PhD Candidate in Sustainable Construction Materials

Job summary

This position involves developing innovative living building materials for sustainable construction as a PhD candidate. The role focuses on research at the intersection of materials science, biotechnology, and additive manufacturing, particularly investigating fungal-bacterial interactions and creating bio-composites for construction applications.

Qualifications

• A two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or equivalent academic level.
• Hands-on experience in fungal cultivation and microbiological techniques.
• Preferred experience with microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology and knowledge of microbial interactions with their environment.
• Familiarity with biomaterials, polymer science, and hydrogel systems is advantageous.
• Experience in material fabrication techniques, such as 3D printing, is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct interdisciplinary experiments on fungal-bacterial co-cultivation systems.
• Develop 3D-printable bio-ink for sustainable construction applications.
• Generate, process, and analyze experimental data using advanced characterization techniques.
• Publish research findings in leading international journals and present at conferences.
• Collaborate with researchers across various fields including microbiology and materials science.

Skills

• Strong scientific curiosity and motivation.
• Ability to work independently and drive research initiatives.
• Excellent communication skills in English.
• Adaptability and willingness to learn new methodologies.
• Attention to detail and commitment to research reproducibility.

Education

• A master's degree in a relevant field is required.

Tools

• Familiarity with advanced characterization techniques and 3D printing technology.