GreenX3 (MSCA-DN-ID) PhD position - - Bio-based and organic materials for decaffeination process

The advertised doctoral position will be carried out at Università degli Studi di Trieste over a period of 36 months. The recruited researcher will be supervised by Prof. Federico Berti, and co-supervised by Prof. Cristina Forzato, and work in the department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, led by Prof. Paolo Tecilla. The doctoral candidate will be registered for the PhD programme at the PhD School in Chemistry of the Università degli Studi di Trieste, Italy. The project is carried out in cooperation with the Partner Demus s.p.a., a leading company in the field of decaffeination, and the candidate will be seconded for significant periods at the industrial site under the supervision of Ph. D. Eng. Yves Clyford Desobgo, head of R&D and industrial co-supervisor.

The project will focus on the design, synthesis, evaluation, characterization, demonstration and exploitation at an industrial site of novel materials derived from biomolecules and raw waste materials from organic agriculture for the recovery of caffeine within a green and organic decaffeination process. The full characterization of the materials will be carried out. The quality of the recovered caffeine and the impact of the novel materials on the overall quality of decaffeinated coffee will be assessed. The stability of the materials will be studied in a real application at the pilot plant of Demus.

The main working tasks of the advertised position are:

(1) Optimized materials based on biomolecules and waste materials from agriculture for the recovery of caffeine

(2) Protocols for green and organic recover of caffeine along the decaffeination process

In the frame of the research project, short-term (secondment) visits at other partners premises are envisioned. As per call requirements, candidate will spend at least half of the total contract time in a non-academic environment.

This doctoral position DC9 is fully funded by the Marie Skłodowska Curie Action Industrial Doctorate GreenX3 (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN-01-01). The monthly gross salary will comprise a living allowance, mobility allowance and if applicable a family allowance.

This is approximately rounded at € 48 000.00 (gross salary, including compulsory deductions under national law, such as employer and employee social security contributions and direct taxes) per annum (living and mobility allowance). Family allowance will be implemented if the doctoral candidate has or acquires family obligations (i.e. marriage or relationship with equivalent status to a marriage recognized by the legislation of the country or region where this relationship was formalized or dependent children who are actually being maintained by the researcher) during the action duration.

The candidate will be employed by a single, three years employment contract offering social security, holiday rights, parental leave rights, pension provision, healthcare insurance and accident coverage at work. Researchers 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 more info on MSCA-DN-ID visit the website https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/doctoral-ne….

The recruited candidate will work as part of an international, interdisciplinary and young team accounting for 10 doctoral candidates and 3 doctoral network students located at different universities and company in Germany, Spain, Italy, France and United Kingdom.

The recruited candidate will attend yearly summer school and international meetings and secondments whilst receiving training on research and transferrable skills. The recruited candidate is expected to finish the project with a PhD thesis and to disseminate the results through open access publications in peer-reviewed journals, patents (when applicable) and presentation and poster at national and international conferences.

Background Information

MSCA-DN-ID are industrial doctorate programmes funded by the European Union. Positions in the frame of these programmes are offered to European and non-European doctoral candidates to implement individual projects in a European country other than their own. All doctoral networks have the objective in promoting international, inter-sectoral and multidisciplinary collaboration in doctoral-level training in Europe. Additionally, industrial doctorate requires the mandatory involvement of the non-academic sector in the doctoral training and the candidate will spend 50% of working time in the non-academic sector.

The GreenX3 project will create an interdisciplinary and intersectoral network to train 10 doctoral candidates and 3 doctoral network students for a period of 36 months. Their training will be supported by 16 Parties comprising a network of 7 industries and 9 academic partners from Spain, Germany, United Kingdom, France and Italy, offering altogether a rich, multidisciplinary and intersectoral environment for the training of the successful candidates.

GreenX3 will focus on the study of greener materials and their environmental impact, the development of novel environment-friendly industrial processes, and key enabling technologies (KETs) designed to enhance resource management and product quality. The joint presence and intertwined connection among academic and non-academic partners with expertise comprising and not limited to materials/polymer chemistry, nanotechnology, pharmacy and pharmaceutical technology, entrepreneurship, sustainability and product development will provide an outstanding environment to train the next generation of researchers with strong focus on sustainable development, responsible production and waste reduction.

How to apply:

Interested candidates are strongly advised to carefully read the job description and eligibility criteria before applying. For inquiries, please contact Prof. Federico Berti at fberti@units.it.

To apply please send a complete CV and a letter of motivation (up to 2 pages) stating the research experience and interest and name and contact information of at least two referees providing recommendation letter to fberti@units.it. Please use the formula “GreenX3 – Application DC9” in the object of your correspondence. Additionally, copies of diplomas and list of courses taken, and grade obtained as well as proof of English level needs to be included in the application.

Any other information you deem relevant for application purpose may be included in the application (e.g. pdf of a recent scientific publication, extra curriculum activities, certificates).

Eligible applicants will undergo a pre-selection evaluation based on the CV, experience and skills. Short-listed applicants will be invited for an interview with the evaluation committee members.

Application for multiple position is possible. 

Please find other available position at UNITS following the link: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/141154

Please find other available positions in the GreenX3 network following the link: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/137002