News – Page 2 – EUAlgae

Call for abstracts for the Second EUAlgae Workshop of Algae Bioproducts for Early Career Investigators

26th January 2018 Radoslava Metodieva

Date: March 6th 2018

Venue: Aristotle University Dissemination Center, Thessaloniki, Greece

Target attendees: Early Career Investigators (prioritized) and PhD students from countries participating in the COST Action EUALGAE (http://eualgae.eu/). Only those candidates selected for oral presentation will be reimbursed.

Workshop structure (1 day): 15 Oral presentations (15 min presentation + 5 min questions) selected based on scientific relevance (evaluated from the abstracts submitted to the Working Group Leaders). Selection criteria will also include Working Group balance, country balance and gender balance. ONLY ONE ABSTRACT PER RESEARCH GROUP WILL BE CONSIDERED

Local Organizers: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, Dr. Spyros Gkelis (sgkelis@bio.auth.gr)

Abstract MUST BE SUBMITTED TO radoslava.metodieva@imdea.org BEFORE FEBRUARY 1ST 2018.

See the text of the call here.

2-year post-doctoral fellowship available at the Department of Chemistry and Umeå Plant Science Centre, Umeå University, Sweden

8th January 2018 Radoslava Metodieva

A post-doctoral fellowship is available in the group of Prof. Christiane Funk, Dept. of Chemistry and Umeå Plant Science Centre (https://www.upsc.se/), Umeå University (http://www.umu.se/), Sweden. The aim of the project is to characterize the structure and function of metacaspase-like proteases in cyanobacteria and unicellular algae.

Applicants profile: The post-doctoral fellowship is open for one year with possible extension for a second year. Highly motivated applicants with good publication record in international reviewed journals will be considered. A Ph.D. in Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology or related life science is a prerequisite. The requested experimental skills include a solid background in molecular biology and biochemistry. Furthermore, the successful candidate should have worked with cyanobacteria, preferably with Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and/or unicellular algae. Previous experience working with proteases are of benefit. A strong motivation to learn, an ability to develop new methods, and an ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment, are important features of the persons we are looking for. The fellowship is available immediately.

For further information about the fellowship, please contact Prof. Christiane Funk, Dept. of Chemistry, Umeå University, 90 187 Umeå, Sweden – Christiane.Funk@umu.se

For further information about the position and the application process: Post-doctoral fellowship available at the Department of Chemistry and Umeå Plant Science Centre

PhD student position on Microalgae cultivation and processing at ETH Zurich (Switzerland)

5th December 2017 Radoslava Metodieva

The ETH Sustainable Food Processing group is recruiting a PhD student on Microalgae cultivation and processing.

ETH Sustainable Food Processing group is looking for a candidate who is highly motivated to work in a collaborative project with an international food company that aims at developing targeted algae cultivation and processing of certain green algae species to deliver high value macronutrients. Of particular interest are innovative process applications based on advanced cell stress induction, disintegration, separation, conversion and stabilisation techniques. The aligned analysis of the algae structural changes during up- and downstream is key for an optimised food concept development.

The candidate should have excellent academic qualifications, good communication skills, and strong self-motivation. In addition, enthusiasm and talent to engage in engineering and microbial questions and the underlying mechanisms as well as in theoretical/modelling aspects is required. Experience in algae biotechnology and algae microbiology will be considered a plus. Furthermore, the successful candidate must have a Master degree in Biotechnology/ Bioprocessing/ Food Technology/Food Engineering/ Food Microbiology or a closely-related area.

For further information about the position and the application process: PhD student position on Microalgae cultivation and processing

PHD POSITION IN MICROALGAE TECHNOLOGY/BEER BREWING AT THE NORWEGIAN INSTITUTE OF BIOECONOMY RESEARCH

3rd November 2017 Radoslava Metodieva

This is a full-time 3-year position within microalgae technology and beer brewing. The position is part of the project ALGAE TO FUTURE. The applicants will be linked to Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM), and has to be qualified to the PhD program at KBM NMBU. See regulations https://www.nmbu.no/en/research/phd/regulations_guidelines and required qualification https://www.nmbu.no/en/research/phd/application_admission. The PhD work will be supervised by researchers from NIBIO, NMBU and the consortium partner University of Wageningen, the Netherlands. The place of employment will be NIBIO, Department for Bioresources and Recycling Technologies at Ås.

Job description

The project will develop three microalgal value chains demonstrating the potential of various uses of algal biomass rich in respectively starch, protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and the main topic for the current PhD task is production of microalgae for use in fermented beverage production. The specific challenges include the development of a cultivation process for selected food grade approved species of microalgae, where production of microalgae biomass with a product specific biochemical composition is essential. This includes biomass components with functionality resembling malt for beer production, such as high starch content combined with starch degrading enzymes.

The algae biomass will be used in an ordinary or modified brewing process. Processing conditions will be monitored and product properties, such as aromatic profile, chemical composition and storage stability of the product will be evaluated.

Contact persons

Research Manager/Department Head Trine Eggen, tel +47 909 97 074 or Department Head Stig Borgvang, tel +47 458 67 258.

For further information about the position and the application process: POSTDOCTORAL POSITION AVAILABLE

Carry out an STSM in Switzerland

20th October 2017 Raúl Muñoz

The Research Group Aquaculture Systems at the Institute of Natural Resource Sciences of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland is inviting applicants for an STSM.

We operate a large (20 m²) open photobioreactor, remotely controlled, fully automated (evaporation control, CO₂), and equipped with various sensors (PAR, pCO₂, turbidity, pH, etc). Together with our autosampler, we can closely follow a cultivation and also have the means to supply the reactor with nutrients from external sources (e.g. with waste water). To carry out work on a smaller scale, we operate a laboratory with incubators (illuminated, CO₂, humidity) and various analytical tools (plate reader, analytical chemistry, elemental analysis (XRF, CHN), biomass composition (NIRS), Ecotox tests, etc.).

