PhD on Metabolisation of Antibiotics and Biocides in Manure Treatment.

 

Applications are invited for a PhD fellowship/scholarship at Graduate School of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark, within the Environmental Science programme. The position is available from 01 September 2022 or later.

Title:
Metabolisation of Antibiotics and Biocides in Manure Treatment

Research area and project description:
In the framework of the BIOMAN project “Enhanced biogas production and antimicrobials removal from manure”, there is a

three years PhD position starting 1st September 2022 at the Department for Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark.

Short description of the project: Manure contains high loads of antimicrobials (antibiotics and bactericides) from the animal production that are brought with the raw or digested manure to agricultural fields. BioMan is suggesting a new biofilm based redox switching approach utilizing fungi in one step to break up lignocellulotic compounds in a pure biotech process. It is expected that this switching biofilm process will also enable the break-down of 99% of the antimicrobials. In BioMan the in depth metabolisation (mineralization) of 4 selected antimicrobials will be explored for the first time in the different parts of the suggested innovative reactor. Metabolites and metabolic pathways will be explored to gain deeper understanding on the aerobic and methanogenic parts of the reactor.

The respective candidate is expected to elucidate degradation pathways and kinetics for antibiotics and biocides under methanogenic and aerobic conditions and relate to the respective operation conditions.

All applications must be made online via the PhD school of Aarhus University and received by 31 May 2022.

Project description (½-4 pages). This document should describe your ideas and research plans for this specific project. If you wish to, you can indicate an URL where further information can be found.

Qualifications and specific competences:
The successful candidate will have a strong background in environmental chemistry/organic mass spectrometry and hold a MSc in environmental chemistry, analytical chemistry, environmental engineering or similar.

Experiences in the following areas would be of advantage: identification and quantitation of compounds (metabolites) in complex matrices, HPLC-high resolution mass spectrometry, HPLC tandem mass spectrometry, operation of anaerobic and aerobic bioreactors.

Place of employment and place of work:
The place of employment is Aarhus University, and the place of work Department for Environmental Science, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde

Contacts:
Applicants seeking further information are invited to contact:
 - Professor Kai Bester, kb@envs.au.dk

How to apply:
Please follow this link to submit your application. Application deadline is 31 May 2022 23:59 . Preferred starting date is 01 september 2022.

For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see our application guide.

Please note:

• The programme committee may request further information or invite the applicant to attend an interview.
• Shortlisting will be used, which means that the evaluation committee only will evaluate the most relevant applications.

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. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with applicable collective agreement.