Date posted: 16 Oct 2026
Job Information
- Organisation/Company: Pard Muhendislik ve Otomasyon Sanayi Ticaret Limited Sirketi
- Department: R&D
- Research Field: Engineering » Other
- Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
- Positions: PhD Positions
- Application Deadline: 9 Dec 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Brussels)
- Country: Türkiye
- Type of Contract: Temporary
- Job Status: Full-time
- Offer Starting Date: 31 Mar 2027
- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA
- Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number: [contact details available in the full listing]
- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
We are looking to admit outstanding applicant as Doctoral Candidate (DC4 – Semi-automated Supercritical CO₂ Drying for Reproducible Structures) at Superex (Pard Mühendislik ve Otomasyon Sanayi Ticaret Ltd. Şti.), Konya, Türkiye. Highly motivated Ph.D. applicants are encouraged to join FAroGels, funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks (HORIZON-MSCA-2025-DN-01-01, Grant Agreement No. [contact details available in the full listing]). The position is a fixed-term employment contract of 36 months, full-time (100%), with Superex as recruiting/host organisation and Selçuk University (Department of Physics, Konya, Türkiye) as PhD awarding institution.
Project summary
FAroGels brings together academic and non-academic partners with complementary expertise in food science and technology, materials science, biopolymer science, biotechnology, process engineering, analytical characterization, packaging and sustainable innovation. FAroGels aims to develop, characterize and validate food-grade, bio-based and biodegradable aerogels for sustainable food systems. The network will investigate how these highly porous materials can support more efficient food processing, improved food quality and safety, nutritional and sensory functionality, protection and delivery of bioactive compounds, and sustainable packaging solutions.
This position forms part of the FAroGels research program on food-grade, bio-based, and biodegradable aerogels and their application in sustainable food systems. The selected candidate will be employed by Superex and will be required to enroll as a PhD student at Selçuk University, in accordance with the relevant admission and enrolment requirements.
Project objectives
Food-grade aerogels can only move beyond the laboratory if they can be dried reproducibly. Supercritical CO₂ drying is the decisive production step, but laboratory dryers are still largely tuned by hand, which causes substantial batch-to-batch variability. DC4 will tackle this bottleneck by designing and building a semi-automated supercritical CO₂ drying system with real-time monitoring of pressure, temperature, CO₂ density and solvent saturation. The data logged during drying will be used to create process datasets linking drying trajectories to aerogel density, pore-size distribution and mechanical performance. On this basis, the project will develop and validate a machine-learning control module, trained first on commercial reference materials and then on aerogels produced elsewhere in the network, such as seaweed-residue aerogels and aerogels from non-gelling biopolymers. The AI-assisted system will recommend optimised temperature, pressure and depressurisation profiles, reducing trial-and-error and improving reproducibility and efficiency. The Doctoral Candidate will contribute to equipment design and instrumentation, run drying experiments, analyse process and structural data, and translate the results into standardised drying protocols for the network. The expected outcomes are a functional semi-automated dryer with full sensor integration and data logging, parameter–property datasets, a trained control model, and drying SOPs used across FAroGels. DC4 is one of the enabling projects of the network: it supplies aerogels with controlled, documented structures and consistent materials for the food, packaging and modelling projects.
The position will involve laboratory-based research, data analysis, scientific communication and close collaboration with other FAroGels Doctoral Candidates, supervisors and partner organizations.
Main responsibilities
- Conduct research on the design, instrumentation and operation of a semi-automated supercritical CO₂ drying system and on data-driven control of the drying process for reproducible aerogel structures.
- Plan, perform, document and analyse experimental work using relevant laboratory, analytical, processing and/or modelling methods.
- Collaborate with academic and non-academic partners across the FAroGels network, including during the planned secondments.
- Participate actively in FAroGels network meetings, training schools, workshops and transferable-skills activities.
- Prepare scientific reports, contributions to project deliverables, presentations and publications, and contribute to dissemination and communication activities.
Supervisory team and planned secondments
The Doctoral Candidate will be supervised by a team combining academic and non-academic expertise: Said Adil Atlioglu, Superex (Pard Mühendislik ve Otomasyon Sanayi Ticaret Ltd. Şti.), Türkiye (main supervisor, non-academic); Dr. Halit Çavuşoğlu, Selçuk University (SU), Türkiye (main supervisor at the PhD awarding institution); Prof. Dr. Mecit Halil Öztop, Middle East Technical University (METU), Türkiye (academic co-supervisor); and Dr. Irina Smirnova, Technische Universitat Hamburg (TUHH), Germany (academic co-supervisor).
As part of the training programme, the Doctoral Candidate will complete planned secondments at FAroGels partner organisations: University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), academic, Spain, 3 months; The Nottingham Trent University (TNTU), academic, United Kingdom, 2 months; Technische Universitat Hamburg (TUHH), academic, Germany, 1 month; and aerogel-it GmbH (AIt), non-academic, Germany, 1 month.
