Postdoctoral Fellowship in Environmental Life Cycle and Planetary Impact Assessment - DTU Biosustain

Bridging the Gap Between Process Systems and Environmental Engineering for Bio-solutions.
If you are interested in making a real impact in sustainability via bio-based product development, this is your chance to be part of innovative work. At DTU, we seek a team member with expertise in simulation, automation, and sustainability assessment to drive the transition towards a greener future.

As an internationally reputed elite university, DTU is at the forefront of innovation related to “the sustainable transition.” At the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability (DTU Biosustain), we are specifically looking for new ways to support the sustainable production of bio-based products, and that is why we need you and all your good simulation and automation skills. At DTU Biosustain, you’ll work on projects connecting research with real-world sustainable production applications. The goal is to develop tools that enable researchers to optimize their processes and assess sustainability impacts more effectively.

Bridging the Gap Between Bioproduction Systems and Environmental Engineering for Bio-solutions
Your job is to support the vision of sustainable bio-chemical production. You will design and contribute to novel workflows integrating economic, environmental, and societal impact assessment tools. Specifically, you will be responsible for identifying the bottlenecks in estimating systematic and high-quality Environmental Impact Assessments in relative and absolute terms. You will be engaging with chemical/bioprocess and socio-economic scientists/engineers to automate (in collaboration with software engineers) the generation of their key indicators and, eventually, build a user-friendly tool to be executed by the global biotechnology community. One of the key aspects of this position is to spread knowledge and tools to stakeholders active in the biotech sector in Denmark and beyond. Hence, we seek a proactive candidate with a solid environmental life cycle assessment background.

Responsibilities and qualifications
Your primary tasks will be to:

• Design workflows for quantitative environmental sustainability assessment of low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) biotechnology-based products.
• Identify challenges in automating environmental impact assessments and work with the experts in the field to develop interfaces to achieve seamless automation.
• Deploy code-based solutions (preferably Python libraries) to circumvent manual operations/clicks in dedicated simulation tools (preferably OpenLCA).
• Adapt the existing environmental impact assessment workflows to add more assessment features using open-source tools such as the Brightway tool.
• Apply statistical tests/assessments and tests to generate and validate outcomes.
• Collaborate with academic and industrial stakeholders to identify the key benefits and challenges caused by the introduction of novel bio-based food, chemicals, enzymes, etc.
• Synthesize findings into insights and actionable recommendations.
• Engage in teaching professionals via engaging presentations and case studies.

Your ideas and inputs e.g., new methods, tools, and analysis, are highly welcomed.
As a formal qualification, you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent).

Additionally, it would be ideal if the candidate meets the following requirements:

• Strong expertise in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, including ISO 14040 and 14044 standards..
• Must have expert-level understanding and hands-on experience in maneuvering software such as SimaPro and OpenLCA (or other LCA tools) as well as knowledge and understanding of the ecoinvent database.
• Proven ability to automate LCA processes with code-based applications (e.g., Python, R, MATLAB etc.). (please highlight this in the cover letter).
• Must have an outstanding publication record in peer-reviewed journals (please highlight this in the CV) related to the Application or development of LCA to product systems (desirable bioprocesses, biorefineries, and related).
• A sound understanding of how the supply chain’s function will be advantageous.
• Outstanding communication skills and demonstrable experience in delivering time-bound tasks (please highlight this in the CV).
• The ability to demonstrate and operate in line with the team’s core values. These are excellence, teamwork, integrity, respect, and stewardship.
• A strong record of accomplishment in interacting with international academic and industrial stakeholders in projects. You are welcome to provide 2-3 professional references in your CV.
• Optional: knowledge or experience with Planetary Boundary Life Cycle Assessments.

You will work in the Sustainable Innovation Office (Group in DTU Biosustain). Our focus is to guide innovation at an early stage by assessing the benefits (society, economic, and environmental) of developed bio-based technologies. We aim to develop computational tools that provide insights to guide the research community in DTU and beyond to assess the sustainability of bio-based products. DTU is ranked among the best in the world in Biotechnology and Sustainability Assessments and the selected candidate would have a unique experience in working with world-class scientists in the two fields during several collaborative projects between the two departments.

Our work environment is informal and characterized by knowledge sharing, respect, trust, and room for having an enjoyable time together – naturally balanced with creating tangible results. Now, we are just looking forward to welcoming you to the team.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and terms of employment
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union.

The period of employment is 2 years. The position is a full-time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.
Further information
If you would like additional information about the position, please get in touch with Group Leader, Sumesh Sukumara via email, [email protected]

You can read more about DTU Biosustain at https://www.biosustain.dtu.dk/

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 23 October 2024 (23:59 Danish time).

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• Application (cover letter)
• CV
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD – in English)
• List of publications

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability (DTU Biosustain)
Recent progress in our ability to read and write genomic code, combined with advances in automation, analytics and data science, has fundamentally changed the scope and ambition of harnessing the potential of biological systems. Big data approaches and analysis of biological systems are key research instruments at the Center. DTU Biosustain utilizes these advances for microbial cell factory design to foster sustainable lifestyles in relation to three application areas: Sustainable Chemicals, Natural Products, and Microbial Foods.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

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