Norwegian University of Life Sciences

NMBU has a particular responsibility for research and education that secures the basis for the life of future generations. Sustainability is rooted in everything we do and we deliver knowledge for life. NMBU has 1,900 employees of which about 500 phd scholarships and 6,700 students. The university is divided into seven faculties.

NMBU believes that a good working environment is characterised by diversity.

We encourage qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender, functional ability, cultural background or whether you have been outside the labour market for a period. If necessary, workplace adaptations will be made for persons with disabilities. More information about NMBU is available at www.nmbu.no.

About The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science

The KBM faculty is located at Ås Campus, 30 km south of Oslo, and has approximately 160 employees spread over 12 research groups. We have a wide research portfolio in organic chemistry and biochemistry, including organic analysis, biological activity of organic molecules, fermentation technology, fundamental and applied enzymology, and enzyme discovery at the cross section between chemistry and biotechnology. In the past decade, KBM has become a world leading environment for enzyme research, with good research infrastructure and good funding. The position is placed in the research group for Bioprocess Technology and Biorefining (BioRef).

Further information here.

“Do you want to work with microbial biogas technology?”

About the position

The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM) at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has vacant a 2-year position for a post-doctoral researcher in the field of biogas processes. The position is part of the research center Bio4Fuels, a national center of excellence focusing on research on biofuels and value- added products from lignocellulosic biomass. Bio4Fuels is funded by the Research Council of Norway’s scheme for Centers for Environmentally-friendly Energy Research (FME). The research is carried out by seven Norwegian research partners (NMBU, SINTEF, NTNU, NIBIO, RISE-PFI, IFE and USN) in cooperation with more than 40 user partners (leading national and international industries, public bodies, NGOs), as well as leading international research partners. For further information, see here.

Anaerobic digestion is a central research topic in Bio4Fuels, in particular the role of anaerobic digestion in lignocellulosic biorefineries. The post-doc will cooperate with other researchers in Bio4Fuels, and work with different biomass fractions originating from other work packages in the Center.

Main tasks

• Anaerobic digestion experiments in batch and CSTRs
• H2 addition to biogas reactors for gas upgrading
• Microbial community analysis
• The use of electrodes in biogas reactors (bioelectromethanogenesis)
• Production of VFAs
• Analytical work including use stable isotopes
• Write and publish high-level scientific publications

These tasks will be conducted in a well-equipped biogas laboratory including 24 CSTR reactors and analytical tools.

The main purpose of the postdoctoral position is to qualify for work in high-level scientific positions. A PhD degree is therefore required.

Competence

Required academic qualifications:

• PhD degree in biotechnology and/or bioprocess technology
• Training and research experience in running biogas reactors
• Knowledge of biogas microbial communities
• Good research performance during the PhD and, if applicable, as a post-doctoral researcher, preferably documented by high quality scientific publications

Experiences and skills with some of the following topics are desirable:

• Experience with the use of stable isotopes (C13) during gas monitoring
• Experience with the use of electrodes and microbial electrosynthesis (MES) and/or microbial electrolysis cells (MEC)
• Online monitoring and control of biogas reactors
• Setting up and running different AD reactors and combinations of reactors

Personal qualities:

We are looking for a candidate who is ambitious, curious, motivated and able to work in a strong research environment. The ideal candidate will combine the following personal qualities:

• Hard-working and accurate
• Creative and independent
• Genuinely interested in scientific research and its industrial applications
• Good social and excellent collaborative skills
• Good communicative skills, orally and written, in English, and, preferably in a Scandinavian language
• Practical skills

Remuneration and further information

The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1352 Postdoctoral Fellow, wage framework 24 (salary grade 62-77) (NOK 573.900-765.500), depending on qualifications. Seniority promotion in position.

For further information, please contact:

Professor Svein Horn at [email protected], or check out the web-page for the BioRef research group

General Information to applicants

Application

To apply for this vacancy, please go to www.jobbnorge.no and register a new user if necessary. Then, find the position, and click the 'Apply for this job' button. This will route you to the online application form. Fill in the required personal information and the application letter. For simplicity, you do not have to complete the academic CV in the online system. Instead, upload your complete CV as a pdf file along with an application letter, degree certificates and transcripts of academic records.

Application deadline: 01.02.2023

Applicants invited for an interview will be asked to present verified copies of diplomas and certificates.

Apply for this job