Our interests are manifold: We investigate the use of microalgae in fish feed (we also operate a recirculating aquaculture system), we use microalgae to treat waste water and optimize their cultivation in waste water, we screen microalgae for antifungal activity, we are curious about contaminations, you name it.

We are looking for an enthusiastic researcher whose skills complement or extend ours and who would like to cooperate with us. You bring in your own ideas for exciting research that hopefully lead to joint publications or larger projects.

If you are interested, contact Dominik Refardt (dominik.refardt@zhaw.ch)

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR SHORT TERM SCIENTIFIC MISSIONS (STSM) IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE COST ACTION ES1408 EUALGAE

18th October 2017 Radoslava Metodieva

A STSM grant is a fixed contribution based on the budget requested by the applicant and the evaluation of the application by the selection committee (a maximum of EUR 2.500; EUR 3.500 for ECI). This grant will not necessarily cover all expenses; it is intended only as a contribution to the travel and subsistence costs of the participant.

STSM applicants should be graduate students (must be engaged in an official research programme as a PhD student) or postdoctoral fellows (including Early Career Investigators), and must either be employed by or affiliated to an institution or legal entity which has within its remit a clear association with performing research.

Deadline for applications: CLOSED
STSMs must be completed by 20^th April 2018.
The report has to be sent to the STSM coordinator within 30 days after the completion of the STSM and in any case by 20^th April 2018.
Check here the call text with the requirements.

For further information on STSMs contact the EUAlgae STSM Coordinator Dr Dominik Refardt.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITC) Conference Grants in the framework of COST Action ES1408 EUALGAE

10th October 2017 Radoslava Metodieva

Conference Grants are aimed at supporting PhD students and Early Career Investigators (ECI) from Participating Inclusiveness Target Country (ITC) to attend international science and technology related conferences not specifically organized by the COST Action.

The applicant must make an oral/poster presentation at the conference in question and must be listed in the official event/conference programme. The main subject of the oral presentation/poster presentation/speech at the approved conference must be on the topic of the Action and must acknowledge COST.

A Conference Grant is a fixed financial contribution (maximum EUR 2.000) which takes into consideration the budget request of the applicant and the outcome of the evaluation of the application by the Core Group. Conference Grants do not necessarily cover all of the expenses related to participating in a given conference. It is a contribution to the overall travel, accommodation and meal expenses of the selected Grantee.

The participation of each applicant must be pre-approved by the Core Group of the EUALGAE Action.

Deadline for applications: at least 45 days before the conference start date (within the Grant Period 3).
The conference participation must be completed by 20^th April 2018.
The report has to be submitted within 30 calendar days from the end date of the Conference.
Check here the call text with the requirements.

For further information on Conference Grants contact the EUAlgae Grant Manager Ms Radoslava Metodieva-López.

EUALGAE is participating in the Workshop “European algae production, with major focus on needs assessment and strategies to bridge the knowledge gaps in production, processing and economic statistics”

28th September 2017 Radoslava Metodieva

Where: Brussels, COST Association facilities
When: 5th and 6th of October 2017
Organization: JRC, FAO, COST Actions Phycomorph and EUALGAE

The workshop “European algae production, with major focus on needs assessment and strategies to bridge the knowledge gaps in production, processing and economic statistics”, that will count with the participation of several experts from the EUALGAE COST Action, aims at bringing together relevant players from the algae data management, production and processing sectors in Europe to discuss effective responses to the previously identified lack of baseline quality data on algae biomass at the European level. This initiative is foreseen to i) target the main knowledge gaps and needs regarding data on algae biomass supply, demands and flows at the European level; ii) discuss the reasons driving the identified gaps and iii) provide recommendations on the ways forward to solve the identified problems. The workshop is also aimed at launching alternative effective tools to integrate reliable knowledge on the sector at the short-term.

You can find the programme here.

Second Training School “Microalgae processes: from fundamentals to industrial scale”

28th September 2017 Radoslava Metodieva

The second Training School “Microalgae processes: from fundamentals to industrial scale” was held in Almería (Spain) from 13th to 15th of September 2017. It was organized by the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Almeria (Spain), in collaboration with Fundación Cajamar (Spain).

The course was attended by 30 PhD students and students with equivalent experience from 11 COST countries (France, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom). The specialized lectures were given by senior researchers from 6 different institutions and the practical was given by senior researchers from the University of Almeria at the facilities of Fundación Cajamar. The third day of the school was devoted to technical lectures by companies’ representatives.

More information here.

Postdoctoral Scientist Position at IMDEA Energia (Spain) to work on Biofuels Production

20th July 2017 Radoslava Metodieva

Required Qualification:

Ph.D. degree in Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology.
Solid background in photosynthetic microorganisms’ cultivation and fermentative processes.
Demonstrated experience by gained expertise and/or publications in international peer-reviewed journals.
Experienced in national and international projects.
Accredited oral and written communication skills in English.

Location: Mostoles, Madrid, Spain.

Remuneration: Between 33,000€ – 37,000€ per year, depending upon qualification and expertise.

Duration: The position is available immediately and is a one year appointment with annual renewals depending on performance.

Reference: 17.25.BT2 POD

For further information contact Dr. Cristina Gonzalez, email:cristina.gonzalez@imdea.org

Applicants should send their Curriculum Vitae (publications list included) and covering letters by August 18th 2017 to the following address:

email: cristina.gonzalez@imdea.org

Subject: Reference: 17.25.BT2 POD

For further information: Open position at IMDEA Energy, Spain