Ph.D position Separation of amino acids using electrodialysis, Netherlands

February 22, 2008

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PhD position Separation of amino acids using electrodialysis

The Faculty of Science and Technology (700 faculty members, 1100 students) offers a range of bachelor and master courses (NanoTechnology, Applied Physics, Chemical Engineering and Technical Medicine). The faculty’s research is organized in three of the university’s interdisciplinary research institutes: MESA+, BMTI, and IMPACT. These institutes increase the vitality of research by enabling collaboration between programs and disciplines, by providing shared facilities, and by attracting funding for joint projects. They also provide a conduit to industrial partners and help in attracting new faculty.

Ph.D position Separation of amino acids using electrodialysis

Within the Membrane Technology Group of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Twente, we have

A PhD position

for a project entitled:

“A novel process route for the production of building blocks for chemicals from protein sources using electrodialysis”

The depletion in fossil feedstocks, increasing oil prices and ecological problems associated with CO2 emissions urges the chemical industry to develop novel routes to produce building blocks for functionalized specialty and bulk chemicals. As such, amino acids obtained from cheap waste or side streams are very interesting and promising. They can be derived by hydrolysis from these sources. The resulting amino acid mixture needs to be separated in an effective and efficient way. Electrodialysis (ED) is a very promising and cost effective separation technology and the aim of the proposed research is to explore the possibilities of this technology for the separation of amino acids. Apart from the proof of principle and determination of the limitations of the existing membranes, the research includes membrane development, module and process design and improvement of the hydrodynamics.

The project is a collaboration between Wageningen University and the University of Twente. A number of industrial partners participates in the project. The project requires close collaboration between the research groups and the industrial participants.

Profile

We are looking for highly motivated researchers with an MSc degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, material science or a related topic, with adequate experimental and theoretical skills. Knowledge of electrochemical processes is preferred, but not a prerequisite.

We prefer candidates with a good team spirit, who like to work in an internationally oriented environment. Fluency in English is a requirement. An interview will be part of the selection procedure.

Offer

We offer a scientific education on a multidisciplinary subject. The assignment is for 4 years, with a go/no-go assessment at the end of the first year. The candidates are expected to finish the project with a PhD thesis and disseminate the results through patents (if applicable), publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at international conferences. Your starting salary will be € 2000, – in the first year and up to € 2558, – gross per month in the last year.

Information and application

For more information, please contact Dr. ir. Kitty Nymeijer (+31 53 4892950 or d.c.nijmeijer@utwente.nl). To apply, please send your application letter plus CV before March 1st 2008, to the University of Twente, Faculty of Science and Technology, attn. to Dr. ir. Kitty Nymeijer, Faculty of Science and Technology, LA 1332, PO Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands, or per e-mail d.c.nijmeijer@utwente.nl. When applying for this job please mention vacancy number 08/054.

Scholarship Tags: amino acids, electrodialysis, Netherlands, PhD position, Separation