Requirements
- Master’s degree (or equivalent) in chemistry, materials science, food technology, physics, or nanotechnology and advanced materials.
- Strong laboratory and analytical skills in the design and construction of supercritical processing equipment.
- Fluency in written and spoken English. A Turkish-language requirement applies at the PhD awarding institution (see “Institution-specific requirements” below).
- Strong motivation to pursue doctoral research in an international and interdisciplinary environment.
- Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to collaborative research activities.
- Good organization, communication and problem-solving skills.
- Willingness to travel for planned secondments, network meetings and training activities.
MSCA Doctoral Network eligibility criteria
Applicants of any nationality are welcome to apply. At the date of recruitment, applicants must meet the following MSCA Doctoral Network requirements:
- Doctoral candidate status: Applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree. Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet been formally awarded the doctoral degree are not eligible.
- Mobility rule: Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Türkiye for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention or EU temporary protection are not taken into account. Compliance is verified before the start of employment, on the basis of the candidate’s passport and, where necessary, other documents.
- PhD enrolment: Doctoral Candidates must be enrolled in a doctoral programme leading to the award of a doctoral degree in at least one EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. For this position, this is the doctoral programme at Selçuk University; applicants must therefore meet its admission requirements.
- Institution-specific requirements: The selected candidate must meet Selçuk University’s admission conditions for international students (https://selcuk.edu.tr/birim/sayfa/5323/uluslararasi-ogrenciler-9400). The condition to be aware of before applying is the Turkish-language requirement: an applicant who does not hold a Turkish proficiency certificate is registered in a preparatory class and begins the doctoral programme on submitting a C1 or C2 level certificate from a university TÖMER or another institution recognised by YÖK; applicants who completed their Bachelor’s or Master’s education in Türkiye may be exempted.
- Please note: the FAroGels consortium is in contact with the University about how this requirement applies to an MSCA doctoral position. Should a different arrangement be agreed, the PhD for this position may instead be awarded by Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara. Applicants are therefore recommended to also meet METU’s doctoral admission requirements, so that their application remains valid in either case; these are set out in the DC5 and DC8 position announcements on the FAroGels website (https://farogels.eu/open-positions/).
- The doctoral school at Selçuk University takes 4 years, which requires continuation as PhD student for 1 year after finishing the employment contract.
- Visa and residence permit: a visa or residence/work permit is not required at the application stage and is not a selection criterion. Where needed, it will be arranged after selection and before the start of employment, with the support of the recruiting organisation. Candidates from non-EU countries are equally welcome to apply.
What FAroGels offers
- A full-time doctoral position funded through the FAroGels MSCA Doctoral Network.
- A fixed-term employment contract for 36 months at Superex.
- A competitive salary and employment conditions in accordance with the MSCA Doctoral Networks funding provisions, applicable national legislation and the policies of Superex.
- Social-security coverage and other employment-related benefits in accordance with the applicable national and institutional framework.
- A Personal Career Development Plan (PCDP), prepared with the supervisory team and reviewed and updated during the project.
- Access to research facilities, infrastructure, training and support services at Superex and within the FAroGels network.
- Participation in a structured doctoral training programme including scientific and technical training, transferable skills, career development and innovation-oriented activities.
- Planned secondments at FAroGels partner organizations, offering complementary scientific, technical and cross-sectoral experience.
- An international research environment and opportunities to build a professional network across academia and non-academic organizations.
Stipend
This position is funded by the FAroGels MSCA Doctoral Network (HORIZON-MSCA-2025-DN-01-01, Grant Agreement No. [contact details available in the full listing]). The salary is based on the following monthly MSCA allowances, and is the sum of these allowances within the determined conditions.
- Living allowance: EUR 4,010, adjusted by the country correction coefficient of the country of the recruiting organisation to ensure equal treatment and comparable purchasing power for all researchers. For Türkiye, the coefficient is 64.5%.
- Mobility allowance: EUR 710, contributing to mobility-related costs such as relocation and travel.
- Family allowance (if applicable): EUR 660, paid for the months in which the Doctoral Candidate has a family during the project, including where family obligations arise after recruitment. ‘Family’ means persons linked to the researcher by marriage (or a relationship with equivalent status recognised by the legislation of the country where it was formalised) or dependent children actually being maintained by the researcher. The allowance is paid in accordance with the rules of the recruiting organisation, and supporting documents may be requested.
Please note: the amounts above represent the total employment cost, from which the employer’s and the employee’s compulsory social-security contributions and taxes are deducted in accordance with national law. Unless the recruiting organisation provides additional funding, the gross salary paid to the Doctoral Candidate is therefore lower than these amounts, and the net salary depends on personal circumstances.
Employment conditions: the Doctoral Candidate will be hired full-time (100%) by the recruiting organisation on a 36-month employment contract, with social-security coverage under national law that continues during secondments.
Funding duration and PhD completion
- This Doctoral Candidate position is funded by the FAroGels MSCA Doctoral Network for a maximum period of 36 months.
