"PhD Position Data-driven Monitoring for Scale-up of a Biocatalytic Production Process Using UPOs"

This position is part of a European Doctoral Network consortium "Machine learning for integrated multi-parametric enzyme and bioprocess design", where 15 doctoral projects will work on enzyme design, bioprocess design, and machine learning tools to create sustainable bioprocesses.

In this project, you will work on designing a scalable bioprocess using unspecific peroxygenase (UPO) enzymes to produce a panel of synthetically useful chemicals. The envisioned process design will include integrated up- and downstream processing, and you will apply real-time monitoring to achieve in-depth understanding of the bioconversion and accelerate process development time. As a part of the Doctoral Network, you will have the opportunity to participate in workshops and external research stays at partnering institutes/industry to develop technical and transferrable skills.

This project will be embedded in two research groups, namely the Hollmann lab and Klijn lab, both situated in the Department of Biotechnology at Delft University of Technology. The Hollmann lab has expertise on UPO-based reaction design and subsequent industrial application. The Klijn lab works on the implementation of real-time analytics in a wide variety of bioprocesses to facilitate automated monitoring and control.

We are looking for an outstanding and creative researcher with a strong affinity to work at the boundary of multiple disciplines, namely biocatalysis, bioprocessing, and multivariate data analysis. This includes the internal motivation to expand your horizon, ability to learn quickly, and strong communication skills to easily connect with other experts in and outside the consortium.

You cannot have resided in The Netherlands in the past 12 months for study and/or work purposes (Marie Curie Doctoral Network requirement).

Required educational background: A MSc degree in biocatalysis, enzymology, biotechnology, biochemical engineering, or a closely related discipline.

Required recent experience during MSc thesis and/or MSc industrial internship with: Lab-scale biocatalytic processes; Enzyme production, purification, and characterization; Using (bio)chemical analytical techniques (e.g., HPLC, GC, GC-MS).

If you do not recognize yourself in all required skills, please include a clear motivation and approach on how you would like to acquire missing skills during the project in your motivation letter.

Skills that are considered a plus: Programming for data analysis (e.g., R, Python); Multivariate data analysis, chemometrics and/or machine learning.

Sought-after transferable skills: Pro-active and problem solving mindset; Excellent written and spoken English skills; Ability to break-down and communicate complex research data; Thrives in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary, and highly collaborative environment.

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1.5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months, followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from Promovendus gross per month from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.