Postdoctoral fellow

Job description

About Ghent University

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15.000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities.
With its 11 faculties and more than 85 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

Your job

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher interested in bioproduction, with a focus on extraction and purification, to participate in EU Horizon projects LUCRA and Manurefinery. The latter is a recently awarded project, with 22 partners from 10 different countries, aiming to demonstrate on several farms in Europe novel technologies that recover resources such as organics, nutrients and energy. Ghent University will develop a pilot system in which we convert biomass to caproic acid, an interesting building block molecule as well as a feed additive. We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to guide and implement, together with other project staff, the system development at laboratory scale. The postdoctoral researcher will also work with contractors to design the pilot system and supervise its construction and on-site installation, including training for operators. The laboratory scale development will aim not only at pilot design, but also delve into scientific questions that are still outstanding. The postdoctoral researcher will also participate in a second EU project, LUCRA ((www.lucra-project.eu ), in which similar approaches are followed but in a context of production of plastics from agricultural side streams.

Job profile

• You hold a doctoral degree or a diploma or certificate recognized as equivalent by law or in application of the guidelines of the European Union or a bilateral agreement in the field of bioscience engineering, chemical engineering, or fields related to this.
• In exceptional circumstances and based on detailed scientific justification, researchers who do not hold such a degree may also be considered, provided they have demonstrated exceptional scientific merit. Exceptional scientific merit is defined as having excelled in scientific research and publications at a level at least equivalent to a doctoral degree.
• The grant can only be awarded within the framework of international scientific mobility. This is the case if:
o the researcher has resided abroad for at least 24 months out of the 3 years prior to the start date of the postdoctoral fellowship and has not worked or studied in Belgium during that period. However, short-term stays in Belgium are allowed during 24 months, such as holidays, participation in conferences or a short stay to prepare for the period as a postdoctoral researcher
o Only for postdoctoral researchers in international mobility
• You are a hands-on person, setting up laboratory reactor systems as well as designing large scale systems.
• You are fluent in English, and are experienced in writing scientific publications and reports
• You can work independently and supervise junior research staff as well as technical support staff
• You are willing to travel during the employment period, to project meetings as well as on site to provide technology transfer to operators.

What we can offer you

• We offer a full time position as a postdoctoral fellow, for 24 months.
• Your contract will start on February 1st 2025 at the earliest.
• The grant amount is equal to the net salary of a doctoral assistant (AAP 5) with the same level of education and seniority and based on the same family situation as the doctoral assistant. The supervisor may deviate from this and assign a higher level based on acquired experience, professional career and demonstrated competences. The grant amount will not be revised in the current year except in case of indexation. Click here for more information about our salary scales
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits.

How to apply

Send your CV, copy of your diploma (if already in your possession) and a motivation letter to traslab@ugent.be mentioning in the heading “Postdoctoral position Manurefinery”
Deadline for applications is December 19th 2024. We do not accept late applications.
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Korneel Rabaey (korneel.rabaey@UGent.be)