Senior Research Analyst, Microbiology (32–40 hours)

Vacancies Vacancy Senior Research Analyst, Microbiology (32–40 hours) KWR Water Research Institute Clean and safe water is a precious resource. KWR is an internationally renowned research institute, and we contribute to applied scientific research across the entire water cycle. Our mission is: “Bridging science and practice.” Our 200 employees work on innovative projects in the Netherlands and, increasingly, throughout the rest of Europe. The ten Dutch drinking water companies and the Belgian company De Watergroep are our shareholders. Our researchers work at the intersection of science, operational practice, the business community, and society. Their strength lies in translating scientific knowledge into practical solutions. To support its research, KWR has specialized laboratories, a test hall, and a test pond, and it builds its own test facilities, which are often used for (on-site) practical research at our clients’ locations. Your Position In this role at the dynamic intersection of research and practice, you will be responsible for developing, optimizing, and validating analytical methods and implementing new techniques. You will also perform specialized and complex analyses to detect the presence of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, and you will serve as the technical point of contact for these analyses. The work is carried out in support of research and consulting projects for water utilities and other clients. You will primarily use traditional microbiological and molecular biological analytical techniques for this purpose. You will liaise with our internal and external clients, discuss issues and challenges with them, and advise on the practical approach to the work in our laboratory.

You have (at least) a bachelor’s degree in a relevant Life Sciences field and at least 7 years of relevant work experience; You have knowledge of and hands-on experience with classical microbiological and molecular biological analytical techniques; You have knowledge and experience in the field of method development and optimization; You have an eye for detail and highly developed analytical skills; You work accurately when designing and conducting studies and documenting the results; You can switch quickly and easily between tasks and are able to combine them; You have strong communication skills (including when interacting with internal and external clients), are socially adept, and thrive on collaboration; You are driven to achieve results, are goal-oriented, and have a proactive attitude; You are flexible and can handle changing priorities well; You are quality-conscious and have experience with NEN-EN-ISO/IEC 17025 or a comparable quality management system; You have a good command of Dutch and English. The team The Microbiology Laboratory (LMB) consists of 12 colleagues. LMB supports KWR researchers and the water sector in applied scientific research on the control and utilization of chemical and microbiological processes in water extraction, treatment, and distribution. The chemical and microbiological safety of the water cycle is also part of this. In KWR’s state-of-the-art laboratory, the LMB conducts research into, among other things, the biological water quality of drinking water, surface water, and wastewater (streams). In addition to legally required microbiological analyses of (drinking) water, the laboratory performs a wide range of supplementary (specialized) analyses. The experts at the microbiology laboratory work closely with the researchers and, together with the chemistry laboratory and seven knowledge domains, form the Research Department.

We are strongly committed to personal growth and career development and offer various opportunities to support these, such as a thorough onboarding process and a variety of courses and skills training programs. A healthy work-life balance is our top priority. KWR offers excellent primary and secondary employment benefits and is covered by the Water Companies Collective Bargaining Agreement, which includes a Flexible Employment Conditions Budget of 15.49%. Depending on your knowledge and experience, you may be placed in salary scale I or J (based on the Water Companies Collective Bargaining Agreement). Are you the passionate Senior Research Analyst in Microbiology who wants to work with us toward a sustainable society? Please email your cover letter and resume to [email protected] as soon as possible, but no later than October 26, 2026, and be sure to include job posting number 262100. More information For more information about the position, please contact Ronald Italiaander (Head of Laboratories) by phone at 030 – 60 69 567 or by email at [email protected] . For more information about the application process, please contact Manouk Odijk, HR Specialist, by phone at 030 – 60 69 559 or by email at [email protected] . You can find more information about KWR and the chemical laboratory on our website ( www.kwrwater.nl ). Solicitation in response to this advertisement is not appreciated. share share Related Projects Alternative resources and water reuse Drinking water from a landscape perspective ‘Drinking water from a landscape perspective’ explores the different landscape perspectives, in addition to the physical and hydrological perspectives, from which a water landscape can be considered. It also shows how these…

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Water resource loop closure KWR maps out the possibilities and opportunities available for closing the water cycle, locally or…

Biological activity Growth of microorganisms in (drinking) water can present risks to public health and lead to…

Health Emerging contaminants Emerging contaminants are a possible threat to the public health and environment. KWR develops smarter,…

