Postdoc in circular biobased plastic economy using UV-light and enzymes

This project enables you to work within an exciting interdisciplinary collaboration between academia, industry, community actors and research institutes. You will develop energy-efficient processes from biobased residual streams to produce biobased plastics and expand your knowledge on energy-efficient processes based on light and enzymes.

Information about the research project
The main purpose of this project is to enable a resource-efficient circular plastic economy that is based on 100% renewable and bio-based residual streams. Addressing this topic is of instrumental importance to reach the climate goal in 2030 and a climate-neutral economy in 2045. The current materials economy, that is of basal importance to our everyday life and society, is fossil-based, leading to pollution and large CO2 emissions. A biobased plastic economy will initiate a systematic change to expediently generate and recycle biomaterials and existing plastics based on resource- and energy-efficient chemistry, namely light and biotechnologies. The project follows a holistic approach within the framework of an interdisciplinary collaboration between academia, industry, community actors and research institutes. The technologies developed in the project will be harmonized with standardization to be universally and globally applicable on diversified material flows of high industrial and social relevance.

Major responsibilities
You will participate in research on lab-scale and work together with researcher from academy and industry on the development of resource and energy-effcient processes to produce biobased building blocks for biobased plastics using light. You are expected to write journal papers and present the results at meetings. The position may also include teaching on undergraduate and master's levels as well as supervising master's and/or PhD students to a certain extent. Another important aspect involves collaboration within academia and with society at large. The position is meritorious for future research duties within academia as well as industry/the public sector. 

Contract terms
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of two years (1+1).

Qualifications
To qualify for this postdoc position, you must have a doctoral degree in chemistry or chemical engineering or similar. To be suitable for the position you should have good command of spoken and written English and have good presentation and collaborative skills. Further, knowledge of NMR and/or photochemistry is meritorious.

Swedish is not a requirement but Chalmers offers Swedish courses.

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.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20210603 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as pdf-files, as below:

CV: (Please name the document as: CV, Surname, Ref. number) including:
• CV, include complete list of publications
• Previous teaching and pedagogical experiences
• Two references that we can contact.

Personal letter: (Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name, Ref. number)
1-3 pages where you:
• Introduce yourself
• Describe your previous research fields and main research results
• Describe your future goals and future research focus

Other documents:
• Attested copies of completed education, grades and other certificates.

Learn more and apply on Chalmers website: https://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/Working-at-Chalmers/Vacancies/Pages/default.aspx?rmpage=job&rmjob=10085&rmlang=UK

Application deadline: 18 January, 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. *** 
   


The Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
We represent a broad field of fundamental and applied research and education within chemistry and chemical engineering. Our research activities reach from fundamental chemistry, chemistry at the interface of biology and medicine, materials science, renewable energy, to chemical engineering processing, material recycling, nuclear chemistry, as well as theory and modelling. We are committed to teaching at the undergraduate, graduate, as well as postgraduate level.

Academic freedom, interdisciplinary research, entrepreneurship and making societal impact, are key factors in our work. We strive to offer an environment where you can combine world leading research and teaching with a good work-life balance.

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!