MSCA - Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF) on the development of biobased solvents

Research project description

The present project aims at tackling the challenge of developing new sustainable solvents in the frame of the ecological transition. The ultimate goal is providing the scientific community with new solvent options for replacing fuel-based traditional solvents, especially the most impactful ones (those with severely restricted use or at risk to be banned in the near future), and for developing sustainable processes.

This project focuses on investigating in depth the preparation of new generation solvents (ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents and biobased organic solvents), their characterization, scalability and applicability in selected applications. This project will disclose the pros and the cons of these media thus help compiling a dataset of options for future applications.

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 these 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 analyses, enzymatic synthesis) will allow the candidate to understand different approaches to the same problem and challenges of development of new biobased solvents.

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.

Motivation letter, maximum one page.