Health Microbial safety Water safety is vital. Citizens must be able to drink and swim in safe water,…

Health Safe innovation and the water sector Technological innovations can involve risks to (drinking) water and public health. Greater public awareness, and…

Sustainability Sustainable use of freshwater resources Access to sufficient and clean freshwater is not a given. Globally, the water sector is…

Sustainability Climate change and resilience The water sector needs practice-oriented research to help it confront the wide-ranging consequences of climate…

Sustainability Sustainable energy There is a worldwide drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shift to cleaner, more…

Sustainability Sustainable resources The circular economy is the alternative to the current – essentially linear – economy. While…

Society Stakeholder involvement and governance Stakeholder engagement is an effective means of connecting technical and social-governance issues. KWR has a…

Society Citizen science and public participation Increased citizen engagement is confronting the water sector with steadily growing demands. A connection needs…

Society Valorisation Given the urgency of current water challenges, public authorities, utilities and industry feel a strong…

Looking ahead Futures studies and response strategies Futures research improves the resilience of the water sector by supporting anticipatory governance and by…

Enabling technologies Hydrogenomics Genomic techniques are developing at a very rapid pace in health, life, forensic and environmental…

Enabling technologies Hydroinformatics Hydroinformatics is the application of information technology in its broadest sense on water-cycle related issues,…

Enabling technologies Innovative water treatment technologies Drinking water treatment is subject to many demands and, today, the challenges it faces are…

Enabling technologies Future-proof networks Even if the Netherlands has a superbly functioning drinking water network, parts of it are… about Future-proof networks Enabling technologies New materials and technologies Detecting and removing emerging contaminants calls for advanced materials and technologies. KWR develops knowledge about…

