Green Biorefinery Pathways for Carbon Capture and Fiber Valorisation into Biobased Materials
Bioprocess Engineering
Applicants are invited for a PhD fellowship/scholarship at Graduate School of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark, within the Biological and Chemical Engineering programme. The position is available from 1 February 2027 or later. You can submit your application via the link under 'how to apply'.
Title:
Green Biorefinery Pathways for Carbon Capture and Fiber Valorisation into Biobased Materials
Research area and project description:
The transition towards a circular bioeconomy requires new technologies that enable the efficient conversion of biomass into high-value products and long-lived carbon-storing materials. This PhD project will investigate how green biorefinery processing and subsequent pretreatment affect the molecular structure and properties of lignocellulosic fibres from grassland biomass.
The PhD is part of the interdisciplinary research project GrassCO2mposites, which aims to develop novel biobased building materials from grass fibres, linking agricultural biomass production, green biorefining and carbon storage in the built environment.
The research will focus on the processing and detailed characterisation of fibre-rich side streams generated during protein extraction in green biorefineries. Different mechanical, chemical and potentially biological pretreatment methods will be investigated to understand and control changes in the composition, molecular organisation and interactions of key structural biopolymers, including cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin.
Advanced analytical methods will be applied to investigate biopolymer composition, molecular structure, crystallinity, fibre morphology and physicochemical properties. The aim is to establish structure–property relationships that can guide the development of processing methods for producing fibres with tailored characteristics suitable for biobased composite materials.
Experimental work will combine laboratory investigations with pilot- and demonstration-scale processing at Aarhus University's green biorefinery facilities. The PhD will collaborate closely with project partners at the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Danish Academy on fibre functionalisation, composite development and material performance.
An additional focus will be to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration with the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering at Aarhus University, connecting fundamental biomass processing and biopolymer research with the development and evaluation of biobased construction materials.
The project will contribute new scientific knowledge and scalable processing strategies for the valorisation of agricultural biomass into functional, carbon-storing materials.
Qualifications and specific competences:
Applicants must hold a relevant Master's degree (120 ECTS) in chemical engineering, biotechnology, materials science, polymer science or a closely related discipline.
We seek candidates with a strong academic background in lignocellulosic biomass processing, biorefining, polymer chemistry or biobased materials. Experience with experimental processing and characterisation of biomass-derived fibres and biopolymers is particularly relevant.
Knowledge of analytical techniques such as FTIR, NMR, HPLC, GPC/SEC, DSC, TGA, microscopy, rheology or mechanical testing will be considered an advantage. Experience with cellulose extraction, fibre pretreatment, polymer dissolution or other chemical and physicochemical processing methods is also desirable.
Applicants should have strong experimental and analytical skills, an interest in understanding molecular structure–property relationships, and the ability to plan and conduct independent research.
The project requires an interest in interdisciplinary collaboration across chemical engineering, biotechnology and materials science, including collaboration with researchers working on biobased construction materials.
Good written and spoken English communication skills are required. Experience from relevant research projects or industrial R&D will be considered an advantage.
Place of employment and place of work:
The place of employment is Aarhus University, and the place of work is Hangøvej 2, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.
Contacts:
Applicants seeking further information regarding the PhD position are invited to contact:
How to apply:
Please follow this link to submit your application.
Application deadline is 23 November 2026 23:59 CET.
Preferred starting date is 1 February 2027.
For technical reasons, you must upload a project description. Please copy the project description above and upload it as a PDF in the application.
Please note:
Salary and terms as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Unions. You will be employed as an academic staff member at basic salary grades 4–8. As a PhD fellow you will also receive a monthly non-pensionable allowance.
Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.
The application must be submitted via the online recruitment system, which can be accessed under ‘How to apply’.
Title:
Green Biorefinery Pathways for Carbon Capture and Fiber Valorisation into Biobased Materials
Research area and project description:
The transition towards a circular bioeconomy requires new technologies that enable the efficient conversion of biomass into high-value products and long-lived carbon-storing materials. This PhD project will investigate how green biorefinery processing and subsequent pretreatment affect the molecular structure and properties of lignocellulosic fibres from grassland biomass.
The PhD is part of the interdisciplinary research project GrassCO2mposites, which aims to develop novel biobased building materials from grass fibres, linking agricultural biomass production, green biorefining and carbon storage in the built environment.
The research will focus on the processing and detailed characterisation of fibre-rich side streams generated during protein extraction in green biorefineries. Different mechanical, chemical and potentially biological pretreatment methods will be investigated to understand and control changes in the composition, molecular organisation and interactions of key structural biopolymers, including cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin.
Advanced analytical methods will be applied to investigate biopolymer composition, molecular structure, crystallinity, fibre morphology and physicochemical properties. The aim is to establish structure–property relationships that can guide the development of processing methods for producing fibres with tailored characteristics suitable for biobased composite materials.
Experimental work will combine laboratory investigations with pilot- and demonstration-scale processing at Aarhus University's green biorefinery facilities. The PhD will collaborate closely with project partners at the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Danish Academy on fibre functionalisation, composite development and material performance.
An additional focus will be to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration with the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering at Aarhus University, connecting fundamental biomass processing and biopolymer research with the development and evaluation of biobased construction materials.
The project will contribute new scientific knowledge and scalable processing strategies for the valorisation of agricultural biomass into functional, carbon-storing materials.
Qualifications and specific competences:
Applicants must hold a relevant Master's degree (120 ECTS) in chemical engineering, biotechnology, materials science, polymer science or a closely related discipline.
We seek candidates with a strong academic background in lignocellulosic biomass processing, biorefining, polymer chemistry or biobased materials. Experience with experimental processing and characterisation of biomass-derived fibres and biopolymers is particularly relevant.
Knowledge of analytical techniques such as FTIR, NMR, HPLC, GPC/SEC, DSC, TGA, microscopy, rheology or mechanical testing will be considered an advantage. Experience with cellulose extraction, fibre pretreatment, polymer dissolution or other chemical and physicochemical processing methods is also desirable.
Applicants should have strong experimental and analytical skills, an interest in understanding molecular structure–property relationships, and the ability to plan and conduct independent research.
The project requires an interest in interdisciplinary collaboration across chemical engineering, biotechnology and materials science, including collaboration with researchers working on biobased construction materials.
Good written and spoken English communication skills are required. Experience from relevant research projects or industrial R&D will be considered an advantage.
Place of employment and place of work:
The place of employment is Aarhus University, and the place of work is Hangøvej 2, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.
Contacts:
Applicants seeking further information regarding the PhD position are invited to contact:
- Associate Professor Morten Ambye-Jensen, e-mail: maj@bce.au.dk (main supervisor)
How to apply:
Please follow this link to submit your application.
Application deadline is 23 November 2026 23:59 CET.
Preferred starting date is 1 February 2027.
For technical reasons, you must upload a project description. Please copy the project description above and upload it as a PDF in the application.
Please note:
- Only documents received prior to the application deadline will be evaluated. Thus, documents sent after deadline will not be considered.
- The programme committee may request further information or invite the applicant to attend an interview.
- Shortlisting will be used, which means that the evaluation committee only will evaluate the most relevant applications.
Salary and terms as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Unions. You will be employed as an academic staff member at basic salary grades 4–8. As a PhD fellow you will also receive a monthly non-pensionable allowance.
Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.
The application must be submitted via the online recruitment system, which can be accessed under ‘How to apply’.
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