We are a leading research organisation in the field of wood and wood-related renewable resources in Europe. Our core competencies are materials research and process technology along the entire value chain – from raw material to finished product. We develop methods and fundamentals and conduct applied research at the inferface between business and science to enable resource-efficient management in the circular bioeconomy. Currently we are looking for:
Junior Researcher / PhD Position (f/m/d)
Job description:
The transformation of chemical industries towards green and sustainable technologies is one of the decisive factors towards a bio-based economy and the net-zero CO2 ambitions of the European Union by 2050. In this collaborative research project, we are aiming to facilitate this transition in cooperation with a renowned industrial partner and to enable new manufacturing routes for platform chemicals based on an abundant lignocellulosic side stream.
Your Tasks:
- Screening and optimisation of novel and adapted biomass pre-treatment methods for utilisation of lignocellulosic waste streams from agricultural industries (e.g. STEX, AFEX, Acid Hydrolysis etc.)
- Analysis, fractionation, and characterisation of the obtained carbohydrates and lignin
- Bioprocess development for platform chemicals (e.g. higher alcohols and organic acids) using industrially established and genetically modified microorganisms (e.g. E. coli, S. cerevisiae, etc.)
- Define and implement engineering targets for strain development using state-of-the-art techniques (e.g. Golden Gate Cloning, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing and OMICS-Technologies)
Your Qualifications:
- Completion of a relevant master’s degree (e.g. biotechnology, microbiology, chemistry, etc.)
- Strong interest in biotechnological processes, the pre-treatment of lignocellulosic materials, working with microorganisms, genetic engineering tools and analytical chemistry
- Fluent in English, additional German language skills are beneficial
- Creativity, motivation, and teamwork are essential, as well as a willingness to learn new skills
- Experience with microbial bioreactor cultivation (e.g. DASGIP, Infors), or molecular cloning techniques (e.g. Golden Gate) is an advantage
- Experience with analytical (e.g. HPLC/GC-MS) and spectroscopic methods (e.g. NMR, UV-VIS,
FT-IR) is an advantage
Your Benefits:
- Diversified field to complete your PhD in a well-established research and technology organisation embedded in the scientific community of JKU Linz, BOKU and TU Vienna
- Working in an industry-related project in collaboration with renowned corporate partners
- Gross monthly salary based on 40 h/week of EUR 2.800,00 (14 x per year)
Location:
Linz, Austria – JKU Campus
Starting date:
01.07.2024
Contact:
Michael Egermeier, PhD
Team Leader Bioprocess Technologies
Tel.: +43 732 2468-6781 or + 43 676 89744529
We are looking forward to receiving your application via email at: m.egermeier@wood-kplus.at