Postdoc position – food biopolymer technology

The Department of Food Science, Aarhus University (Denmark), invites applications for a 24-month postdoc position to work on the project “Thermoresistant polysaccharide-based reinforcing fillers for the scalable mimicry of the myofibrillar hierarchy (REINFORCE)” funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The starting date is 15. October, 2023, or subject to mutual agreement.

The research project

This project aims to explore the biomimicry of the myofibrillar hierarchy of meat by merging top-down and bottom-up approaches and consequently improve the texture of whole muscle cut analogues. The outcomes could help rationalize the production of plant-protein foods and accelerate innovation to orientate earth and consumer needs to a more sustainable plant-based diet. Therefore, we seek a candidate with knowledge on protein and polysaccharide physical chemistry, chemistry and/or chemical engineering.

The postdoc will work on this exciting project in collaboration with and mentored by Associate Professor Mario M. Martinez. The successful applicant will be part of the Science Team ‘Food Technology’, a strong international research team where cooperation, creativity, and kindness are valued.

Qualifications

• A PhD degree in biotechnology/biochemistry/chemical engineering/chemistry/food science/ or similar
• Documented expertise in studying biopolymer chemistry
• Documented expertise in catalysis, organic chemistry, biopolymer technology and/or analytical chemistry
• Preferentially experience in food structure and/or thermomechanical processing
• Advanced knowledge in research design and methods (running extensive experimental studies)
• Familiarity with practices of transparency and open science
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively collaborate and communicate in academia and to the public at large
• Experience and interest in training and supervising junior scientists
• Efficient at planning and organizing major tasks

Candidates who only partially meet this profile are nonetheless encouraged to apply.

Candidate are not required to speak Danish.

The Department of Food Science

Research will be conducted at a newly built 7000 m2 state-of-the-art research facility at the Department of Food Science, Aarhus University (AU FOOD). AU FOOD is in possession of the most advanced analytical research infrastructure, with well-integrated, high-tech prototype facilities. This world-leading infrastructure, will be available to underpin the proposed project (e.g. 2DLC-ESI/Q-ToF MS/MS with ion mobility source, QToF-GC-MS, 600 MHz NMR, twin-screw extruders) and result in an unprecedented cross-disciplinary competence to answer key research questions in biopolymer science. The Department currently employs approx. 60 full time scientific staff and 80 PhD students and Postdocs, with approx. 80 thesis based Bachelor and Masters students and visiting staff and students, who together contribute to an international research environment where English is the preferred language in the laboratory, at meetings and at seminars. Read more about the Department of Food Science at 

www.food.au.dk.
What we offer

We offer a unique research experience in an interdisciplinary research project, combining state-of-the-art techniques in extrusion, food structuring and multi-omic data. We also offer a great mentoring experience, a collaborative environment in which the candidate will be able to share across subfields and applications, and a research environment characterized by collaboration, commitment to diversity and inclusion, and success in mentoring.

Place of work

The place of work is the Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, 8200 Aarhus N (Denmark).

Contact information

For further information about the project or the position, please contact the principal investigator and project leader Mario M. Martinez, phone: +45 20 40 65 95, e-mail:

[email protected]

.

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.