We are currently seeking a PhD Candidate to join our Sustainability in Biosystems Program team located in Caldes de Montbui, offering a great opportunity to work in a dynamic and collaborative environment within our organization.

We invite applications from motivated candidates with passion and a strong interest in conducting research and innovation activities on the project: “Exploring the application of biochar to improve manure management through biogas optimization, emission abatement and resource recovery”. This project aims to explore different applications of biochar in the manure management value chain aiming to optimize manure anaerobic digestion, biogas upgrading, emission abatement (greenhouse gases and NH₃), as well as testing the nutrient-rich biochar produced as soil amendment. .

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Characterize different biochar and performance according to the feedstock used and production process. 
• Optimize the anaerobic digestion of pig slurry using biochar as additive.
• Test different biochar for biogas upgrading and gain insight in the adsorption mechanism.
• Design, construct and operate a low-cost submergible microbial electrolysis cell, using biochar as anode, for ammonia recovery and NH₃ emission control in manure storages.
• Use of specific electrochemical techniques (cyclic voltammetry, impedance) and microbiological analyses.
• Perform literature review, data collection and management, involving statistical analysis.
• Assistance to congress to present outcomes of the thesis and participation in other communication and dissemination activities.
• Publication of scientific papers.
• Collaboration in the general development of the aforementioned project and other projects, related to the research line, of the group.

Required qualifications and experience

• Candidates must hold one of the following degrees: Bachelor's degree in Biological Systems Engineering, Biology, Biotechnology, or related degrees.
• Also the candidate must hold:
  a) A Master’s in Environmental Engineering, Biotechnology, Environmental Sciences, Biology or related.
  b) To be in a position to access a doctoral programme according to the requirements of Catalan universities, i.e. accrediting between 60 and 120 ECTS credits at the official university master's degree level or equivalent.
• Not to have a previous PhD degree.
• Proficiency in English
• Strong teamwork skills, ability to adapt to multidisciplinary environments and a focus on professional growth and development.

Desirable requirements

• Experience in physicochemical analysis of wastes.
• Experience in gas emissions sampling into the atmosphere.
• Experience in microbiological analysis (PCR, qPCR, etc.)
• Previous experience in anaerobic digestion, biochar utilisation, emissions abatement or the operation of bioelectrochemical systems will be valued.
• Driving license. Additional and/or higher education in…
• Catalan and Spanish are valued.

Advantages of joining our team:

• Supervisor/s: August Bonmatí, Victor Riau, Míriam Cerrillo
• Terms of appointment: 4 years
• Contract: The financial remuneration for the PhD Candidate contract will be €1,363.10/gross per month (19,083.40./gross per annum) and for the first and second years. For this third year, it will be €1,460.46/gross per month (€20,446.44/gross per annum) and for the fourth year it will be €1,825.58/gross per month (€25,558.12/gross per annum) which will be subject to the corresponding withholdings, pursuant to prevailing regulations, and to the collective employment agreement of IRTA. IRTA will also pay the fees of the doctoral school when receiving the enrolment. (1)
• 37.5 hour workweek, with Friday afternoons off
• Intensive work schedule from 15/06 to 15/09
• 22 vacation days
• 3 days of family & work conciliation
• 45 hours of personal days
• Flexible Schedule for a good work-life balance.
• Continuous training and professional growth opportunities.

Please know that if you are the chosen candidate and you are from a country which does not belong to the UE, IRTA’s People Department will support you to get the residence and working permits.

Instructions to Apply

If you wish to be considered for this position and believe you meet the requirements, please send your CV and motivation letter.

Equal treatment and opportunities are guaranteed for all candidates in the selection process, avoiding any stereotypes, attitudes, or obstacles based on gender, origin, age, ideology, or other potentially discriminatory conditions. Furthermore, commitments to the inclusion of vulnerable groups are considered, with priority given in the first round to disabled candidates.

Timings in the Recruitment Process

33 natural days: Publication and diffusion of the job advertisement on IRTA’s website and/or social media.

5 following working days: Distribution of the pre-selected CVs to the Recruitment Committee for their evaluation.

20 following working days: Interview and/or tests to the most suitable candidates based on the job position.

Start of contract: January 2025

⁽¹⁾ The financial remuneration of the PhD Candidate contract may not be less than 56% of the salary established for the category of Research Collaborator F of the Collective Agreement of the IRTA during the first two years, 60% in the third year and 75% in the fourth.

El contrato es parte de la ayuda PID2023-147405OR-I00, financiado por MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 y por el FSE+