This project is part of Chalmers Energy Initative and placed in the Industrial Biotechnology group at the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. In The Industrial Biotechnology group we will work on developing enzymes, microorganisms and processes for production of biofuels and biochemicals from biomass.

When up-scaling fermentation processes a limiting factor often is lack of microbial robustness. Robustness refers to properties that make the organism fit to persist conditions prevailing in industrial processes, including nutrient limitations, varying nutrient quality of substrate, inhibitory compounds in medium, fluctuating growth conditions, i.e. pH, temperature. The post doc will investigate the basic mechanisms influencing the robustness of yeast in biomass conversion processes. In the project there will in particular be focus on the mechanism of ethanol toxicity, furfurals (pertubing the cellular redox metabolism) and acids (pertubing the cellular energy metabolism). Both furfurals and acids are present in pretreated lignocelluloses derived streams. The work will involved detailed fermentation physiology, strain engineering and omic-analysis.

To be eligible for the position you should have a PhD degree in biotechnology, bioengineering, biosciences or a corresponding curriculum. You are expected to work relatively independently, have an ability to plan and organize your own work, to work in collaboration with others, and to be able to communicate your scientific results, both orally and written in English. Applicants with experience of fermentations, -omic analysis and/or metabolic engineering will be preferred.

 

For further information, you are welcome to contact Professor Lisbeth Olsson, lisbeth dot olsson at chalmers dot se, tel: +46 31 772 3805.

• SACO: Jan Lindér
• ST: Marie Wenander
• SEKO: Johan Persson

All reachable via Chalmers exchange: +46 31 772 10 00