Role Description
Cranfield Water Science Institute welcomes applications from passionate, skilled and committed Engineering, Environmental Science, Biology and Biotechnology graduates with a PhD in relevant subjects to contribute to an exciting European project developing hydrothermal processes for the management of solid digestate and other waste from the olive oil production process.
About the Role
We are seeking a dedicated Research Fellow to join our dynamic team in addressing the crucial challenge of recovering resources from waste. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in a high-profile European project (OLinWASTE) of international relevance aimed at establishing a groundbreaking case study for an integrated zero-emission biorefinery to convert olive mill wastes into valuable resources. The overall project will upcycle olive mill waste into high-value products such as plant bioimmunostimulants, biopesticides, biofertilizers, biobased plastics, and bioenergy.
The focus on the candidate for this position will be on developing hydrothermal processes to convert digestate from anaerobic digestion or olive mill waste into hydro-char and other resources that can be recovered. Utilising state-of-the-art facilities and collaborating with other project partners, the role encompasses the planning, implementation of experimental tests and the operation of laboratory and small-scale reactors to thermally treat digestate and other waste and generate hydrochar for recovery. The role will involve defining best operational conditions for the reactors such as temperature, pressure and catalysts and their impacts on the final products. The role will also involve the assessment of the use hydrochar for value recovery and the management of the other residues produced by the hydrothermal process. Your work will contribute to an international project, inform strategies and asset design to exploit the potential of hydrothermal processes for the recovery of value from waste and the protection of the environment. This is an exceptional opportunity for a professional passionate about engineering, environmental science or chemistry, to impact the agro-industrial and waste sectors significantly.
About You
You will be educated to doctoral level (or close to completion) in Engineering, Environmental Science or Chemistry, and have experience in management research using both qualitative and quantitative methods. You will have experience in research involving thermochemical processes and a track record of translating laboratory findings into engineering applications. With excellent communication skills, you will have expertise in wastewater and/or waste treatments and on thermochemical processes for resource recovery. A background in environmental or engineered systems would be an advantage. Equivalent industry experience would be considered’
About Us
As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact .
The Water theme at Cranfield University is home to two internationally recognised centres of excellence: Cranfield Water Science Institute and the Centre for Water Environment and Development. Both groups offer postgraduate taught and research degrees as well as short courses on campus or in-company.
Cranfield Water Science Institute has a proud reputation for its research on the science, engineering and management of water. Our lives and livelihoods are dependent on the natural and engineered water cycles. Accordingly, research and skills development in water treatment and management have never been more vital. Cranfield’s research in these areas is applied and industry focused, and we have been driving innovation for over 40 years.
Our Values and Commitments
Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more .
We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity. Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working .
Working Arrangements
Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.