The DECADES (Design of Catalytic Processes with Deep-Eutectic-Solvents) Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions - Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN) is an interdisciplinary research training network of six universities and ten companies from six European countries. DECADES aims to develop the PhDs' scientific expertise to produce excellent research and interdisciplinary collaboration with scientists from different fields, including biology, chemistry, and engineering. It is funded under the "Excellent Science" cluster of the EU's Horizon Europe program.

Roles and Responsibilities

The central part of your doctoral research will be carried out at the Graz University of Technology under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Robert Kourist in the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology. An academic secondment placement (4 months) will take place at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain, with Prof. Dr. Andrés R. Alcántara). Additionally, a placement at the company Henkel (Germany, 3 months) is planned. The PhD-project is funded for 36 months and will start by October 2023.

Your Ph.D. degree will be awarded based on the successful completion of the research work from Graz University of Technology, Austria. You will also be required to participate in the trainings and workshops organized by the DECADES DN. As a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions fellow, you are also expected to contribute disseminating your project's results through public engagement and other scientific platforms.

Recruiting Institution: Graz University of Technology (TUG)

Address applications to: Prof. Dr. Robert Kourist (kourist@tugraz.at)

This PhD research will focus on:

The PhD research will focus on:

(i)      Generation and analysis of microbial hosts with improved solvent tolerance,

(ii)     Characterization of reaction products as bio-based monomers,

(iii)          Application of the reaction products for the production of bio-based adhesives.