Postdoc in Development of Biofuel Production Processes – DTU Chemical Engineering

The Process and Systems Engineering Center (PROSYS) at the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering of the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) is seeking to hire a highly motivated and skilled postdoc to further develop and expand the ongoing research activities on the development of fermentation-based production systems for biofuels starting from food waste as a feedstock.

The center focuses on development of novel computer-aided tools for chemical and biochemical product and process modeling, process synthesis, design, analysis and operation. These tools are applied in the chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, agrochemical, food and biochemical industries. However, such tools are useless without sufficient experimental data. In view of that, this postdoc position will specifically focus on performing experiments at lab and pilot scale to document the performance of specific fermentation processes converting food waste to biofuels.

The position is part of a recently granted GUDP project, and involves close collaboration with several industrial partners. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Responsibilities and qualifications
As part of our research team, you will work in an international environment along with a number of experienced colleagues.

Your tasks will include:

• Designing and setting up experimental work (fermentation) at lab and pilot scale.
• Performing experiments with different unit operations for downstream processing
• Setting up sampling schemes for documenting the experimental work, with special focus on quantifying reaction and separation performance
• Analysis of samples from bioreactors and downstream unit operations using standard and more advanced methods
• Processing, interpreting and presenting the experimental data 
• Disseminating your research findings to project partners, in journals and at national and international conferences
• Supervising BSc and MSc students on different projects

You hold a PhD degree (or equivalent) in Chemical and/or Biochemical Engineering or equivalent, and you preferably have already a first postdoc experience. You have experience from working in projects with various stakeholders.

As an ideal candidate, you should also:

• Have a significant experience in performing experimental work related to fermentation.
• Have experience with performing experiments at pilot scale
• Have experience with analytical methods related to fermentation processes
• Have a good research track record demonstrated by publications in high-ranking peer-reviewed journals
• Have excellent written and oral communication skills in English
• Have the ability to work independently and participate creatively in collaborative projects with academia or industry

The candidate will be assessed against the responsibilities and qualifications stated above and the following general criteria:

• Research experience
• Innovativeness, including collaboration with industry
• Communication skills

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and terms of employment
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union.

The period of employment is 18 months, starting at the earliest possible date, and the working location with be DTU Chemical Engineering, Lyngby Campus.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Professor Krist V. Gernaey, tel.: +45 4525 2970, e-mail [email protected] ,

You can read more about DTU Chemical Engineering at www.kt.dtu.dk/english .

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark .

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 26 May 2023 (Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply online", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• Application (cover letter)
• CV
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD – in English)
• List of publications

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

The Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering (DTU Chemical Engineering) conducts research, educates future chemical engineers and provides scientific advice and innovation. The department works across all the core areas of chemical and biochemical engineering, including process modelling and control, bioprocess engineering, thermodynamics, catalysis, product engineering and pilot scale testing of new equipment, processes and products. The department has extensive collaboration with national and international companies. DTU Chemical Engineering has approximately 230 employees, of which 2/3 are scientific staff. The department is located at DTU Lyngby Campus, just North of Copenhagen.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.