- The overall period required to complete a PhD degree may, depending on the regulations of the PhD awarding institution and applicable national requirements, extend beyond the 36-month FAroGels funding period.
Please note: any employment, scholarship or other financial support beyond the 36-month FAroGels funding period is not covered or guaranteed by FAroGels. Any potential continuation of employment or funding would need to be considered separately between the relevant institution and the Doctoral Candidate, subject to institutional regulations and the availability of funds.
About the host and PhD awarding institutions
Superex (Pard Mühendislik ve Otomasyon Sanayi Ticaret Ltd. Şti.) is a Konya-based company working on supercritical fluid processing technology and equipment, and is the employer for this position. Hosted by an industrial partner specialising in supercritical fluid technology, the position combines process engineering, data-driven modelling and industrial R&D experience, complemented by secondments to academic partners.
The PhD is awarded by Selçuk University, also in Konya, through the Department of Physics of the Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences (Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü) (https://selcuk.edu.tr/birim/fen_bilimleri_enstitusu/5323).
The successful candidate must fulfil the admission and enrolment requirements of Selçuk University. In addition to the FAroGels application, the selected candidate must apply separately to the University: the pre-application documents are submitted in person to the department during the announced application period, the department forwards them to the Institute, and final registration is completed in person at the Institute. The dates are published by the Institute for each intake. The documents required from an international doctoral applicant are listed at https://selcuk.edu.tr/birim/icerik/5323/[contact details available in the full listing]-guz-yariyili-yabanci-uyruklu-basvuru-ilani-80475.
A degree completed abroad requires a school recognition certificate (“okul tanınma belgesi”) from YÖK; an applicant who does not hold the certificate when applying submits it at final registration (https://denklik.yok.gov.tr/). The annual tuition fee for a doctoral programme is seven times the “current service cost” set by Presidential Decree, payable at the start of each semester, including during the scientific preparation and Turkish language education periods. After arrival, international students need a residence permit and General Health Insurance registration.
Application documents
Applicants are strongly advised to read the position description and the eligibility criteria carefully before applying. Each application must include:
- A detailed curriculum vitae (education, research experience, technical skills and relevant achievements), including the dates and countries of residence, studies and employment for the last 36 months.
- A motivation letter explaining your interest in this position and your suitability for the project.
- Copies of Bachelor’s and Master’s diplomas and academic transcripts, or evidence that the Master’s degree will be completed before the recruitment date. Notarised Turkish translations are required later, at PhD enrolment, not at this stage.
- Contact details of two referees and reference letters.
- Proof of English-language proficiency, if you hold a certificate. Selçuk University does not require an English-language examination.
- Incomplete applications may not be considered.
How to apply:
Please follow the link: https://farogels.eu/apply/
Please note: Applicants should ensure that all required documents are submitted before the stated deadline. Please note that a separate PhD admission and enrolment procedure applies at Selçuk University.
Selection process
FAroGels follows an open, transparent and merit-based recruitment process in line with the European Charter for Researchers:
- Eligibility check by the FAroGels Project Manager.
- Evaluation of the eligible applications by an Interview Committee (primary supervisor, co-supervisor(s) and a representative of a non-academic partner) with a standardised scoring matrix; the three to five best-ranked candidates are shortlisted.
- Online interview with the shortlisted candidates.
- Approval of the selection by the FAroGels Supervisory Board, after which an offer is made.
All applicants are informed of the outcome and receive feedback on request.
Equal opportunities and data protection
FAroGels and Superex are committed to equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion. Applications from all qualified candidates are welcome, irrespective of gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ethnic or social origin, nationality, disability, age, religion or belief.
Personal data submitted with applications will be processed by Superex exclusively for recruitment purposes and in accordance with the applicable data-protection legislation and institutional privacy policies.
Positions starting time
- Application deadline: 09 December 2026, 23:59 (CET)
- Interviews: January 2027
- Evaluation: February 2027
- Selection outcome: February 2027
- Expected start of employment: March 2027 (earliest)
Contact information
Scientific questions about the related DC project: Mr. Said Adil Atlioglu, R&D Manager, Superex – [contact details available in the full listing]
Application process and PhD admission questions: Dr. Halit Çavuşoğlu, Department of Physics, Selçuk University – [contact details available in the full listing]
General questions about FAroGels and the recruitment process: FAroGels Project Management Team, Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Türkiye – [contact details available in the full listing]
General information on FAroGels: https://farogels.eu/
Where to apply
Website: https://farogels.eu/apply/
Requirements
- Research Field: Engineering » Other
- Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Additional Information
Website for additional job details: https://farogels.eu/
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available: 1
- Company/Institute: Superex - Pard Muhendislik ve Otomasyon Sanayi Ticaret Limited Sirketi
- Country: Türkiye
- City: Konya
Contact
- City: Konya
- Website: https://www.superex.com.tr/tr/
- Street: Aslım Caddesi
- E-Mail: [contact details available in the full listing]
