PhD position
Bioprocess design for gas fermentations of H2 oxidising bacteria
within EU Innovative Training Network (ITN)
Part of ConCO2rde Project
You will be part of the ConCO2rde project, an EU H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) – Innovative Training Network (ITN).
Within the pioneering research program of ConCO2rde, 11 early stage researchers (ESR) together will develop efficient microbial CO2-fixation processes for the production of materials and chemicals. The integration of molecular biology, biocatalysis and process intensification will provide a comprehensive education in the field of biotechnology.
The project will be carried out by a consortium of one transnational institute, six universities, eight industrial partners and one cluster.
Your research is part of ConCO2rde Work Package 3 “Process intensification of gas-driven processes”. The aim of your PhD research is to decipher the bottlenecks in the cultivation of Knallgasbacteria (hydrogen oxidizing bacteria) in order to run gas fermentations at high cell densities within bioreactors. Your research will speed up the development of future bioprocesses from CO2 as unique Carbon source.
Your PhD research will especially focus on:
- Characterization of microbial strains under autotrophic conditions.
- Bioprocess design for lithoautotrophic (H2/O2 /CO2) fermentation at different scales.
- Intensification of lithoautotrophic fermentation processes (academic secondment).
- Implementation strategy with industry partner.
Our offer:
Your Phd research organisations and locations:
- The main part of your PhD research (3 years in total) will be carried out at acib GmbH in Graz, Austria (23 months) under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Regina Kratzer.
- The PhD project includes an academic research stay of 9 months at Toulouse Biotechnology Institute (INSA Toulouse, France) under the supervision of Prof. Stéphane Guillouet.
- The PhD research also includes 4 months of industrial secondment at the company Zeta GmbH (Lieboch near Graz, Austria).
Application Deadline:
15 August 2022, 11:59 pm, Central European Time