All subjects ( ) Tools ESTAR about ESTAR HomeWaterLab about HomeWaterLab TUBES about TUBES REWAB about REWAB AquaPriori about AquaPriori EDWARD about EDWARD HydroMonitor about HydroMonitor Governance Capacity Analysis about Governance Capacity Analysis Contamination Source Toolkit about Contamination Source Toolkit WaterVision Nature about WaterVision Nature Comsima about Comsima Gondwana about Gondwana USTORE about USTORE SIMDEUM about SIMDEUM Self-Cleaning Networks about Self-Cleaning Networks Network Flow Performance about Network Flow Performance Mains Investment Planning about Mains Investment Planning Water-Use Info about Water-Use Info OptiValves about OptiValves City Blueprint about City Blueprint Clean Membrane about Clean Membrane All tools & products ( ) News KWR at Utrecht Science Week 29 September 2026 — From 25 September to 4 October 2026, Utrecht Science Week will take place. The week puts science, innovation… about KWR at Utrecht Science Week News “We want to put antimicrobial resistance on the water sector’s agenda” 28 September 2026 — Although antimicrobial resistance (AMR) currently poses no risk to the water sector, continued research is needed to keep… about “We want to put antimicrobial resistance on the water sector’s agenda” News PFAS in tap water: safe today, concerns for tomorrow 24 September 2026 — Greenpeace’s large-scale PFAS campaign [Verbied giftig PFAS - Greenpeace Nederland] became the top news story in the Netherlands… about PFAS in tap water: safe today, concerns for tomorrow News New roadmap to accelerate innovation in water quality management 17 September 2026 — On 16 September, in the VPdelta field lab in Blijdorp Zoo, TKI Water Technology presented the roadmap ‘Action-oriented… about New roadmap to accelerate innovation in water quality management News Jos Boere takes leave of KWR and Allied Waters after seventeen years 08 September 2026 — On 3 September, Jos Boere bid farewell to KWR at a busy symposium. Colleagues and collaborators look back… about Jos Boere takes leave of KWR and Allied Waters after seventeen years News WarmteStad and KWR demonstrate a sustainable heat system for Groningen using a digital twin 31 August 2026 — WarmteStad and KWR have completed a demonstration project in Groningen in which a sustainable heating system combining residual… about WarmteStad and KWR demonstrate a sustainable heat system for Groningen using a digital twin News Six-year programme expands knowledge of ageing pvc pipes 18 August 2026 — In the Netherlands, around 60,000 kilometres of pvc drinking water pipes are buried underground. This makes pvc the… about Six-year programme expands knowledge of ageing pvc pipes Blog KWR highlights water quality research at the Annual Dutch Toxicology meeting (NVT 2026) 06 August 2026 — KWR participated in the 47th Annual Meeting of the Dutch Society of Toxicology (NVT), held on June 23-24, 2026,… about KWR highlights water quality research at the Annual Dutch Toxicology meeting (NVT 2026) News New composition of KWR Management Team 13 July 2026 — Two vacancies within KWR’s Management Team have been filled. As of 1 July, Andrew Segrave has started as… about New composition of KWR Management Team Water Sector Monitoring recirculated irrigation water in the greenhouse 09 July 2026 — As greenhouse horticulture moves towards near-zero emissions, careful monitoring of recirculation water quality is becoming increasingly important. In… about Monitoring recirculated irrigation water in the greenhouse Blog Agentic water modelling took the spotlight at HIC 2026 08 July 2026 — Last week, Christos and Dennis represented KWR at the 16th International Conference on Hydroinformatics (HIC 2026) in Zaragoza.… about Agentic water modelling took the spotlight at HIC 2026 Blog Collaboration emerges as key to accelerating circular water use in industry at WIN2026 08 July 2026 — How do we move circular industrial water use from promising concepts to practical, trusted and widely implemented solutions?… about Collaboration emerges as key to accelerating circular water use in industry at WIN2026 Blog DigiLab Software workshop: drinking water distribution tools 08 July 2026 — On a sunny Thursday, 18 June, more than 25 colleagues from the water utilities met at KWR to… about DigiLab Software workshop: drinking water distribution tools Blog Picking our battles: early insights from the Battle of the Water-Futures 29 June 2026 — From 18 to 21 May 2026, researchers, engineers and water professionals gathered in Paphos, Cyprus, for the 4th… about Picking our battles: early insights from the Battle of the Water-Futures Blog The water transition in motion: lessons from the policy afternoon 25 June 2026 — The Knowledge File brought water professionals, researchers and policymakers together to discuss the challenges of the water transition.… about The water transition in motion: lessons from the policy afternoon Blog Evides Future-Proof Research Afternoon 25 June 2026 — On 2 June, Evides presented the structural research programme it has been working on since 2014. Under the… about Evides Future-Proof Research Afternoon Blog From chatbots to agents: AI’s next wave in water 19 June 2026 — During the 2nd Waterwise Hydroinformatics Knowledge Exchange meeting of 2026, researchers, water utilities and industry partners came together… about From chatbots to agents: AI’s next wave in water Water Sector How can we prepare our urban water for the future? 19 June 2026 — Water poses enormous challenges for cities but KWR also believes there are opportunities here to make the urban… about How can we prepare our urban water for the future? All news items ( ) Publications 2026 Digital Twin WarmteStad. Verduurzaming warmtenet Groningen met zonthermie, datacenter-warmte en seizoensopslag 2026 Een routekaart voor AI in de drinkwatersector 2026 Basenrijkdom is sleutel tot herstel van natte schraallanden 2026 Inside the Netherlands’ Water Monitoring Success Story - Interview Bäuerlein, P.S. 2026 The water-energy-food nexus, its relationship with ecosystems, and its role in supporting society 2026 Paddenstoelen geven duingraslanden kleur 2026 Flood risk to population in Italy: a synoptic overview based on fatality data 2026 Effect of increasing conceptual model detail on simulated crop yield-drainage base relations. All publications Agenda 13 Nov Water Transition Platform kick-off event: Water Reuse – Balancing the System 2026 again makes it clear: the availability of freshwater for industry, agriculture and drinking water has become a… about Water Transition Platform kick-off event: Water Reuse – Balancing the System 4 -8 Oct IWA Glasgow 2026 From 4 to 8 October 2026, the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition will take place in Glasgow.… about IWA Glasgow 2026 5 Oct Lab Public Design for Water Partner Event We warmly invite you to the Lab Public Design for Water Partner Event, taking place on 17 September… about Lab Public Design for Water Partner Event Experts Ronald Italiaander BSc Head of Microbiological and Chemical laboratory Project manager view profile Ronald Italiaander BSc Head of Microbiological and Chemical laboratory Project manager Ronald Italiaander is the team leader and project manager of the Laboratory for Microbiology (LMB), head of proficiency tests and a researcher in (molecular) microbiology. He is the first point… 030-6069567 [email protected] view profile