Aureobasidium pullulans is a ubiquitous, poly-extremotolerant fungus with a great application potential in industry, agriculture, and for bioremediation. This fungus is not only interesting due to its application potential, but it also possesses an outstanding morphological plasticity i.e., it can grow in different cell types depending on several external stimuli and conditions (Fig 1).

This morphological plasticity is considered to contribute to this fungus' adaptability and stress tolerance, and to have implications on the application potential. Surprisingly, only extraordinarily little is known about the corresponding regulatory network in A. pullulans.

In this position, you will work together with another PhD student to untangle this regulatory network. Recently, we have established a CRISPR-based genome editing technique, which you will use to delete genes known to influence the morphology in other fungi with the aim to create “locked phenotypes” i.e., strains that cannot switch between the different forms anymore. You will then cultivate these strains in a large-scale, multivariate experiment. The samples will be analyzed using “omics” methods and assessed by state-of-the-art bioinformatics.

Your profile: Msc in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, or a similar field. Experiences with yeasts or fungi are an advantage but not required. You are eager to learn new methods and are interested in solving nature’s puzzles. TU Wien and the project leader are promoting gender equity in science and encourage especially women, non-binary, and trans persons to apply.

We offer:

• 3.5-year contract as project assistant (30h/week) at TU Wien.
• Gross income of EUR 2,464.80 per month (14 times a year) according to the guidelines of the funding agency (Austrian Science Fund, FWF).
• 5 weeks paid holiday per year, health insurance, and other benefits.
• Supervision and mentoring by an advisor team comprised of experts in Molecular Biology, (Bio)informatics, Transcriptomics, and Proteomics.
• Learning-opportunity for state-of-the-art techniques in molecular biology and bioinformatics.

Please contact the project leader Dr. Christian Zimmermann (previously Derntl, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6440-2100, opens an external URL in a new window) for questions and to apply with a scientific CV and at least one letter of recommendation until 31.7.2023 per email: christian.zimmermann@tuwien.ac.at

Scale-up perspectives of sustainable aviation fuels from waste biomass in Austria and EU

At the Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, in the Research Unit of Process Systems Engineering for Bioresources and Sustainability (Prof. Dr. Stavros Papadokonstantakis), TU Wien is offering a PhD-position until 30.06.2027 for 36 hours/week. Expected start: September-October 2023.

Your Tasks:

• Collaborate with an international consortium in an EU-HORIZON project for production of sustainable aviation fuels from waste biomass by coupling fast pyrolysis with solar energy.
• Investigate scale-up perspectives of the project technologies considering EU targets for sustainable aviation fuels and including:
  • assessment of the sustainable feedstock supply chain management
  • process integration in existing and future infrastructures
  • optimization of plant capacities based on LCC/LCA
• Compile relevant economic and environmental assessment data and identify technical and economic barriers to support relevant policy recommendations towards production at commercial scale.
• Participation in development and handling of courses and supervision of interns, Bac and MSc students.
• Dissemination of research results through scientific publications and participation in conferences, seminars, etc.

 

Your Profile:

• Completed diploma or master’s degree in chemical, energy or process engineering, or an equivalent university degree in Austria or abroad.
• Participation in projects or courses related to biofuels preferred but not mandatory.
• Experience or interest in the field of process modelling, supply chain management, techno-economics or sustainability assessment.
• Interest to further advance in the field of process systems engineering.
• Good command of English and preferably German.

Salary: EUR 3000 pre-tax per month 14x a year/36 hours per week

Application (per e-mail) and inquiries to:

Prof. Dr. Stavros Papadokonstantakis – stavros.papadokonstantakis@tuwien.ac.at Tel.: +43 1 58801-166 600

We look forward to receiving your application.