Vacatures

Marie Curie Initial Training Network “SHeMat” (FP7-PEOPLE-ITN-2011-290308) for Self Healing Materials: from Concepts to Market.

Recruiting organization: Avecom NV, Wondelgem, Belgium

Post-doc project title: “Production and encapsulation of bacterial spores”

Period: 1st of January 2013 - 31st of December 2014

Company: Avecom is a SME situated nearby Ghent in Belgium. Avecom focuses on steering and optimizing microbial and environmental processes. Since the foundation in 1995, our clients have used and appreciated our services and products:

- Research and development: lab scale and pilot scale feasibility tests for waste water treatment, anaerobic digestion, soil and groundwater remediation, production of microbial cultures and tailor made R&D projects

- Specialized products for waste water treatment plants and anaerobic digesters, microbial nitrifying inocula, concentrated nitrifying and denitrifying biomass, CVOC-degrading culture for soil remediation, …

Avecom is on the interphase between industry and academics, offering highly innovative solutions to demanding questions.

Our experienced team of ca. 10 people includes engineers assisted by (lab) technicians. Avecom has its own extended laboratory facilities, bench scale and full scale reactors for microbial production.

Project description: The overall scientific aim of SHeMat is to implement self healing functionalities in different materials and enable the transfer of such technology to commercial products. A second aim is to develop standardized characterization methods for self healing efficacy and capability. The latter is crucial to the wider acceptance and commercial exploitation of self healing materials and is noticeably absent from any current activities throughout the world.

The following materials will be the focus of this proposal:

– Polymers (elastomers & thermoplastics, coatings & bulk polymers)

– Fibre reinforced polymer composites (carbon, glass, polymeric reinforcements)

– Concrete

– Ceramics (bulk composites ceramics & ceramic coatings)

The SHeMat research program can be subdivided in five work packages related to scientific work, which are built upon developing self healing concepts for the four different material classes (main research areas) and, as an intersectorial issue, upon developing reproducible  characterisation methods to assess and quantify self healing properties. In SHeMat, 11 ESR (Early Stage Researcher) projects (each for 36 months) and 4 ER (Experienced Researcher) projects (24 months each) will be offered to the fellows.

SHeMat will provide training based on three superior constituents: (i) training through research by conducting ESR/ER projects and presenting results in written publications or oral presentations (ii) general skills training like communication training or project management and – with a strong emphasis – (iii) entrepreneurship training, which is subdivided in seven training units. Furthermore individual career development will be supported by distinct secondments and mentorships which will give them direct access to the scientific excellence provided by the SHeMat consortium. Each fellow will be integrated in the network by common training activities, especially by three training schools with duration of up to twelve days each and the opportunity to maintain individual relationships to other fellows or supervisors by using the SHeMat web platform. 

Work package description for Avecom's experienced researcher: Self healing of cracks in concrete may be obtained by different methodologies. Especially precipitation of bacterial CaCO₃, a healing material compatible with concrete, shows very promising potential. However, bacterial activity decreases a lot in the high pH (>12) environment inside concrete, so that there is a need to select suitable alkaliphilic bacteria, and to protect them in a carrier. Proof of concept has been given for self healing by microbial calcite precipitation, using (1) brittle tubes with bacteria immobilized in polymeric carriers (UGent); (2) bacteria in porous aggregates (TU Delft & UGent; each using specific aggregates and micro organisms). In order to develop these concepts into a fully functional but yet cost efficient healing agent that can be introduced into the market, further research is needed.

Main objectives are to develop knowledge on:

– Low cost nutrient resources for the suitable bacteria

– Large scale production methods and optimal encapsulation methods for bacterial spores

– Optimization of bacterial activity and additives to avoid reinforcement corrosion

Job description: In this post doc position for non Belgian post doctoral students, the large scale production and encapsulation of bacterial spores will be investigated. Spores are preferred above living cells because spore formation allows the bacteria to survive under adverse conditions. Especially for bacteria that were selected earlier at Ghent University for their high calcite yield (Bacillus sphaericus), it appeared to be a difficult task to obtain spores in laboratory environment. The post doc will also design a procedure for high throughput encapsulation of spores and nutrients in the carriers selected by partners. The focus of this part of the project will be on the survival and activity upon germination of the immobilized spores as well as on the economic feasibility.

Requirements: Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements and hold a PhD in microbial production. Experience in the field of self healing materials and/or concrete chemistry/physical chemistry will be greatly appreciated. Furthermore applicants should:

- Be fluent in English

- Provide outstanding marks and benefits (preferably under the best 10 % of the graduation year)

- Be experienced and interested in interdisciplinary research

- Send a motivation letter (describe how the project and the ITN will benefit from your work and scientific background - 400 words max.)

- Be flexible to move around within the project duration

- Name at least 3 persons that might be contacted concerning references

 

The post-doc position lasts for 2 years.

Applicants should send a cover letter, a CV and a motivation letter to:

Rik Daneels

rik.daneels@avecom.be

Avecom NV

Industrieweg 122P

9032 Wondelgem

Belgium

Application deadline: 1st of August 2012