»15 PhD positions available for Early Stage Researchers at »Advanced Research and Training Network in Food Quality, Safety and Security«, FoodTraNet, H2020 MSCA ITN Project«

We announce the start of the application period for 15 Early Stage Researcher (ESR) positions offered by the 9 host organisations participating in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie ITN Action “Advanced Research and Training Network in Food Quality, Safety and Security” (FoodTraNet).

FoodTraNet is designed to provide high-level training of a new generation of high achieving Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) in a common platform of advanced mass spectrometric tools for food quality, safety and security. In the rapidly developing field of food science, researchers require a multidisciplinary, intersectoral grounding in these tools to extract all the potential from traditional and newly available methodologies and techniques. Although already available, a translational gap exists between research capability and industrial uptake that needs to be bridged to ensure efficient use. FoodTraNet is designed to bridge this gap by creating a multidisciplinary training and research network that will give ESRs the ability to transfer their knowledge from basic sciences to industrial applications.

FoodTraNet will cover techniques including stable isotopes, target, suspect, non-target screening and mass spectrometry imaging to meet the following objectives:

1) To identify biomarkers and bioactive compounds to assure food quality and traceability.

2) To characterise novel foods to support food safety and security.

3) Develop and characterise new products based on the latest advances in nanotechnology, including edible photonic barcodes, nano-sensors, multi-functional polymer nanostructured materials, and new, active and intelligent packaging.

These goals will be achieved through a combination of individual research, non-academic placements, workshops, and complementary transferrable skills training facilitated by the academic-non-academic composition of the consortium. Substantial industrial involvement in the project, with the full participation of Barilla, CONCAST and SMEs from different sectors, will provide ESRs with the skills necessary for thriving careers in a burgeoning field underpinning food research across a range of diverse disciplines.

Each ESR will be provided with an individualised structured and comprehensive research programme, learn theory and gain first-hand laboratory experience. In addition, to studying at his/her hosting institution, the ESR will spend time at a partner university/research centre/company. Being trained in a highly relevant research field will enhance researchers career prospective and employability.

FoodTraNet aims to recruit 15 outstanding and highly motivated ESRs to meet the ambitious goals of the project. Interested applicants can find detailed information on each position (ESR 1 to 15) on the FoodTraNew website https://www.foodtranet.org/esr_projects.html :

15 ESR Project Positions:

ESR 1 Markers for pasta and rice organic authentication

ESR 2 Authenticity of dairy products

ESR 3 Distinctive multimodal molecular organic and traditional wine characterisation

ESR 4 Development of novel edible photonic barcodes for food tagging and tracing

ESR 5 Characterisation of bioactive compounds in organic beekeeping

ESR 6 Novel strategies for verifying food authenticity and build consumer trust

ESR 7 Alternative waste exploitation: micro and nano-plastic in agricultural wastewater reuse

ESR 8 Synthesis of “smart” polymer nanostructured materials for use in food research

ESR 9 Identification of contaminants of emerging concern in novel foods for human consumption

ESR 10 Alternative waste exploitation: contaminants of emerging concern in agricultural wastewater reuse

ESR 11 New chemical and bio-sensors for food quality and safety

ESR 12 The synthesis of smart biopolymer materials with nanostructured surfaces with antimicrobial, biocompatible, anti-adhesive properties

ESR 13 Functional coatings for active packaging development

ESR 14 Plastics in Seafood

ESR 15 Consumer awareness and perception

All applications, in English, must be done using FoodTraNet application form. To access the application form click on this link: https://www.foodtranet.org/apply.html.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 30/06/2021, 23:00 - CET

Eligibility Criteria

FoodTraNet is looking for a broad international representation of Early Stage Researchers. The network acknowledges its responsibility for recruiting researchers and their working and living conditions, as stated in the document “The European Charter for Researchers - Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers”.

· MOBILITY

The positions are open to all nationalities. However, your application has to comply with the European Commission’s Mobility Rules, meaning that at the time of recruitment, you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host organisation for more than 12 months in the three years immediately before the reference date (indicative start of the employment contract, Month Date 2020). Compulsory national service and short stays such as holidays are excluded (European Commission’s Guide for Applicants).

· EARLY STAGE RESEARCHER (ESR)

If you have already gained prior work experience in academia, you shall be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of your research career at the time of recruitment by the host organisation and have not been awarded a doctoral degree. Full-time equivalent research experience is measured from when you obtained the degree entitling you to embark on a doctorate, even if a doctorate was never started or envisaged. Part-time research experience will be counted pro-rata (European Commission’s Guide for Applicants).

· EXCELLENT PROFICIENCY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Network fellows (ESRs) must demonstrate that their ability to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English is sufficiently high for them to benefit from the network training.

· RELEVANT UNIVERSITY DEGREE

ESR applicants must hold a master’s degree (or equivalent) relevant to the project(s) for which they apply. For further information, please consult the detailed information for each position. Applicants should not have been awarded a PhD degree. Additional requirements can apply for specific positions.

If any of the prerequisites mentioned above are not satisfied, FoodTraNet reserves the right to exclude applicants from the selection process at any time, even after the selection procedure has taken place.

How to apply – Application Process

The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by email to the FoodTraNet email address info.foodtranet@ijs.si before the application deadline.

The application consists of downloading and completing the Application Form, available here: https://www.foodtranet.org/apply.html, the submission of a Curriculum Vitae, a Covering Letter, your Academic Records and Reference letter(s) (if you have them) in a single PDF file.

The deadline for application is 23:00 (CET) on Wednesday, June 30, 2021.

The application form requires basic contact information (name, surname, email) and ESR eligibility criteria (date of Master’s award, full-time postgraduate research experience in months, country of residence and duration of residence in that country). Applicants are invited to choose up to three PhD Positions in order of preference. Only the complete applications (completed application form, CV, Covering Letter and Academic Records) will be evaluated. FoodTraNet is committed to Open, transparent, Merit-based Recruitment procedures of Researchers (OTM-R). Please contact info.foodtranet@ijs.si if you have any problems submitting your application.