Research Fellow in Phototrophic Bioprocesses

Fixed Term Contract for 12 months

Full-time salary is £37,897 per annum

Cranfield, Bedfordshire 

Cranfield Water Science Institute welcomes applications from passionate, skilled and committed Engineering, Environmental Science, Biology and Biotechnology graduates with a PhD in relevant subjects to contribute to an exciting European project developing biotechnological processes that use phototrophic microorganisms to recover resources from waste.

About the Role

We are seeking a dedicated Research Fellow to join our dynamic team in addressing the crucial challenge of recovering resources from waste. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in a high-profile European project (OLinWASTE) of international relevance aimed at establishing a groundbreaking case study for an integrated zero-emission biorefinery to convert olive mill wastes into valuable resources. The overall project will upcycle olive mill waste into high-value products such as plant bioimmunostimulants, biopesticides, biofertilizers, biobased plastics, and bioenergy.

The focus on the candidate for this position will be on developing treatment processes exploiting the metabolic flexibility of phototrophic microorganisms to recover polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and macronutrients (N, P) from digestate and other waste effluents. Utilising state-of-the-art facilities and collaborating with other project partners, the role encompasses the planning, implementation of experimental tests and the operation of laboratory and small-scale reactors to grow phototrophic microorganisms and assess their ability to remove organics and nutrients, and accumulate PHAs. 

About You

You will be educated to doctoral level (or close to completion) in Engineering, Environmental Science, Biology or Biotechnology, and have experience in management research using both qualitative and quantitative methods. You will have experience in research involving phototrophic microorganisms (either autotrophic or heterotrophic) and a track record of translating the microbiological properties of these microorganisms into engineering applications. The role will also involve using coarse filtration (mesh or cloth filtration) as a solid-liquid separation strategy for the biomass recovery in continuous photo-bioreactors. With excellent communication skills, you will have expertise in wastewater and/or waste treatments and biological processes for resource recovery. 

About Us

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here.

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here.

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families. Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here.

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.

How to apply                                     

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Dr Luca Alibardi, Lecturer in Separation processes at l.alibardi@cranfield.ac.uk

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