Postdoc LCA of resource recovery technologies for wastewater and manure

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Departement: Departement Bio-ingenieurswetenschappen
Regime Voltijds

Let’s shape the future - University of Antwerp

The SUSTAIN Research Group in the Bioscience Engineering Department (Faculty of Science, University of Antwerp) is hiring a full-time postdoc in the field of LCA of resource recovery technologies for wastewater and manure.

The University of Antwerp (UAntwerp) is a young, dynamic and forward-thinking university in the heart of Europe. It ranks 5^th in the “Times Higher Education Millenials 2020” and 20^th in the “QS Top 50 Under 50 2021”, and is a founding member of the Young Universities for the Future of Europe (YUFE) alliance. We offer innovative academic education to more than 23 000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the region's largest, most international and most innovative employers. With almost 7000 employees from 130+ nationalities, we are helping to 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. Antwerp, as a place to live and work, offers unique opportunities as it is a vibrant historical human-scale city in the well-connected heart of Europe, with a rich offer of cultural and social activities, and easy access to nature.

The Bioscience Engineering Department was created in 2006 to meet the growing societal demand for experts in biobased problem-solving across various fields, including environmental technology, cell and gene biotechnology, chemistry and food technology, and land and forest management. In 2015, prof. Siegfried Vlaeminck launched Biobased Cleantech and Environmental Analysis Research (BioCLEAR), since 2024 a proud member of the Biobased Sustainability Engineering (SUSTAIN) Research Group. SUSTAIN provides a dynamic and international environment, actively embracing diversity. The BioCLEAR team is a core member of the Microbial Systems Technology Centre of Excellence, the Enviromics valorization consortium, the BlueApp innovation hub for sustainable chemistry, the CAPTURE platform for resource recovery and circular economy, and the MELiSSA circular life support system programme of the European Space Agency (ESA).

The goals of BioCLEAR are sustainable water treatment, nutrient management and food production, along with climate mitigation. Our novel solutions are based on microbial cleantech and environmental systems analysis. Key topics include nutrient recovery from wastewater and manure, single-cell protein (microbial protein), nitrogen and COD removal biotech, urine treatment, nitrification, anammox, high-rate activated sludge, purple bacteria,…

The advertised position is in the Environmental Systems Analysis sub-team, led by prof. Marc Spiller, specialized in: (i) sustainability assessment of novel technologies in wastewater and manure treatment, (ii) method development for life cycle assessment (LCA), and (iii) development and application of material flow analysis (MFA) in relation to water, nitrogen, phosphorus and protein. The work in this team is interdisciplinary, with strong links to programming and computation, next to economics and other social sciences.

Position

• In the position offered you will carry out sustainability assessments of novel wastewater and manure treatment and resource recovery technologies. The focus will extend beyond the technologies only and will also link to infrastructure and logistics (e.g. pipes and transport systems), as well as to reuse, for instance in agriculture. The work will mainly make use of life cycle assessment (LCA), and will require skills in carrying out mass/energy balances, and potentially material flow analysis (MFA).
• You will prepare reports related to the progress of your research activities and will publish scientific articles related to the research project.
• You will actively participate in national and international conferences, project meetings, workshops, etc.
• You carry out a limited number of research support tasks (including proposal writing for funding acquisition).

Profile

• You hold a PhD degree in bioscience engineering, environmental engineering, technology or science(s), environmental systems analysis, agronomy or agricultural engineering, (bio)chemical engineering, or equivalent applied sciences.
• You have demonstrable experience in carrying out life cycle assessments using relevant software (e.g. SimaPro, OpenLCA, Activity Browser). A solid working knowledge of emissions from liquid wastes to air, soil, and water is required. Experience with material flow analysis is a plus.
• You have co-authored papers in which quantitative sustainability assessments have been performed.
• You have demonstrable expertise and experience in working on aspects related to the treatment of or resource recovery from liquid waste streams (e.g. N & P recovery, water reuse, etc.). Candidates with a background in and focus on technology transitions in sustainable agri-food chains and agrotechnology may also apply.
• Demonstrable programming and coding experience is a plus, in particular the use of Brightway 2 and Python.
• You are the first author of papers published in journals indexed by Web of Science.
• You have outstanding oral and written communication skills in English and communicate clearly and honestly.
• You have excellent interpersonal skills to collaborate constructively and respectfully with scientific team members and with BSc/MSc students.
• You manage your time well and are able to meet objectives efficiently within set deadlines.
• You are a creative, out-of-the-box thinker.
• You are strong in working proactively and independently, with an outcome-focused, problem-solving mentality.
• You act with attention to quality and integrity.
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.

What we offer

• A postdoctoral scholarship for a period of one year, with the possibility of renewal after positive evaluation.
• The planned start date is October 1^st, 2024, or as soon as possible.
• Your monthly scholarship corresponds to a net payment of around 2900 EUR.
• You will receive ecocheques, an internet-connectivity allowance, and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
• You will do most of your work at the Groenenborgercampus in a safe, stimulating, green and flexible working environment, encouraging creativity, self-realization and independent thinking, in a dynamic, respectful and international setting.
• The opportunity to build a broad national and international network of industrial and scientific partners, and to develop new personal competencies through professional training moments, courses and workshops.
• The possibility to tutor and co-supervise BSc, MSc and PhD students working on your research topic, and engage with colleague researchers in joint research and publication efforts.
• The chance to make a difference, and personally contribute to answer 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 15 August 2024 (by midnight Antwerp time). Click on the 'Apply' button, complete the online application form and be sure to include the following attachments: a motivation letter and your academic CV.
• Interviews will take place in two rounds, with a first short interview on 28 August 2024 (morning, Antwerp time), ideally in person, but remote attendance can be accommodated, and the best candidate(s) will be invited for an in-depth second interview on 17 September 2024 (morning, Antwerp time), with physical attendance.
• 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. Marc Spiller (Marc.Spiller@UAntwerpen.be).

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and 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.