PhD position in Food Science - Alternative proteins and 3D food printing

We offer a four-year PhD position to a driven candidate who is interested in working on extraction of blue and green alternative proteins, evaluating and improving their functionality and structuring them to a new generation of meat and seafood analogues as well as hybrid products via emerging technologies such as extrusion and 3D printing. As a PhD-student you will belong to the Chalmers Bioscience Graduate School, and most experimental work will be performed at Chalmers. However, visits to the collaborating partners, not least Lund University, Lantmännen and Nordic Seafarm are foreseen. 

Information about the project
A shift toward production and consumption of foods with lower environmental impacts such as plant (green) and aquatic (blue) foods is necessary to promote sustainability of our food system. This transition is hindered by e.g., low efficiency in their production, extensively purified ingredients, unfavorable nutrients and taste of plant proteins, overpressure on aquatic resources, low diversity of plant alternatives and low attractability for consumer toward them. The FORMAS funded project called 3DMIX has gathered competences at Chalmers and Lund Universities and several food companies to address these issues. 3DMIX aims to benefit from the advantages of both green and blue resources to solve their respective drawbacks by integrating them into mixtures sharing advantages of each source. In this new approach, protein-rich functional fractions from agricultural side streams and underutilized aquatic resources will be precisely mixed and then formulated to healthy and hybrid personalized foods via high moisture extrusion and 3D food printing.

Information about the department and division
The Department of Biology and Biological Engineering is aiming at bridging cutting edge life science research with biochemical engineering, in order to emerge as the leading innovation center in the region. The research has broad applications in areas of health and industrial production of e.g. fine chemicals, food and energy. The department offers highly qualified education for engineering students within the area of bioengineering. It is furthermore collaborating in broad, interdiciplinary national and international networks within academia and the industry.

The division of Food and Nutrition Science is one of four research divisions at the Department of Biology and Biological Engineering. Food and Nutrition Science is one of the leading units in the area in Sweden with particular strengths in nutritional and computational metabolomics, dietary biomarkers, micronutrient metal nutrition, nutritional immunology, marine food science and nutrition as well as food by-product biorefining and protein technology. The division focuses on nutritional solutions for health and disease prevention by studies on the molecular, cellular, and whole-body level. It also has a strong focus on sustainable use of food raw materials and on many different quality aspects of food.

Major responsibilities
Your major responsibilities are to pursue your own doctoral studies. You are expected to carry out research within the 3DMIX-project with a specific focus on extracting protein from marine and agricultural resources, evaluation of their functionality and their formulation to hybrid ingredients as well as developing new customized and personalized products via extrusion and 3D-printing technology.

You will be responsible for experimental planning, practical work, sample collection, data handling, writing of publications and communications of results to both academic and industrial partners within the project.

Qualifications
- A master's level degree in food technology, food biophysics, biotechnology, bioprocessing, food chemistry, protein technology or similar.

- Experience of working with agricultural and aquatic biomasses and their side streams is meritorious. Experience of working with protein extraction as well as its structure, flavor, rheology and functionality analysis is advantageous.

- Knowledge on protein structuring, thermomechanical processing (extrusion) and 3D food printing technologies is advantageous.

- You have the ability to work independently as well as in teams and take responsibility for progress of the project.

- The position requires strong verbal and written communication skills in English. If Swedish is not your native language, Chalmers offers Swedish courses.

Contract terms
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of 4,5 years.

We offer
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. 
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Learn more and apply on Chalmers website: https://www.chalmers.se/sv/om-chalmers/Arbeta-pa-Chalmers/lediga-tjanster/Sidor/default.aspx?rmpage=job&rmjob=10382&rmlang=SE

Application deadline: 18 April 2022. 

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. *** 
   



Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, technology-related mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society. The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our six Areas of Advance; Energy, Health Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Materials Science, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!