MSCA - Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF) on agrifood waste valorization exploiting biobased solvents

Research project description

The present project aims at tackling the challenge of developing sustainable and customizable processes for agri-food waste valorization. The ultimate goal is to turn waste into a potential business opportunity for farms, thereby closing the loop of circular economy. The latter is a key, important concept that sits at the base of the European Green Deal and the Ecological transition.

This project focuses on the design, characterization and testing of a variety of ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) for the valorization of agri-food wastes. In collaboration with partners involved in the same research area, this project will disclose the pros and the cons of these media when employed in the development of innovative processes. This study will help compile a dataset of options that can be used for the upgrade of biomass waste of different origin, thus contributing to waste reduction and recycling within a circular bio-economy perspective.

The candidate will work in a multidisciplinary team with several post-docs and PhD students involved in the development of sustainable processes based on the use of alternative green media. Fully equipped laboratories for the preparation of the media and their exploitation in diverse applications are available, as well as are state-of-the-art facilities for physico-chemical and spectroscopic characterization. International collaborations already in place on different aspects of the same topic (eg ecotoxicological and metabolomics analyses, enzymatic digestion, chemometrics) will help the candidate to acquire a wide understanding of the complex and multifaceted challenges of sustainable agri-food waste valorization.

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must have a PhD degree at the time of the deadline for applications (11^th September 2024). Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will also be considered eligible to apply.

At the call deadline, the applicant must have a maximum of 8 years experience in research, from the date of the award of their PhD degree. Years of experience outside research and career breaks will not count towards the above maximum, nor will years of experience in research in third countries, for nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries who wish to reintegrate to Europe.

Mobility Rule: The applicant may be of any nationality but must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Italy (for European Fellowships) or the host organization for the outgoing phase (in case of Global Fellowship) for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before 11^th September 2024.

Application procedure

Expressions of interest must be sent by email to lorenzo.guazzelli@unipi.it no later than the end of May and must consist of two pdf files:

1. Complete and updated CV, clearly demonstrating all 3 eligibility requirements.
2. Motivation letter, maximum one page.