen Kohlbach. 
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