Postdoc in Technoeconomic modelling of integrated Green Biorefineries

The Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, invites qualified applicants for a two 2-year postdoc position offering applicants to join the research and development within the research group Green Biorefining Technologies. The position will take part in several research projects, both national and international, and the candidate is expected to take part in teaching and supervision of students at the BSc, MSc and PhD levels as well as developing new projects and write applications for funding bodies.

Expected start date and duration of employment
This is a 2–year position from 15.03.2023 or as soon possible.

Research area
The chosen candidates will play an active role in developing applied research within the interdisciplinary platform for green biorefining at Aarhus University. The goal of the platform is to develop and optimize biomass conversion processes for locally produced protein feed and food from green leafy biomass and investigate, develop and optimizing the use and applications of process side streams. The Green Biorefining Technologies research group has an established and running demonstration platform for green biorefining, capable of processing at a 10 ton biomass per hour-scale, and a large project portfolio covering the whole biorefinery value chain. The candidate will be a part of a dedicated team, bringing new technologies from laboratory- to pilot- and demonstration scale, while optimizing each unit operation and the integrated process through detailed chemical analysis and modelling.

Focus of postdoc position
Process modelling and technoeconomic assessment of integrated green biorefinery systems for optimization of productivity, energy consumption, economy and sustainability. The modelling and process development will be based on actual data from lab-scale- to demonstration scale experiments where the candidate is also expected to have a major role.
The position will take part in several research projects, both national and international, and the candidate is expected to take part in teaching and supervision of students at the BSc, MSc and PhD levels as well as developing new projects and write applications for funding bodies.

Your profile
The ideal candidate has an engineering background within biorefinery research and experience with modelling of biomass conversion technologies for process optimization.

Qualifications:
* Experience in modelling of biomass conversion technologies for process optimization.
* Experience in process engineering.
* Academic qualifications at PhD level preferably within biorefining.
* Documentation of excellent skills within a relevant research area.
* Good skills in communication of research results internationally as evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed journals.
* Experience in supervising students and teaching at a high academic level will also be a merit.

About the Biological and Chemical Engineering
Biological and Chemical Engineering is a multidisciplinary research area. It includes disease and health, materials, environmental technologies, biorefining, energy technologies and food and ingredient technology. The research at the Biological and Chemical Engineering Department is based on both theoretical and experimental methods, and include the design, development, operation, monitoring, control, and optimization of chemical, physical and biological processes. Department of Engineering holds a special position of international strength in scientific activities related to biogas energy, biorefining, agricultural emissions, lipid technology, polymer and membrane technology, protein engineering and biosynthesis. In addition, the Biological and Chemical Engineering Department conducts public sector consultancy on agricultural challenges such as Air Quality Engineering and Biorefining. The Biological and Chemical Engineering department is part of the Faculty of technical sciences and have an active role in the Interdisciplinary Centres of WATEC (water treatment technologies), CBIO (circular bioeconomy), CiFOOD (food technology), iMAT (advanced materials), iLIFE (biophysics and imagining), iClimate (climate change).

What we offer
The department offers:

• a well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories and pilot/demonstration scale processing facilities
• 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 characterised by professionalism, equality and a healthy work-life balance.

Place of work and area of employment
The place of work is Hangøvej 2, 8200 Aarhus, but frequent presence at AU Viborg Campus is required. The area of employment is Aarhus University, Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering.

Contact information
Further information about the position may be obtained from Associate Professor, PhD Morten Ambye-Jensen, phone: +45 93508009, e-mail: maj@bce.au.dk

Application procedure
Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

Letter of reference

If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

Formalities and salary range

Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation .

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities .

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here . Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here .

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here .

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University’s website.

Deadline: 10 February 2023

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,000 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 885 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/