Reseacher in textile recycling using synthetic biology approaches - THREADS project (60 %)

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Video: https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0

About the Job

We have a vacancy for a three years 60% researcher position at the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, NTNU. The position is linked to THREADS, an RCN-funded project on textile recycling by sustainable biotechnology-based approaches. THREADS aims to develop biotechnology-centred routes for converting textile waste, including polycotton and polyester/cotton blends, into higher-value biodegradable polymers such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs).

The researcher will contribute to the synthetic biology activities in the project, with emphasis on engineering bacterial production hosts for conversion of textile-derived feedstocks into PHAs. A central part of the work will involve engineering and characterising Cupriavidus necator and, where relevant, alternative bacterial hosts for utilisation of sugars and PET depolymerisation products such as terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol.

The position is suitable for a candidate with a Master’s degree and solid hands-on experience in molecular biology, microbial genetics and bacterial cultivation. The work will be carried out in close collaboration with researchers working on enzyme discovery/engineering, polymer depolymerisation, analytics, bioprocess development and sustainability assessment.

Applicants are also encouraged to apply for the 40% administrative coordinator position in the EU-funded AIMARIA project ( Link to the announcement). Candidates who meet the criteria for both positions are welcome to apply for both. If the same candidate is selected through the separate recruitment processes, the two part-time positions may be combined into a 100% position, subject to NTNU’s applicable recruitment and employment procedures.

Your immediate leader is Head of Department of Biotechnology and Food Science Andreas Møllerløkken.

Duties of the position

• Engineer Cupriavidus necator and, where relevant, alternative bacterial hosts for improved utilisation of sugars, terephthalic acid, ethylene glycol and mixed feedstocks.
• Design and construct plasmids, expression cassettes and genome-engineering strategies, including cloning, PCR, transformation, strain verification and sequence confirmation.
• Carry out bacterial cultivation experiments in shake flasks and, where relevant, small-scale bioreactors to evaluate growth, substrate utilisation and PHA production.
• Support enzyme-expression or host-engineering tasks linked to textile polymer depolymerisation when relevant to the project workflow.
• Analyse and organise experimental data, maintain high-quality laboratory records and contribute to project reports, deliverables, presentations and scientific publications.

Required selection criteria

• A Master’s degree or equivalent in molecular biology, biotechnology, microbiology, synthetic biology, biochemical engineering, or another relevant life-science discipline.
• Hands-on experience with molecular biology methods such as cloning, PCR, plasmid construction, bacterial transformation and sequence-based verification.
• Experience with bacterial cultivation and sterile laboratory work.
• Ability to plan, execute, document and troubleshoot experiments independently.
• Good written and oral English language skills.

Preferred selection criteria

• Experience with Cupriavidus necator, Pseudomonas putida, Escherichia coli or other bacterial hosts.
• Experience with synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, genome engineering, adaptive laboratory evolution or strain development.
• Knowledge of microbial production of PHAs, biopolymers, fermentation, carbon-substrate utilisation or microbial valorisation of waste streams.
• Experience with PET/cellulose degradation workflows, PETases, cellulases, secretion/display systems or enzyme-expression workflows.
• Experience with analytical methods relevant to substrate utilisation and product formation, such as HPLC, GC, LC-MS, microscopy, flow cytometry or related methods.
• Experience with data analysis, bioinformatics, strain-design tools or laboratory automation is an advantage.
• Norwegian or another Scandinavian language is an advantage.

Personal characteristics

• Systematic, careful and reliable in experimental work.
• Curious and motivated to solve biological engineering challenges.
• Able to work independently while contributing actively to a team.
• Good communication skills and willingness to collaborate across disciplines.
• Flexible and able to adapt experiments when results require new approaches.

We offer

• Exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment.
• An open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues.
• Hands-on experience in a biotechnology project addressing textile recycling, circular bioeconomy and sustainable production of biodegradable polymers.
• Access to relevant laboratory infrastructure and interdisciplinary expertise in molecular biology, synthetic biology, microbial engineering and AI-guided biological design.
• Favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Employee benefits

Salary and conditions

As a researcher (code 1108) you are renumerated depending on qualifications and seniority. As required by law, 2% of this salary will be deducted and paid into the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU.

After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

About the application

Your application and supporting documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language. Please note that applications will be assessed only on the basis of the information received by the application deadline. You should therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. The application and all attachments must be submitted electronically via Jobbnorge.no. Applications submitted by other means will not be considered. Please do not send separate application documents or additional information by e-mail.

Your application must include:

• CV, diplomas and certificates.

• A short application letter (max one A4 page) describing your motivation and relevant laboratory/project experience.

• A short description of relevant scientific or technical work, if applicable.

• A complete publication list, if applicable.

• Names and contact information for three relevant referees.

• Documentation of the scope and quality of any education taken abroad. If you already have a statement from NOKUT/HK-dir, please attach this as well.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience, personal and interpersonal qualities, motivation and potential. Open scientific practice will be recognised where relevant. Candidates of interest will be invited to an interview.

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result.

It is important that you both document and reflect on your competence. You are encouraged to use the NTNUs competence matrix as a guide for documentation of your competence.

Joint work will also be considered. If it is difficult to identify your specific input to a joint project, you must include evidence of your contributions.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. Open scientific practice will be recognized.

NTNU is obliged by the evaluation criteria for research quality in accordance with The San Fransisco Declaration on Research Assessment – DORA and The obligations in the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment ( CoARA) on responsible assessment of research and recognition of a wider range of academic contributions to science and society. This means that we will pay particular attention to the quality and academic range demonstrated by your scientific work to date. We will also pay attention to research leadership and participation in research projects. Your scientific work from the last five years will be given the most weight.

Your application will be considered by a committee at the department. Candidates of interest will be invited to an interview.

General information

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values ​​are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse, and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals.

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.

If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability, and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

As an employee at NTNU, you must continually maintain and improve your professional development and be flexible regarding any organizational changes.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

For the sake of transparency, candidates will be given expert evaluations of their own and other candidates. As an applicant you are considered part of the process and are stipulated by rules of confidentiality.

If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact Rahmi Lale via e-mail rahmi.lale@ntnu.no.

If you have questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact HR Cecilie Skagfjord, e-mail cecilie.skagfjord@ntnu.no.

Application deadline: 25.07.2026

The Researcher position is expected to start during early Autumn 2026.

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.