Di Wu

Ghent University Global Campus (GUGC) in South Korea, an extension of Ghent University Belgium, is recruiting full-time researchers at the Postdoc and PhD levels for its Centre for Green Chemistry and Environmental Biotechnology (GREAT) and the Sustainable Environmental Engineering Laboratory (SEELab), led by Prof. Dr. Ir. Di Wu. The position focuses on Environmental Microbiome and Biomanufacturing, leveraging state-of-the-art technologies in synthetic communities (SynCom) to design, build, and manage microbial consortia for solving real-world environmental challenges. Research areas include pollution cleanup, resource recovery from wastewater and industrial effluents, climate resilience through CO2 capture and bioremediation, and ecosystem restoration in agriculture and aquaculture. The project integrates synthetic biology, ecology, and systems/process engineering to create stable, controllable microbial communities that outperform single strains in complex environments. Core methods involve rational community design, genetic programming, ecological stabilization, and model-guided engineering, with applications in reactors, wetlands, filters, and living materials. The role includes conducting research, collaborating on grant applications, and supporting teaching activities. Candidates must hold or expect to hold a PhD (for Postdoc) or a Master’s degree (for PhD) in Environmental Science, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Synthetic Biology, Microbial Communities, Biomanufacturing, or related fields, with strong lab or policy experience and top-tier publications. Excellent English proficiency, academic writing, presentation skills, teamwork, self-motivation, and leadership are required. The contract is for one year, renewable based on performance, with salary commensurate with experience, private health insurance, and 35 days paid annual leave plus additional holidays. Application requires a motivation letter, CV with references, and a research statement, submitted as a single PDF to [email protected]. The application deadline is December 20, 2025, but early application is encouraged as the position may be filled sooner. Interviews will be conducted in stages, and only selected candidates will be contacted.