Postdoctoral Researcher - Groene Chemie en Technologie (30176) Ghent University in Chile

Ghent University is recruiting a Postdoctoral Researcher in Green Chemistry and Technology within the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department BW24 - Groene Chemie en Technologie. The position is part of the SUSPLASM project under the Flanders Industry Innovation Program Moonshot and focuses on sustainability assessment of an innovative electrified thermal plasma gasification platform.

The research addresses the treatment of complex waste streams, including PFAS-contaminated residues and plastic-containing waste, with the goal of converting them into valuable products such as renewable syngas and recoverable mineral fractions while destroying hazardous compounds. The postdoctoral researcher will lead the prospective Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the technology and complement it with techno-economic and circularity assessments. The work will compare the plasma-based process with conventional waste management routes, identify environmental hotspots and trade-offs, and support optimization and scale-up decisions for different feedstocks, operating conditions, and valorization pathways.

This role is strongly research-oriented and situated in a multidisciplinary and international environment involving plasma technology, process engineering, environmental assessment, and industrial partners. The position is well suited to candidates with a PhD background in environmental engineering, chemical engineering, industrial ecology, environmental sciences, sustainability assessment, or a closely related field. Strong expertise in LCA is essential, preferably with ISO 14040/14044 experience, and familiarity with tools such as SimaPro, openLCA, or GaBi and databases like ecoinvent is expected.

Applicants should also have a strong publication record and excellent English communication skills. Additional experience in ex-ante or prospective LCA, techno-economic assessment, Life Cycle Costing, waste/resource recovery, thermochemical conversion, circular economy, and data analysis is highly relevant. Programming skills in Python, R, or MATLAB are considered an asset. The position also offers the opportunity to supervise MSc and PhD students and contribute to high-impact publications and conference presentations.

The appointment is a contract of definite duration for 6 months with a possible extension, starting 15/08/2026 at the earliest. Salary is based on the PD1 to PD4 scale. Ghent University also highlights staff benefits including training opportunities, 36 days of annual leave for full-time staff, bicycle allowance, and eco vouchers.

Application deadline: 2026-08-03 at 23:59 Brussels time. Applications must be submitted online through the e-recruitment system. Required documents include a merged CV with publications and study results, a motivation letter emphasizing LCA experience, a diploma transcript if available, and additional supporting documents such as a reference letter or representative publication. Late or email applications are not accepted.