Environmental Engineering in Biological Systems

Environmental Engineering in Biological Systems

Based in the School of Civil Engineering & Geosciences, you will hold a prestigious post-doctoral research position that will perform and supervise laboratory and potentially pilot-scale studies aimed at reducing energy consumption in industrial waste water treatment processes. The specific goal of the project is to develop novel residual management technologies for the personal care products industry that will reduce energy costs and minimize sludge generation. You will play a central role in ENERMIN, an EU-funded Marie Curie Industry-Academia Partnership and Pathway (IAPP) project. The laboratory work will be primarily performed at Newcastle University, although results will be applied at selected industrial treatment facilities in France. The project research team includes engineers and microbiologists aimed (i) at converting waste materials into energy-producing resources via anaerobic technologies and (ii) retrofitting existing aerobic treatment systems to lower oxygen-use operations at industrial facilities. You will be based at the School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences in Newcastle, but also will work with experts at L’Oreal – Paris. Overall supervision will be under Professor David W. Graham at Newcastle with assistance of Drs Jan Dolfing and Cesar Mota. In addition to research responsibilities, you will be responsible for management of junior workers on the project and also help coordinate international workshops that stem from the work. You will be selected based on technical skills, motivation towards the project goals, and written/spoken communication abilities. Expertise in operating wastewater treatment bioreactors (especially anaerobic systems) and hands-on experience with quantitative molecular biological methods is required. You must have between 4 and 10 years of relevant research experience (after their B.S. degree) with university degrees in Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline. Individuals that have worked in the UK for more than one year within the last three years are not eligible for the position. PLESE NOTE THAT THIS IS AN EU FUNDED POST AND CERTAIN ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA MUST BE MET BEFORE AN INDIVIDUAL CAN BE APPOINTED. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION FOR NEWLY RECRUITED FELLOWS CAN BE FOUND UNDER “COORDINATORS BREIFINGS SEPT. 2009” IN THE “IAPP RECRUITMENT AND SECONDMENT.pdf” FILE AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/mariecurieactions/iapp-manage_en.html#01 For further information please contact Professor David Graham, e-mail: d.graham@ncl.ac.uk. The position is available starting February 1, 2010 for a period of 18 months. REF: D624R.