Postdoc in Gentle and Sustainable Processing – Gentle extraction of rapeseed proteins assisted by pulsed electric fields

Will you contribute to develop more sustainable plant-based protein ingredients and accelerate the transition from animal- to plant-based food?

Department of Food Science, Section of Ingredients and Dairy Technology, invites applicants for a postdoc in gentle and sustainable processing with the aim to study gentle extraction of rapeseed proteins assisted by pulsed electric fields, with start 1 May 2022 or as soon as possible thereafter. Employment period is 2 years.

The project
Research opportunities as PhD student and postdoc are now available in the ‘SEEDFOOD: Functional and palatable plant seed storage proteins for sustainable foods’ project funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The primary partners in the project are University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and University of Le Mans in France (ULM) and positions are available at all partners. The project coordinator is Professor Marianne Nissen Lund, Department of Food Science, UCPH.

SEEDFOOD will serve as multi-disciplinary centre in which you as young scientist will benefit from training and joint supervision by principal investigators, and we expect some mobility between labs. You will be part of a dynamic research environment based on knowledge sharing, high scientific ambitions and leverage of cross-disciplinary synergy. We will focus on active career development of junior researchers, and develop coaching and mentoring activities across the centre.

The vision of SEEDFOOD is to accelerate the transition from animal- to plant-based food proteins for sustainable food production and consumption. We will achieve this by tailoring plant protein ingredients with superior functional, palatable, and nutritional properties through novel protein design and in-depth understanding of molecular interactions in the food matrix.

We will use rapeseed protein to obtain new insights that provide the scientific foundation to promote the use of seed storage proteins for foods. Rapeseed is a protein-rich crop used for industrial oil production, it is farmed on a large scale in Europe and may be utilized in new food types locally across the globe. In SEEDFOOD we will create knowledge to transform poor functionality of plant seed storage proteins to rationally and sustainably tailor protein performance for future food design.

Scientific themes in SEEDFOOD encompass: gentle and sustainable processing to isolate and fractionate proteins; improvement of protein surface characteristics through enzyme and UV-light treatments; biophysical protein interactions; mechanistic analyses of molecular interactions; functionality and palatability in model foods.

We are seeking a postdoc for a 2-year position to study gentle extraction of rapeseed proteins using pulsed electric fields with start 1/5-2022 or as soon thereafter.

Tasks:

• To investigate PEF assisted extraction on properties of isolated rapeseed proteins
• To determine inactivation of harmful endogenous enzymes

Required qualifications:

• A PhD degree in food engineering; process engineering or equivalent
• Previous experience in pulsed electric fields is an advantage
• Excellent English communication skills.
• Good interpersonal skills and interest in working in a team of multiple partners.

Key selection criteria:

• Professional qualifications relevant for the position.
• Publications.
• Relevant work experience.
• Language skills.
• Creative thinking.

Further information on the Department is linked at https://science.ku.dk/english/about-the-faculty/organisation/ . Inquiries about the position can be made to Professor Lilia Ahrné, [email protected] .

The position is open from 1 May 2022 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Terms of employment
The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.

Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include

• Motivation Letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)
• Complete publication list
• Separate reprints of 3 particularly relevant papers

The deadline for applications is 28 February, 2022, 23:59 GMT +1.

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee.

You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/ .

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.