Postdoc position (2 yr.) in pretreatment of softwood for advanced biofuels - Befattningen är under tillsättning eller redan tillsatt, och det är inte längre möjligt att lämna in en ansökan

The Department of Chemistry invites applicants for a postdoctoral position focused on pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass for producing advanced biofuels. The application deadline is June 3rd, 2020.

The position will be linked to activities within the project “γ-valerolactone for advanced biofuels” and the platform “Biopolymers and Biochemical Conversion Technologies” (BioPolChem) of the strategic research environment Bio4Energy (http://www.bio4energy.se/). The postdoctoral studies will mainly be performed at the laboratories of the BioPolChem platform at the Chemical-Biological Center (KBC) at Umeå University main campus. There will also be activities at the RISE Processum triple-helix environment in Örnsköldsvik (https://www.processum.se/en/), where industry and research organizations interact to develop new processes for lignocellulose biorefining. The postdoc will benefit from excellent research infrastructure and instrumentation, and will have the possibility of inspiring exchange with researchers from the Department of Chemistry, Bio4Energy, and Örnsköldsvik biorefinery cluster, in a creative, international and highly interactive environment.

Project description and research tasks
Lignocellulosic biomass is a promising feedstock for producing advanced biofuels, and can provide a sustainable way for meeting the fuel demand and decreasing the dependence on fossil resources. Bioconversion of lignocellulose to advanced biofuels is challenged by feedstock recalcitrance. Softwood, in particular, requires pretreatment under severe conditions. The goal of the research project is to develop a novel process based on a green solvent that will be used for fractionating the main constituents of the feedstock, i.e. cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin.

Pretreatment of woody biomass will be performed using a pressurized reactor, and the resulting streams will then be further processed. Other research tasks include analysis of raw materials, pretreatment liquors, and pretreated solids, enzymatic saccharification of cellulose, lignin recovery from liquors, post-hydrolysis and dehydration of sugar streams, separation of furan aldehydes, and microbial fermentation of hydrolysates. The analysis methods to be used include spectrophotometry, HPLC, HPAEC, FTIR, Py-GC/MS, and NMR. State-of-the-art instrumentation available at KBC core facilities and analytical platforms will be used.

The employment is full-time for a period of two years, starting on September 1st, 2020, or at a date decided in agreement between the two parties.

Qualifications
The required qualification is a doctoral degree or a foreign degree that is deemed equivalent in chemistry, chemical engineering or an equivalent area. Priority should be given to candidates who have completed their doctoral degree no more than three years before the closing date of the application. A candidate who has completed their degree prior to this may be considered if special circumstances exist. Special circumstances include absence due to illness, parental leave or clinical practice, appointments of trust in trade unions or similar circumstances. High motivation, good ability to co-operate and good skills in written and spoken English are requirements.

The applicant ought to have experience of experimental research on wood chemistry, pretreatment of lignocellulose, and biochemical conversion. Knowledge of wood chemistry and biochemical conversion of lignocellulose, yeast cultivation and biotechnology, practical experience of biorefinery-related research, good skills in liquid and gas chromatography techniques, and familiarity with interpretation of NMR and FTIR spectra, are strong merits.

Application
The application must contain the following documents:

• A cover letter that describes qualifications, research interests, and motivation for application (maximum 2 pages)
• A curriculum vitae, including a publication list
• A copy of doctoral thesis and relevant publications
• A copy of doctoral degree certificate and other relevant degree certificates and grades
• Name and contact information of at least two reference persons
• Other relevant documents

The application must be written in English or Swedish. Applications must be submitted via our e-recruitment system Varbi no later than June 3rd, 2020.

For more information, please contact Dr. Carlos Martín, phone: +46-90 786 6099, email: carlos.martin@umu.se.

Information about the department
Department of Chemistry is the largest department in the Faculty of Science and Technology, with approximately 200 employees, including about 40 doctoral students, and with a strong and expanding research. Three major areas of research, Biological Chemistry, Environmental and Biogeochemistry, and Technical Chemistry, represent the research and chemistry education of our department. We are also a strong partner in KBC, the Chemical-Biological Centre.