Bioprocess Engineering postdoc position for CO2 to microbial Protein – Pilot Plant Research

Are you interested in working at the interface between applied microbiology, bioprocess engineering, and microbial biotechnology, and want to contribute to developing a game-changing biological CO2 to protein process? Would you be excited to work on an interdisciplinary team to perform research with a 200-L pilot plant? Then the Biological and Chemical Engineering department at Aarhus University invites you to apply for a fulltime 2-year postdoc position.

Expected start date and duration of employment

This is a 2-year position, starting from September 1st, 2024, or soon thereafter.

Job description 

The project will focus on a new, disruptive biotechnological approach to change how our society produces food, in particular protein to feed a 10-billion world population. We are pursuing a radically different approach to produce protein from CO2 and electrical energy by using a microbial-, and not plant-based, platform in a two-stage anaerobic microbial fermentation system. Renewable energy is utilized to split water into H2 and O2. Acetogenic bacteria ferment H2 plus CO2 to produce acetate in the first fermentation stage, which is fed into a second fermentation stage to produce many different protein products in aerobic fungi. Shifting from animal-based protein production to efficient and versatile biotechnology-based protein production is required to feed the world.

We are looking for a postdoctoral research associate that can perform research with an already designed 200-L pilot plant. For this we envision a person that is trained as a bioprocess engineer from within the fields of biotechnology, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, or the ones alike. The person would not only work on how to best integrate the two fermentation stages to reduce chemical inputs, but also on how to achieve the highest carbon conversion efficiency possible from CO2 to protein at the pilot-plant scale.

Your profile 

Qualified candidates would ideally have a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in anaerobic microbiology, biotechnology, bioengineering, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, or related fields.

This project will have high visibility for the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering and the NNF CO2 Research Center (CORC) and includes pertinent interactions with several international institutions. The successful candidate is expected to be involved in managing the project, which includes the supervision of bachelor and master students. Furthermore, they will closely interact with collaboration partners. Therefore, very good English language skills are necessary. Other requirements include working independently and in teams, exhibiting excellent management and communication skills, and being self-motivated. The candidates will be able to present their results in international journals and conferences.

Who we are 

Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering (

www.bce.au.dk

)

In the Microbial Conversion Technologies research group in Aarhus, we focus on the use of microorganisms for solving some of the great societal, environmental and technical challenges that we as a society has to deal with.

Our main focus is Power-to-X or, more specifically, Power-to-Gas technologies for the conversion of renewable electricity from wind turbines or solar cells to methane through the process of bio-methanation. The produced methane – or biomethane - can be used for production of electricity and heat, heavy transportation or further processing to renewable chemicals.

What we offer 

• an excellent research infrastructure, laboratories, and access to shared equipment
• an exciting interdisciplinary environment with many national, international, and industrial collaborators
• a research climate encouraging lively, open, and critical discussion within and across different fields of research
• a work environment with close working relationships, networking, and social activities
• a workplace characterized by professionalism, equality, and a healthy work-life balance
• to make a high impact on solving climate change

Place of work and area of employment 

The place of work Gustav Wieds Vej 10D, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark and the area of employment is Aarhus University, Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering. The candidates will also work at Aarhus University’s Viborg campus where the pilot plant will be housed. The candidate will work with several researchers in the BCE department including Prof. Lars Ottosen, Prof. Lars Angenent, and Prof. Michael Kofoed.

Contact information 

For further information, please contact: Prof. Lars Ottosen, email: [email protected], or Prof. Lars Angenent, email: [email protected].

Deadline 

Applications must be received no later than March 15th, 2024.