Junior Researcher / PhD Position (f/m/d)
Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH | Linz
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 a 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)
Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH
Über uns
Wir sind eine führende Forschungseinrichtung für Holz und nachwachsende Rohstoffe in Europa. Unsere Kernkompetenzen liegen in der Materialforschung und Prozesstechnologie entlang der gesamten Wertschöpfungskette – von den Rohmaterialen bis zum fertigen Produkt. Dabei erarbeiten über 120 hochqualifizierte Forscherinnen und Forscher Methoden sowie Grundlagen und betreiben angewandte Forschung an der Nahtstelle Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft, um ressourcenschonendes Wirtschaften in der kreislaufgeführten Bioökonomie zu ermöglichen.
Als COMET-K1-Zentrum werden wir im Rahmen von COMET – Competence Centers for Excellent Technologies - durch die Ministerien BMK, BMAW sowie die Bundesländer Oberösterreich, Niederösterreich und Kärnten gefördert. Das Programm COMET wird durch die österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft (FFG) abgewickelt.