Organisation/Company University College Cork Department HR Research Research Field Environmental science » Other Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions Postdoc Positions Country Ireland Application Deadline 27 Jun 2025 - 12:00 (Europe/Dublin) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
Research background and concept:
The production of protein from alternative sources including by-products from the food and beverage sector, as well as non-agriculture linked sources has the potential to revolutionise global food production. Integration of these novel protein production processes into a circular bioeconomy polygeneration system can enhance the sustainability of protein production. A successful polygeneration system centred around the protein production process depends on understanding how individual processes and systems can interact with one another in a symbiotic manner. This project aims to develop a decision support framework to aid in the identification and comparison of circular bioeconomy polygeneration systems which integrate the alternative the protein production process with other processes, technologies, and systems in the surrounding region.
This project aims to provide an overview of potential technologies that may be integrated with the alternative protein production process, identify their input and output materials, combine these technologies and processes in a collection of potential polygeneration system topologies, identify suitable topologies for detailed modelling, and collect data to enable future comparison of the modelled polygeneration systems with regards to the three core elements of sustainability across environmental, economic, and social performance. The framework outlined above could be applied to a test site under development in order to inform both site development, and the development of the framework itself as a means of providing decision support to future potential sites.
MaREI, the Research Ireland Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine
MaREI is a key research centre within UCC’s Environmental Research Institute (ERI), which is an internationally recognised Institute for environmental research dedicated to the understanding and protection of our natural environment and to developing innovative technologies, tools, and services to facilitate a transformation to a zero carbon and resource efficient society. The MaREI Centre is an Research Ireland funded research centre headquartered in the ERI and includes 13 other Universities and Third Level Institutes from across Ireland, has 82 industrial partners, and has accumulated research funding of approximately €60m. It combines the expertise of a wide range of research groups and industry partners, with the shared mission of solving the main scientific, technical, and socio-economic challenges across the climate, energy, and marine spaces.MaREI is also funded by SEAI, EI, EPA, ERDF, EU, HEA, Marine Institute, DCCAE and IRC, as well as through contributions from our industry partners. Researchers in the MaREI Centre have over 30 years of experience in conducting fundamental and applied research supported by competitively won national and international funding, and commercial contracts with government agencies and industry. MaREI’s strengths lie in the multi-disciplinary nature of its research teams, allowing it to combine insights across areas such as MRE Technologies, Materials & Structures, Observations & Operations, Coastal & Marine Systems, Bioenergy, Energy Policy & Modelling and Renewable Energy Management.
Circular Economy Energy and Environmental Systems Research Group (CEEES)
CEEES was initiated in the ERI in 2007 by Prof Jerry D Murphy. CEEES focus on renewable gaseous biofuel production (biohydrogen and biomethane) from substrates such as wastes, agricultural residues and lignocellulosic energy crops, macro-algae (seaweed) and micro-algae. Research covers biological and thermochemical bioenergy pathways. The group investigates a range of anaerobic digestion applications at lab scale including for innovative technologies such as Power to X, demand driven biogas, novel biogas upgrading technologies and bioeconomy and biorefinery applications. Fundamental and applied aspects of biomass gasification, pyrolysis, and methanation are also investigated. Work includes for desktop analyses such as chemical kinetic modelling, process simulation, geographic specific bioresources, Life Cycle Analysis, sustainability analyses, techno-economic studies, and multi criteria decision analysis.
Achievement of the expected progression within Post Doc and Senior Post Doc is transferable between the Irish HEI’s. This can be reflected in the starting pay of a PD researcher. Similarly, as the PD scheme is an intergenerational training scheme completion of PD1 or PD 2 levels in one HEI will normally render that researcher ineligible for appointment at a similar level in another Irish HEI Researcher Career Development Framework | Irish Universities Associatio n
Project Title:Poly Generation Systems and Alternative Protein Production
* To conduct a specified programme of research under the supervision and direction of a Principal Investigator/Project Leader.
* To engage in appropriate training and professional development opportunities as required by the Principal Investigator, School or College in order to develop research skills and competencies.
* To gain experience in grant writing.
* To engage in the dissemination of the results of the research in which they are engaged, as directed by, with the support of and under the supervision of a Principal Investigator.
* To become familiar with the publication process.
* To acquire generic and transferable skills (including project management, business skills and postgraduate mentoring/supervision).
* To engage in the wider research and scholarly activities of the research group, School or College.
* To interact closely with postgraduate research students who are studying for a Masters or a PhD and possibly have an agreed role in supporting these students in their day-to-day research in conjunction with an academic supervisor.
* To carry out administrative work to support the programme of research.
* To carry out additional duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.
* To contribute to costing research grant proposals and assist in the financial management of a research project
* Identification of technologies which may be combined with the alternative protein production process.
* Assess data availability and modelling capability in terms of technoeconomic and life cycle assessments for each technology.
* Development of process models of polygeneration processes using process modelling software such as SuperPro and Aspen Plus.
* Data collection for Techno-economic assessment, life cycle analyses, and social life cycle analysis of the modelled polygeneration processes
Specific Requirements
* A PhD qualification in Chemical/Mechanical/Bioprocess Engineering or equivalent
* Appropriate research experience.
* Appropriate technical competence and accomplishment.
* A capability of working within a project team to achieve results.
* Good communication, organisation and interpersonal skills.
* A commitment to gaining practical experience working on a research project.
* Ability to work well within a team.
* Extensive research experience and competence in process design and feasibility analyses including techno-economic assessment and life cycle analyses of biorefinery systems
* Expertise in process modelling, especially using Aspen Suite.
* Expertise in social life cycle assessment is a plus
* Fundamental understanding of multicriteria decision analyses
* Strong analytical and mathematic skills.
* Expertise and experience in process optimisation.
Please note that Garda vetting and international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.
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