This position is part of the TKI project “Enabling subsurface H2 storage: Effects of geo & biochemical reactions (HyStoreReact)”. The multidisciplinary team of this project includes expertise in geochemistry, microbiology, modelling, etc.
Are you an enthusiastic postdoc-level researcher who wants to work on the field of anaerobic microbiology of subsurface environments? Do you have experience with microbial cultivation (including bioreactor operation) and physiology of anaerobic microbes? Then we are looking for you!
Underground H2 storage is a potential solution to store energy, making use of currently empty (depleted) natural-gas/oil reservoirs. The risks of underground H2 storage include its conversion by microorganisms, depleting the energy carrier and also possibly contaminating the gas (e.g. by the activity of sulfate-reducing microbes that produce H2S, a highly corrosive gas). Your work will be studying microbial conversions of H2 under relevant environmental conditions for H2 underground storage (high pressure, high temperature). Tasks will include the development of microbial enrichments, their characterization in terms of microbial diversity and activities, kinetic studies, and evaluation of competitions between different metabolic groups of microorganisms (acetogens, methanogen, sulfate reducers).
This position is part of the TKI project “Enabling subsurface H2 storage: Effects of geo & biochemical reactions (HyStoreReact)”. The multidisciplinary team of this project includes expertise in geochemistry, microbiology, modelling, etc.
We ask
We are looking for a candidate who has:
- a PhD in microbiology, biotechnology, or other relevant field;
- experience with (anaerobic) microbial cultivation (essential requisite);
- experience with bioreactor operation (essential requisite);
- knowledge of microbial physiology;
- a good track record or writing or contributing to scientific articles;
- fluency in English (both spoken and written);
- good communication and presentation capabilities as evidenced by contributions to scientific conferences;
- the ability to work in international and multidisciplinary research teams.
The following is an advantage:
• experience on bioinformatics, (meta)genome and )meta)transcriptome/proteome analyses
Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate their experience with concrete examples from their work in and outside academia.
We offer
A challenging position for 2 years with, depending on your experience, a competitive salary from a minimum of € 2.846,- to a maximum of € 4.490,- for a full working week of 38 hours in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10).
In addition, we offer:
- 8% holiday allowance;
- a structural year-end bonus of 8.3%;
- excellent training opportunities and secondary employment conditions;
- flexible working hours and holidays can possibly be determined in consultation so that an optimal balance between work and private life is possible;
- excellent pension plan through ABP;
- 232 vacation hours, the option to purchase extra and good supplementary leave schemes;
- a flexible working time: the possibility to work a maximum of 2 hours per week extra and thereby to build up extra leave;
- a choice model to put together part of your employment conditions yourself, such as a bicycle plan;
- a lively workplace where you can easily make contacts and where many activities take place on the Wageningen Campus. A place where education, research and business are represented;
Wageningen University & Research stimulates internal career opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are ample opportunities for own initiative in a learning environment.
We offer a versatile job in an international environment with varied activities in a pleasant and open working atmosphere.
You are going to work at a hub for the life sciences in Europe, at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the Best University in the Netherlands for the 17th consecutive time.
Coming from abroad
The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief known as the 30% ruling. Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research’s International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.
More information
For more information about this function, please contact Diana Sousa, Professor, by e-mail: diana.sousa@wur.nl.
For more information about the procedure, please contact Joes van Meurs HR advisor, by mail: joes.vanmeurs@wur.nl.
General information about The Laboratory of Microbiology can be found on:
https://www.wur.nl/en/Research-Results/Chair-groups/Agrotechnology-and-Food-Sciences/Laboratory-of-Microbiology.htm
DO YOU WANT TO APPLY?
You can apply directly by uploading your CV and motivation letter, using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.
This vacancy will be listed up to and including April 11th 2022.
Equal opportunities employer
WUR employs a large number of people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who encourage and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. For more information please go to our inclusivity page. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment.
We are
Wageningen University & Research The mission of Wageningen University and Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment.
With its roughly 30 branches, 6.500 employees and 12.500 students, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen’s unique approach. WUR has been named Best Employer in the Education category for 2019-2020.
These are the points our employees list as good reasons to come work at WUR: read the 5 reasons to come work at WUR.
We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.