Researcher on modelling of Integrated Green Biorefineries

Are you interested in circular bioeconomy and modelling of technology integration, and can you contribute to the development of Green Biorefineries? Then the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering invites you to apply for a 3-year assistant professor position.

Expected start date and duration of employment
This is a 3–year position from 15.03.2025 or as soon possible.

The successful candidate will contribute to the Green Biorefining Technologies (GBT) research group and will play a key role in research, teaching, and leadership activities, particularly those related to the green biorefinery demonstration-scale platform located at AU Viborg. This platform integrates diverse technologies, including fractionation units, membrane filtration, and centrifugation.
Key areas of focus include, but are not limited to:

• Process modelling and simulation of integrated biorefineries, focusing on green biorefinery systems.

• Techno-economic assessment to evaluate biorefinery processes' efficiency, scalability, and sustainability

• Activities on the AU Viborg demonstration-scale platform, directing research and development on integrated biorefinery technologies.

The candidate is expected to consolidate educational activities related to modelling and techno-economic assessments of integrated biorefineries. These responsibilities include teaching and supervising students at the bachelor’s and master’s levels in related programs, co-supervising PhD students, and mentoring postdoctoral fellows.
Working in international and interdisciplinary projects, fostering collaboration with academic, industrial, and governmental stakeholders is expected by the candidate.

The candidate should hold a PhD in a relevant field such as Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Biotechnology, or a related discipline. Expertise in process modelling, simulation, and techno-economic assessment of biorefinery systems is expected. Skills with process simulation software, such as Aspen Plus, are required. Experience working with demonstration-scale or pilot-scale platforms is highly desirable.
Moreover, we expect a strong record of research publications in reputable journals and the potential for securing external funding; demonstrated ability to teach and supervise students effectively at undergraduate and postgraduate levels; and commitment to interdisciplinary research and working collaboratively in an international academic environment.
The candidate has remarkable communication, project management, and leadership abilities, and in-depth theoretical knowledge and practical experience at the appropriate career level.

Who we are
Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering was established on 1 January 2021 in connection with Aarhus University’s reorganization of the engineering area. The department employs around 175 people and is responsible for research and education within the department’s scientific areas. We educate both Bachelors and Masters of Science in Engineering and around 825 students are enrolled in our study programs. Furthermore, we also offer an ambitious PhD program. Our PhD students have high academic ambitions and deliver high-quality results for both the private and the public sectors.
At the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, focus is on living systems, the biology of organisms, efficient production, and transformation of chemicals, materials and energy. We translate knowledge within biotechnology, food technology, environmental technology, chemical engineering, industrial biotechnology, medical biotechnology and electrochemical engineering, and more into new technologies and value-creating solutions that can also be used in the business community.

Many of our research and development activities are based on companies' specific innovation needs or specialist application areas. Close collaboration with the public sector and private businesses ensures that the knowledge and technology generated in the department's research environments has a clear anchoring in reality and benefits the surrounding society. We also provide research-based public sector consultancy and advice on technology in agriculture and food.
The aim of the Industrial Biotechnology section is to provide bio-based, sustainable solutions for industrial, food and health related applications. The section is located at AU and at Campus Viborg and combines expertise in Microbial and Food Biotechnology, Microbial Systems Engineering, Natural Products and Enzyme Technology. The section has state of the art facilities for microbial cultivation at aerobic and anaerobic conditions, molecular biology work, a well-established analytical platform and processing plant at different scales from lab size to pilots. There is a strong interest in developing biosolutions for the food and feed industry based on captured CO2 and on agro-industrial side streams from e.g. green biorefinery, where AU has an outstanding international position (https://cbio.au.dk/)

What we offer
AU provides excellent working conditions in a lively scientific community, embedded in the vibrant research environment at the main campus in Aarhus. The AU environment is international.

The department offers:

• a well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories and access to shared equipment
• an exciting interdisciplinary environment with many national, international and industrial collaborators
• a research climate encouraging lively, open and critical discussion within and across different fields of research
• a work environment with close working relationships, networking and social activities
• a workplace characterised by professionalism, equality and a healthy work-life balance.

Place of work and area of employment
Place of employment is Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, and place of work will be distributed between Campus Aarhus, Hangøvej 2, 8200 Aarhus N, and Campus Viborg, Blichers Alle 20, 8830 Tjele, according to agreement.

Contact information
For further information, please contact: Associate Professor, Morten Ambye-Jensen, +45 9350 8009, [email protected].

Deadline
Applications must be received no later than 15 January 2025.

Application procedure
Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the assessment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. The selection is made on the basis of an assessment of who of the candidates are most relevant considering the requirements of the advertisement. All applicants will be notified within 6 weeks whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee and will receive his/her assessment. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

Letter of reference
If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

Formalities and salary range
Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

Aarhus University
Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/

Department: Ind.Biotech - Hangøvej 2/Ind.Biotech - Hangøvej 2

Deadline: 15 January 2025

Location: Aarhus N Hangøvej 2