Holistic evaluation and interconnected value generation of hemp utilization in material, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors

22 Feb 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

University of Eastern Finland

Research Field

Agricultural sciences » Other

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Finland

Application Deadline

11 Mar 2024 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Offer Starting Date

2 Sep 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

HE / MSCA

Reference Number

DESTINY-DC4.3

Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number

101119940

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

The DESTINY Project - DEsign and SusTainability Assessment of Innovative biomass production systems and value-chains in the BioecoNomY

The EBUs’ joint doctoral network DESTINY is a Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action and offers a total number of 15 fully funded PhD positions in an inter- and transdisciplinary research and education programme.

Six leading universities in bioeconomy research and training collaborate since 2019 to educate a new generation of truly European experts, fostering rigorous, relevant and interdisciplinary research developing solutions for the challenges of the 21st century.

DESTINY will address the transition from a fossil-based towards a biobased economy by developing novel methods and tools to optimise biomass production systems, develop novel biobased value chains and assess their sustainability holistically.

We cover a number of disciplines and sectors from agronomy and engineering to economics, political and social sciences, to create a novel type of scientist: the bioeconomist.

For achieving this, we offer a multi-disciplinary curriculum to equip the 15 Doctoral Candidates with the knowledge and skills need to become leading experts of Europe’s sustainable bioeconomy transition. The research programme is at the crossroads between and targets the agricultural and forestry sectors, the bioeconomy industry, academia, consultancies and governments.

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PhD research topic - Holistic evaluation and interconnected value generation of hemp utilization in material, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors

The doctoral candidate will research at University of Eastern Finland (Kuopio campus, Finland) and at University of Bologna (Bologna, Italy) on the following research project.

Specific objective of the PhD research project 

Advance the value-network of European hemp valorization, including:

• industrial hemp-based materials for (bio)material science and applications;
• speciality chemicals extracted form hemp and hemp processing residues such as distillates, essential oils, powders and biochar/hydrochar;
• antimicrobial molecules and mixtures to be utilized in surface treatments, coatings, composites or seedbeds
• food perspective (e.g. edible oil, flour, flavoring, preservatives)

to improve comprehensive utilization of hemp biomass.

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Conditions and salary

The Doctoral Researcher position will be filled by person to be selected for the LUMETO Doctoral Programme . The main duty of the Doctoral Researcher is to complete their doctoral dissertation in accordance with their research proposal written in the beginning of the employment period.

After successful completion of the 3-year PhD programme, the doctoral candidate will receive a PhD double degree from both universities and an additional certificate from the EBU DESTINY network as diploma supplement.

Extent of employment: Full time

Duration of employment: Limited to 36 months

Salary: Grant provided by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action Joint Doctoral Network:

• Living allowance (gross): 3100.00€ per month a
• Mobility allowance:          500.00€ per month
• (Family allowance:          550.00€ per month)b

Annual gross salary: 55,956.00€ + family allowance, if applicable.

a Country coefficient corrected GROSS amount paid by the European Research Executive Agency (REA) to the recruiting university. The actual net salary will depend on the national taxation and social security coverage.

b Only applicable to doctoral candidates having (or acquiring) family obligations during the PhD programme in form of persons linked to them by (i) marriage or a relationship with equivalent status recognized by national legislation, or (ii) dependent children who are being maintained by them) during the action duration.

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Supervision and training

• Supervision by leading experts in a Thesis Advisory Committee in a collaborative mentoring programme;
• Network-wide training events: three research schools and four workshops;
• Dissemination and outreach activities (e.g. attend scientific conferences);
• A tailor-made career development plan;
• Guidance and compliance with The European Charter for Researchers ;
• Two secondments at:
  • Enecta BV (Italy)
  • University of Bologna (Bologna, Italy).

Requirements

Research Field

Agricultural sciences » Other

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Your qualification and experience

• Graduation in a discipline related to agriculture, biorefining engineering or chemistry, material science, sustainability, bioeconomy (Master degree required);
• Understanding of biomass supply systems and biobased value chains; chemical characterization methods and/or chemical engineering separation systems
• Strong interest to work in an inter- and transdisciplinary research environment within a Europe-wide network;
• Ability to work on and solve problems independently and in well-structured manner;
• Team spirit, enthusiasm, creativity and willingness to travel;
• Proficiency in written and spoken English (proof required), Finnish is a plus.

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Research Field

Agricultural sciences » Other

Additional Information
Eligibility criteria

Eligibility

The doctoral candidate must comply with the following criteria:

• not have resided or carried out their main activity (e.g. studies) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the past 36 months before recruitment;
• not be in possession of a doctoral degree;
• become enrolled in the doctoral programme leading to the award of a doctoral degree at the first supervising university and, within one year, become enrolled in the doctoral programme leading to the award of a doctoral degree at the second supervising university;
• work exclusively and full time for the PhD research project.

Selection process

Assessment criteria

The 2-step selection process will be based on the merits providing equal opportunity and will be in agreement with the European Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers .

In the first step, applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• scientific quality of the applicant’s CV and educational record;
• expected individual impact and benefit to the fellow and to the project;
• ability to collaborate and communicate;
• previous experience in the subject of doctoral research project.

In the second step, the shortlisted candidates will be invited for an (online) interview with the Thesis Advisory Committee. Subsequently, the candidates will be notified of the outcome.

Additional comments

Starting Date

The DESTINY doctoral school is planned to start on 1st January 2025 with all doctoral candidates being enrolled as PhD students at the first supervising institution.

Doctoral candidates may start working on their projects as early as September 2024 and in December 2024 at the latest.

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Apply now

You can apply for a maximum of three PhD positions within DESTINY by submitting the following documents and filling the online application until 11th March 2024

• Up to date CV including details of education/qualifications, work experience and publications;
• Copy of a valid ID/Passport;
• Letter of motivation your research career goals, skills and experience with respect to the PhD research project (max. 1 page);
• Certified copy of the Academic degree translated into English, which does formally entitle to start a PhD programme in the country in which the doctoral candidate intends to be recruited;
• Academic Transcript of Records proofing the candidate to have graduated ‘above-average’ (average Master grade better than 2.5 or being within the best 50% of the graduates from the Master programme within the year of graduation)
• Summary of the Master Degree thesis or a brief description of the most recent scientific activity (500 words);
• A good command of the English language (IELTS grade min. 6.5, or equivalent).

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For further information about DESTINY please contact:destinyEMAIL address: [email protected]

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

University of Eastern Finland

Country

Finland

Geofield

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

University of Bologna

Country

Italy

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://uef.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:699544/where:3/?token=1c5b68d2b6fefa436…

Contact

E-Mail

[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED