MSCA Doctoral Candidate Position in TERRA-MED project (Ref: UdG4)

Universitat de Girona (UdG) is recruiting a researcher within the Horizon Europe Marie Sklodowska Curie Co-Fund doctoral network TERRA-MED (An Interregional PhD Programme for Advancing Sustainability and Climate Resilience in Occitania, Balearic Islands, and Catalonia). The successful candidate will carry out a joint doctorate (duel degree) in University of Girona (programme: “Water Science and Technology”) and University of Montpellier (Ecole Doctoral GAIA).

Workplace: Universitat de Girona (UdG), Catalonia, Spain – Research and Innovation Park (25 months). Institute Européen des Membranes (IEM), Montpellier, France (9 months).

Main supervisor: Dr Gaëtan Blandin, UdG (gaetan.blandin@udg.edu). Co-supervisor: Dr Geoffroy Lesage, IEM (geoffroy.lesage@umontpellier.fr).

Project duration: 3 years

Research objectives. The objective of this research is to integrate and optimize various potentially complementary biological processes (anaerobic digestion, microalgae, fungus) and membrane processes toward a net energy and safe water reuse integrated solution. The following key research questions will be addressed:

• What would be the performance of multistage biological processes for pollution removal and energy/biostimulants production (removal and valorization of organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus and emerging contaminants)?
• Could they be integrated in one step and are there any symbioses expected from these processes or better operate in multistage to avoid contamination and a more stable process?
• What would be the benefits/limitations from hybridizing and coupling various biological processes (synergies, biological preferential growth…)?
• Could recycled membranes operated in gravity-driven mode be integrated into membrane bioreactors to promote low cost and circular solutions?

Expected results:

• Development of integrated process for production of high-quality safe water for reuse
• Development of a process with net-zero energy and sustainable valorization of side products
• Proof-of-concept of a new multifunctional wastewater biorefinery combining bacteria, microalgae, fungi and membranes to maximize water reuse, energy recovery and bioproduct generation
• Publication of 3 research articles in international high-impact (Q1) journals

Benefits.  Annual gross salary (aprox): 30.600€ (net salary + employee’s taxes and contributions). Permanent contract linked to TERRA-MED project duration.

Indicative mobility arrangements: Hosting institution: 25 months (University of Girona, Spain). Co-hosting institution secondment: 9 months (University of Montpellier, France). Non-Academic secondment: 3 months (possibly at LBE Narbonne, France during last year of PhD)

Requirements for candidates. Candidates must meet the following mandatory requirements:

• Applicants must be eligible for enrolment in a doctoral programme at the employer institution and must not already hold a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment.  Detailed information is provided on UdG Doctoral School website.
• Have not resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date, and
• Have fluency in English (B2 level minimum)

Skills and competences: Background in Process Engineering, Environment sciences, Membrane and water technologies. Master’s degree in environmental science, environmental engineering, water technologies, applied biotechnologies or membrane science.

TERRA-MED doctoral network. TERRA-MED is an interregional doctoral program funded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND Actions that will recruit and train a new generation of researchers to address the sustainability and resource stress (Water–Land–Energy nexus) in Mediterranean territories. The Euroregion Pyrenees–Mediterranean, coordinator of the program, brings together the Regions of Occitanie (France), Catalonia and the Balearic Islands (Spain) forming a cross-border research ecosystem. Through this collaboration, TERRA-MED connects world-class universities, research centres and socio economic actors committed to advancing resilience in the face of climate change. With more than 22,000 scientists across 10 universities and 2 research centers, encompassing 1000 research units, TERRA-MED provides a rich, interdisciplinary environment where doctoral candidates can excel and launch their research careers. 33 PhD positions will be offered to early-stage researchers with a unique interregional, interdisciplinary and intersectoral environment. Fellows will benefit from having two supervisors (a principal supervisor and a co-supervisor) from two different regions and having a non-academic mentor. The fellows will undertake mandatory cross-border or international stays to the co-institution, as well as a secondment in a non-academic entity. Moreover, doctoral candidates will receive a specifically designed training program related to their research topics, alongside modules on innovation, entrepreneurship, project management, ethics, open science, etc.