Research position electrodialysis fermentation

Institut Supérieur Industriel
Earth & Life Institute (ELI)
Catholique du Hainaut
Applied Microbiology -
Centre d’Etudes et de
Bioengineering
Recherches
Dr. Ir. Nicolas Velings, Directeur
Gerin
Prof. Patrick Ger
in
Research position available for a young scientist
Biomass biorefinery to green chemicals & biofuels:
Bipolar membrane electro-dialysis coupled to fermentation
The laboratory of Bioengineering (http://www.uclouvain.be/gebi) at Earth & Life Institute (Applied
Microbiology Department, University of Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, and Centre d’Etudes et
de Recherches de l’Institut Supérieur Industriel Catholique du Hainaut CERISIC
(http://www.cerisic.be) are seeking a highly motivated young scientist to take in charge an
experimental research project.
This project aims at investigating the coupling of bi-polar membrane electrodialysis (EDBM) to
biomass acidogenic fermentation to improve lignocellulosic biomass bioconversion. The purpose of
the research is to contribute to the development of the experimental approach and to investigate the
conditions required to operate efficiently EDBM when integrated with biomass fermentation process.
The research will include the design and operation of the most adequate set-up, and then the
investigation of the operation conditions required to get and optimise biomass hydrolysis, metabolite
concentration, adsorption resins regeneration.
Candidate profile:
- Young (bio)chemical engineer or industrial engineer with good background in bioengineering,
electro-chemistry, analytical chemistry; experience with microbial fermentation and electrochemistry will be an advantage.
- Team spirit and ability to adapt to various scientific approaches.
- Research-minded and practical-minded, ability to integrate real life constraints in the scientific
approach.
- Good practical and experimental skills.
- Rigour, responsibility, self-motivation, autonomy, team-spirit.
Language:
French and English. Immediate good knowledge of French is mandatory for discussion with local
partners, writing the reports to the funding authority and the vulgarization notes to the public.
Location:
The position will be shared part-time at UCL in Louvain-la-Neuve, part-time at CERISIC in Mons.
Duration: 01/01/2016 - 31/12/2018
Deadline for submission of application (CV + motivation letter): 25/12/2015
Contact:
Prof. Patrick Gerin
Bioengineering laboratory
[email protected]
Bioengineering group, Croix du Sud, 2, box L7.05.19, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium,
www.uclouvain.be/elim
Phone +32 (0)10 47 36 46, Secretariat +32 (0)10 47 37 51, Fax +32 (0)10 47 30 62, [email protected]