PhD School location:
Barcelona (Spain) Residenciad’Investigadors, C/ Hospital, 64

Subject area:
The PhD school is a part of the Marie Curie ITN project NaToxAq coordinated by PLEN. It consists of four courses (see below) of which the first three will run in parallel. See an overview here: https://natoxaq.ku.dk/training/3rd-phd-school-natoxaq/

More specifically the summer school is divided in three scientific modules (S6-S8) which run in parallel combined with an excursion and complementary module C5 (all courses are described below). Furthermore, a complementary Water Workshop (stakeholder meeting) will include presentations from a range of water works, water utilities, and industries within the field of removal of contaminants from drinking water. The modules can be combined as desired by the student. Also a single module can be selected. All modules include homework to be done before the module (primarily reading material).
Please notice that each module is 3 ECTS. Max. 2 modules can be selected (total 6 ECTS).

Screening natural toxins: biological techniques and biosensors in combination with advanced mass spectrometry techniques (S6)

Scientific content: The course provides an overview of rapid bioanalytical techniques for screening of natural toxins. Techniques such as immunoassays, bioassays and biosensors based on new bio-receptors will be introduced. The course introduce methods to combine novel biological technologies with instrumental analytical chemistry.

Focus:

    >Sampling, preservation, extraction and purification approaches

    >Biological approaches, Immunochemical Techniques, Toxicity Assays & Biosensors

    >Effect-directed analysis (EDA), Toxicity Identification and Evaluation(TDI) Studies.
      Immunoassays practical session

Teaching elements: Cases/exercises, colloquia (papers), presentation
Preparation: Mainly reading
Exam/assessment: Pass/not pass based on the participation in the course (no exam)

Transport and advanced modelling of organic contaminants in soils, sediments and aquifers (S7)
Scientific content: Enables the participants to assess and predict the environmental fate and behavior of natural toxins in the environment. The focus will be on multi-media fate models, subsurface transport models, and small to regional scale river water catchment models.

Focus:

    >Key Concepts to Model Chemicals in the Environment

    >Multimedia Models & The Fugacity Approach

    >Modeling Partitioning of Natural Toxins Using Quantum Chemistry and Statistical                   Thermodynamics (COSMO-THERM)

    >Subsurface Transport Modeling of Natural Toxins

    >Regional Scale River Catchment Modeling of Natural Toxins

 Teaching elements: Cases/exercises, colloquia (papers), presentation
Preparation: Mainly reading
Exam/assessment: Pass/not pass based on the participation in the course (no exam)

Tools for pollution control and mitigation of streams, lakes and ground water (S8)Scientific content: Qualifies ESRs to understand the tools for pollution control and mitigation that are currently available for other types of contaminants, and to assess the applicability of these tools in relation to natural toxins. Remediation and regulation issues regarding remediation of polluted sites.

Focus:

     >Mitigation/pollution control at the catchment scale. 
         Land use – how does land use affect contaminant impact of water reserves? 
         Water cleaning at catchment scale- e.g. through choice of crop, soil management,              filters,

    >Water treatment at water works
          Classical techniques like aeration, coagulation, filtering, and chlorination overview
          Advanced techniques, like ozonation, other types of advanced oxidation, and UV.

Teaching elements: Cases/exercises, colloquia (papers), presentation
 Preparation: Mainly reading
Exam/assessment: Pass/not pass based on the participation in the course (no exam)

Project leadership and management (C5)
Scientific content: Gives the necessary tools and basic competences to take on the role as project leaders and managers of the participants projects. What is leadership? Leadership styles; Practical project management; Stakeholder analysis; Project communication; Basic project finances and budgeting; Feedback and instruction methods; Meeting management; Gender and cultural issues. Presentation of a leadership/management issue at Skype seminar.

Focus:

    >The origins of project leadership
    > Management and leadership styles, incl. organization of research groups and working 
      with external partners
    >The project work form, activity planning and uncertainties
    >Resource spotting, stakeholder analysis and management
    >Instructions, meetings and negotiations
    >Group problem solving – the House
    >Leadership talks: Culture and gender

Teaching elements: Preparation (reading and group work prior to the course seminar, lectures and practical exercises, project work. Includes a mandatory oral presentation of 1 page synopsis at webinar on the 4^th, 5^th, or 6^th March 2019

Preparation: Reading and group work assignment

 Exam/assessment: Pass/not pass based on the participation in the course including the webinar and group work (no exam)

 Extra - stakeholder meeting and excursion
Participants will also be able to participate in a stakeholder meeting (7^th of February) which will include a range of water works, water utilities, and industries within the field of removal of contaminants from drinking water. Furthermore, it is possible to join a full day excursion (9^th of February) that will explore a water works and catchment sites around Barcelona.

 Evaluation of students and the courses
 One of the deliverables to EU of the NaToxAq project is evaluation reports after each PhD school. Therefore, thorough evaluation will be conducted in the following ways:

1) Evaluation of the participant’s individual and group assignments prepared during the
    course.

2) For course C5 assessment of the mandatory oral presentation of 1 page synopsis after the
    course

3) Questionnaire filled by each student regarding the individual courses (content, duration,
    relevance, quality of course material and experiments, evaluation of the lectures).

The PhD students that follow this course will:

1) Get a provides a solid overview of rapid bioanalytical techniques for screening of natural toxins (course S6); Be able to assess and predict the environmental fate and behavior of natural toxins in the environment (course S7); Be qualified to understand the tools for pollution control and mitigation that are currently available for other types of contaminants, and to assess the applicability of these tools in relation to natural toxins (course S8).

2) Obtain the necessary tools and basic competences to take on the role as project leaders and managers of the participants projects (course C5).

3) Be able to discuss their projects and assignments with experts in the field (e.g. by presentations, research plans etc.), and

4) Obtain a broad network within the field. NaToxAq is already a large network of 15 international Early Stage Researchers, which will all participate in the summer school. Furthermore, all the 21 leading universities, research institutions/agencies, and water enterprises will be represented during parts of the PhD summer school giving PhD students a unique opportunity to meet central researchers, companies, agencies etc. within the field. For a full list of all the participating partners please see our website: http://natoxaq.ku.dk/about/who-is-involved/

If you would like to participate, please:

Send an e-mail to course organizer Kristine Groth Kirkensgaard krki@plen.ku.dk indicating which modules you apply for (S6, S7, S8, C5). Please also state your motivations (10 lines), your CV and a PhD description.

Costs for materials, accommodation and food will depend on which modules are selected.

Evaluation of students and the course:
One of the deliverables to EU of the NaToxAq project is evaluation reports after each summer school. Therefore, thorough evaluation will be conducted in the following ways:

1) Evaluation of the participant’s assignments prepared during the course
2) Assessment of the participation in the course including group work and the webinar
    (for C5). There is no exam.
3) Questionnaire filled by the students regarding the courses (content, duration, relevance, quality of course material and experiments, evaluation of the lectures).