PhD position - Horizon Europe TRAMPOLINe - Next generation electrode materials for current and emerging METs

Job position 

TRAMPOLINe- is a joint academic-industrial interdisciplinary European initiative which has the primary goal of training a pool of young researchers in the field of microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) while developing innovative and ready-to-be applied solutions for global environmental challenges that currently endanger the health and well-being of people worldwide and cause significant pressure to the economy:

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 101167647. 

Project: 101167647 — TRAMPOLINe —HORIZON-MSCA-2023-DN-01

Reference Number: HEU-101167647-TRAMPOLINe

TRAMPOLINe- integrates 10 different PhD positions within the framework of microbial electrochemical technologies (please refer to the TRAMPOLINe- LinkedIn page (TRAMPOLINE_MSCA) to learn about the rest of the positions.

IMPORTANT STATEMENT: Each candidate may apply for a maximum of 4 different DC positions that are more suitable for their profile.

The goal of DC5 will be to develop next generation MET electrode materials beyond conventional carbon-based designs to accelerate their development, upscaling, and field trials. This includes developing sustainable alternatives to PTFE binders for degrading persistent pollutants like PFAS, designing metal-based gas diffusion electrodes to enable higher current densities in microbial electrosynthesis (MES), and developing tubular electrodes to enhance mass transfer and enable in situ hydrogen generation in microbial electrolysis cells.

This PhD position features exciting secondments: at UAB to benchmark tubular electrodes for bioelectrochemical H2 production and at UniMiBto explore their potential in PFAS degradation. This DC will carry out the main research at VITO (Belgium) under the supervision of

Dr Deepak Pant, with secondary supervision by Prof. Juan Antonio Baeza from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain) and Prof. Carlo Santoro from Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca (Italy). 

We offer

• a doctoral scholarship for a period of one year, renewable for three years after positive evaluation.

• the start date of the scholarship 1 September 2025 or sooner but certainly before October 2025.

• The gross salary is around 3270 euros/month (depending on country coefficient) plus a mobility allowance of 600 euro/month and a family allowance (if applicable) of 500 euros /month. The net salary will depend on beneficiary’s country.

• a dynamic and stimulating work environment.

How to apply?

Applications should be submitted online via VITO website/Euraxess and should include-

1. National ID/Passport (with expiration dates)

2. Detailed CV

3. Two reference letters

4. A motivation letter from the candidate

5. A document (signed by the candidate) certifying that he/she has understood the eligibility and mobility rules and that they will be accomplished in September 2025 if the DC is selected.

• A pre-selection will be made from amongst the submitted applications and only the shortlisted candidates will be invited for the interview phase.

• Any application that is not submitted in this way will not be included in the selection process.

• For questions about the profile and the description of duties for this particular ESR position, please contact Dr Deepak Pant (deepak.pant@vito.be), Prof. Juan Baeza (juanantonio.baeza@uab.cat) or Prof. Carlo Santoro (carlo.santoro@unimib.it).

Application Deadline: 31 Jan 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Brussels)

• Researchers must be doctoral candidates at the date of recruitment and must not already hold a doctoral degree by the deadline of the open calls. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet been formally awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible. Recruited researchers must be enrolled in a doctoral programme at UAB, leading to the award of a doctoral degree, at the time of signing the contract.

• Master in Chemical engineering, Material Science, Electrochemistry or equivalent are preferred for this position although related degrees such as Chemistry, Environmental Technology, or other types of Engineering are also acceptable. Students in the final year of their degree can also apply.

• An advanced level of English is required for this position. Certification is necessary and proficiency will be assessed during the personal interview.

• Research experience in material science/engineering (particularly those related to electrocatalysis) and electrochemistry will be considered as an added advantage.

• You publish scientific articles related to the research project of the assignment.

• You contribute to outreach and research at VITO, UAB and UniMiB under the framework of Trampoline project.

• Eligible candidates may be of any nationality but must not, at the time of recruitment have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc) in the country of their host organisation (in this case Belgium) for more than 12 months in the 3 last years immediately prior to the reference date.

• Your academic qualities comply with the requirements stipulated in the university’s policy.