Research assistant or postdoctoral researcher in bioreactor technology development, carbon capture engineering, and negative emission technologies

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Departement: Departement Biologie
Regime Voltijds

Let’s shape the future - University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp (UAntwerp) is a dynamic, forward-thinking European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20 000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international, and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we help build tomorrow’s world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape. UAntwerp globally ranked 5th in the Times Higher Education Millenials (2020), and 7th in the Times Higher Education Young University Ranking (2022).

For our BAM! project, theDepartment of Biology and the Department of Bioscience Engineering (Faculty of Science) are recruiting afull-time(100%) research assistant or postdoctoral researcher in bioreactor technology development, carbon capture engineering, and negative emission technologies.

BAM! is our ambitious European Commission Horizon 2020 Future Emerging Technology (FET Open) project that aims to develop a novel bioreactor technology for negative CO2 emissions. Negative emission technologies actively sequester CO2 from the atmosphere, thus counterbalancing climate change. To achieve this, BAM! brings the most critical natural CO2 sequestering process on geological timescales, silicate weathering, to a controlled reactor environment. This bioreactor will harness the power of biota to massively increase CO2 sequestration rates. BAM! is coordinated by the Global Change Ecology Centre of Excellence (UAntwerp) and integrates know-how from biology, geology, engineering, and machine learning from expert groups at UAntwerp, IMEC, Universität Hamburg, Uppsala Universitet, and Wageningen University & Research.

The UAntwerp research teams of prof. Sara Vicca (Department of Biology) and prof. Siegfried Vlaeminck (Department of Bioscience Engineering) collaborate closely with the other expert teams within the BAM! project. Negative emission technologies fit in the research philosophy of both research teams. They are also core member of the Global Change Ecology Centre of Excellence, Microbial Systems Technology Centre of Excellence, the Enviromics valorization consortium, the BlueApp innovation hub for sustainable chemistry, and CAPTURE (centre for advanced process technology for urban resource recovery).

Position

• You will take part in small reactor experiments (batch experiments) that take place at the Wageningen University & Research (the Netherlands) and that aim to identify a combination of biotic and abiotic conditions that maximize weathering rates and CO2 Approximately every 2 months you will therefore stay in Wageningen for 1 or 2 weeks.
• In the batch experiments, you will be responsible for collecting soil and water samples and for analysing these samples in the lab (pH, electric conductivity, carbon).
• You report results in a timely manner and contribute to the scientific discussions (e.g. to decide on the treatments of the next batch run).
• You will bridge insights from high-throughput batch experiments to a highly advanced bioreactor set-up, and will be actively involved in the development and execution of both test beds.
• You will contribute to the integration of the technologies and techniques needed in the BAM! bioreactor development taking place at UAntwerp, supporting the system development from its conceptual design to a functional device. The unique reactor concept reconciles three phases (gas, liquid, solid), enabling the weathering power of prokaryotes, fungi, and invertebrates. The bioreactor will have automation with multiple online sensor devices allowing advanced data mining and control via artificial intelligence.
• It is possible to prepare and defend a PhD thesis in Biology, Bioscience Engineering or Environmental Science, if you do not have a PhD degree and if you wish to obtain this.

Profile

• You are passionate about contributing to sustainable development and climate change mitigation through innovative bioreactor technology.
• You hold at least a Master or PhD degree in bioscience engineering, environmental engineering, (bio)chemical engineering, or a related field of applied sciences (or you will have obtained it by the time you start work). Experience in geochemistry is an asset.
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
• You can work autonomously, and you are a team player.
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
• You have excellent communication skills, and you are fluent in English.
• You can manage your time and budget, keeping the project deliverables in mind.
• You are willing to travel internationally for the research stays in Wageningen (batch experiments) as well as for project meetings, conferences, or workshops.
• Background knowledge on microbial and invertebrate biology, and/or biogeochemical cycles, negative emissions and ecosystem science is an asset.
• As you will work together with machine learning specialists, background knowledge on advanced data processing is definitely also a plus.

What we offer

• We offer a full-time contract as a research assistant or postdoc researcher for 3 years (starting with a contract of 1 year that is extended upon positive evaluation).
• A competitive gross monthly salary calculated according to the pay scale for an assistant (without PhD) or principal research fellow (with PhD) in the Contract Research Staff category (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).
• The planned start date is May 1st 2022 or as soon as possible after that date.
• You will do most of your work at Campus Drie Eiken and/or Campus Groenenborg in a green, dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• A flexible work environment that encourages creativity, self-realisation and independent thinking.
• The opportunity to develop and strengthen personal competencies through professional training moments, courses, and workshops.
• A unique chance to make a difference and contribute to the development of sustainable biotechnological answers to urgent societal challenges.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here.

Want to apply?

• You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including March 10th2022 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on ’apply’, complete the online application form and don’t forget to include the following document(s): (1) a motivation letter, (2) your academic CV and (3) the contact details of at least one referent that has worked with you in the past.
• The selection committee will review all of the applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure.
• Interviews will take place on March 24th 2022.
• If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact prof. dr. Sara Vicca (sara.vicca@uantwerpen.be) and prof. dr. ir. Siegfried E. Vlaeminck (siegfried.vlaeminck@uantwerpen.be).

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’sHR Excellence in Research Awardfor its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encouragediversityand attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.