PhD fellowship/scholarship, Scalable protein extraction and valorization in green biorefining for food and feed applications

Applicants are invited for a PhD fellowship/scholarship at Graduate School of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark, within the Biological and Chemical Engineering programme. The position is available from 15 May 2025 or later. You can submit your application via the link under 'how to apply'.

Title:
Scalable protein extraction and valorization in green biorefining for food and feed applications

Research area and project description:
The increasing demand for sustainable and efficient protein sources has highlighted the potential of green biomass as a valuable feedstock. By harnessing the full potential of green biorefineries, this research aims to improve protein extraction processes, enabling more sustainable production of high-quality proteins for various applications, including food and feed.

The PhD candidate will be working within the framework of the Rural BioReFarmeries project, which aims to advance green biorefineries through a decentralization approach to increase process yields, enhance business models, and valorize side streams. The candidate will play a key role in integrating these elements, contributing both to fundamental research and applied innovation.

This PhD project will explore protein extraction from various feedstocks, conditions and processing methods, focusing on factors that influence protein yield and usability. The research will examine the mechanisms of extraction, digestibility, and degradation, considering both biochemical and physicochemical aspects. Additionally, to explore year-round processing, the project will investigate silage in the off-season, aiming to valorize the silage liquid through fermentation and single-cell protein production this way counteracting the inherent protein degradation during silage storage.
In a separate part of the project, the candidate will be working with the separation and purification of RuBisCO, a high-value protein for food applications.

The project will examine micro- and ultrafiltration parameters and their impact on protein yield and purity, ensuring the protein’s structural and functional integrity. Processing conditions will also be evaluated for their impact on efficiency and scalability in large-scale production.
In addition, the project will address considerations of feasibility, scalability, and industrial applicability. It will also evaluate the economic and environmental implications of these developments, aligning technological advancements with practical implementation strategies.

Project description: For technical reasons, you must upload a project description. Please simply copy the project description above and upload it as a PDF in the application.

Qualifications and specific competences:
We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with a Master’s degree (120 ECTS) in engineering, with specialization in biotechnology, chemistry, agricultural sciences, or a related field. The candidate should have experience with membrane filtration and/or other separation techniques, as well as experience with microbial cultivation. The candidate should have strong oral and written communication skills in English.

Preference will be given to candidates with:

• Experience in protein extraction, biorefining, or related fields
• Experience with upscaling processes
• Expertise in experimental design
• Experience in working with and handling large data sets
• Strong scientific and technical writing skills

Place of employment and place of work:
The place of employment is Aarhus University, and the place of work is Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Hangøvej 2, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.

Contacts:
Applicants seeking further information regarding the position are invited to contact:

• Morten Ambye-Jensen, [email protected] (main supervisor)
• Søren Krogh Jensen, [email protected] (co-supervisor)

For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see our application guide. If answers cannot be found there, please contact:

• [email protected]

How to apply:
Please follow this link to submit your application.

Application deadline is 10 April 2025 at 23:59 CEST.

Preferred starting date is 15 May 2025.

Please note:

• Only documents received prior to the application deadline will be evaluated. Thus, documents sent after deadline will not be taken into account.
• 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.