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PhD in enzyme discovery for the valorization of organic waste streams

KU LEUVEN
Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant
Full time
6 dagen geleden

PhD in enzyme discovery for the valorization of organic waste streams

(ref. BAP-2025-485)
Laatst aangepast: 20/07/25
We offer a full-time position for at KU Leuven. You will work in the Division of Soil and Water Management at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the CREaS division at the Department of Chemical Engineering. Our core activity is engineering and steering microbiomes towards processes for the bio-based circular economy such as wastewater treatment, waste valorization, and nutrient recovery.

At KU Leuven, we offer a competitive and international working environment with access to the latest technologies and expertise. At our university, department(s), and group, we commit to creating an inclusive, respectful, and safe environment. KU Leuven ranks among the top 10 universities in Europe (top 50 worldwide) in the major university rankings.

https://ees.kuleuven.be/en/bwb and https://cit.kuleuven.be/creas

Project

The symbiotic gut microbiota of xylophagous insects, such as termites and beetles, exhibits lignocellulolytic activity, enabling these insects to feed on wood. As such, the gut microbiome of these wood-eating beetles harbors an interesting diversity of enzymes with a potential for developing novel biotechnological applications for the bioeconomy. We want to unlock this potential by mining enzymes with interesting traits that can be used for a wide variety of applications.
Our overall aim is to harvest enzymes with unique properties from wood-eating beetle gut microbiomes for the bioconversion and biorefinement of biomass to value-added biochemicals in biorefinery platforms. A computational approach will be used to discover and predict enzyme functions of interest by exploring the metagenome and metaproteome of the gut microbiome. State-of-the-art heterologous expression will be used to verify enzyme functionality.
In this project, you will:
  • Study the gut microbiome of a selection of wood-eating beetles during their life cycle.
  • Develop a computational toolbox to predict enzyme functions for possible applications
  • Identify enzyme functions of biotechnological interest
  • Use heterologous expression of enzymes with interesting traits for the conversion of natural and synthetic polymers

Profile

  • Master’s degree in microbiology, bioscience/bioprocess engineering or engineering science or similar.
  • A critical and creative mind, and a true problem solver to overcome technical challenges.
  • A driven, hardworking person with a commitment to obtain a PhD.
  • You work at the crossroads of multiple disciplines (from bioinformatics to synthetic and computational biology)
  • Collaborative and real networker to get things done.
  • Experience in computational biology, synthetic biology and bioinformatics
  • Knowledge of molecular methodology in metabolic engineering

Offer

  • We offer a full-time PhD position for 1 year. After a positive evaluation, the contract can be extended to three additional years (4 years in total).
  • Excellent young, dynamic, and international work environment.
  • A challenging job and multidisciplinary research.
  • Access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure.
  • High-level scientific training at a top-ranked university.
  • Training in academic, thematic, and soft skills.
  • A competitive salary and many more benefits.

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Benjamin Horemans, tel.: +32 16 32 77 11, mail: [email protected].

You can apply for this job no later than August 08, 2025 via the online application tool

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.

Heb je een vraag over de online sollicitatieprocedure? Raadpleeg onze veelgestelde vragen of stuur een e-mail naar [email protected]


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Tewerkstellingspercentage: Voltijds
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Locatie: Leuven
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Solliciteren tot en met:
08/08/2025 23:59 CET
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Tags: Bio-ingenieurswetenschappen, Biologie
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