Summary
Ghent University is recruiting a Postdoctoral Researcher for the SUSPLASM project within the Flanders Industry Innovation Program Moonshot. The position focuses on performing prospective Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), techno-economic, and circularity assessments for an innovative electrified thermal plasma gasification platform aimed at converting complex waste streams (such as PFAS-contaminated waste and plastic residues) into valuable syngas and mineral products.
Postdoctoral Researcher in Sustainability Assessment at Ghent University, Belgium
Designation
Postdoctoral Researcher (Junior Expert)
Overview
| Attribute | Details |
| Job ID | 30176 |
| Institution | Ghent University |
| Faculty / Department | Faculty of Bioscience Engineering / Department BW24 – Groene Chemie en Technologie |
| Positions Available | 1 |
| Occupancy Rate | 100% |
| Employment Type | Contract of limited duration (6 months, potential for extension) |
| Earliest Start Date | 15/08/2026 |
| Wage Scale | PD1 to PD4 (Doctoral Degree) |
| Required Diploma | PhD |
| Application Deadline | 03/08/2026 at 23:59 (Brussels Time) |
Research Area
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Prospective and ex-ante environmental performance modeling.
- Sustainability & Circular Economy: Techno-Economic Assessment (TEA), Life Cycle Costing (LCC), and circularity assessment.
- Waste Valorization & Thermochemical Conversion: Thermal plasma gasification, hazardous waste treatment (PFAS, plastics), carbon capture/utilization.
Location
Ghent University, Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Ghent, Belgium.
Eligibility / Qualification
- Education: PhD in Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Sustainability Assessment, or a closely related discipline.
- Required Expertise:
- Proven expertise in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) adhering to ISO 14040/14044 standards.
- Experience using LCA software tools (e.g., SimaPro, openLCA, GaBi) and databases (e.g., ecoinvent).
- Strong peer-reviewed publication record in sustainability assessment, circular economy, or resource recovery.
- Fluent in written and spoken English.
- Preferred Skills:
- Experience with ex-ante/prospective LCA, Techno-Economic Assessment (TEA), LCC, or circularity analysis.
- Experience with process data analysis, including mass and energy balances.
- Programming skills (e.g., Python, R, MATLAB) are an asset.
- Experience in collaborative European research projects (e.g., Horizon Europe, VLAIO, Interreg) and grant proposal development.
Job Description
- Lead the sustainability evaluation of the SUSPLASM thermal plasma gasification platform using prospective LCA and complementary techno-economic/circularity assessments.
- Evaluate the environmental impacts and trade-offs of treating challenging feedstocks (e.g., PFAS, plastic waste) compared to conventional waste management options.
- Collaborate with experimental researchers to analyze process data and mass/energy balances to support technology scale-up and optimization.
- Co-supervise MSc and PhD students and contribute to ongoing project reporting.
- Publish scientific findings in high-impact journals and represent the team at international conferences and industry workshops.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online through the Ghent University E-Recruitment Portal. Applications sent via email will not be accepted.
Required Application Uploads (Max 10 MB per file):
- CV Field: CV (including publication list) merged with study results into a single PDF.
- Cover Letter Field: Motivation letter in PDF format detailing your LCA expertise.
- Diploma Field: Transcript/degree certificate (with English, Dutch, French, or German translation if applicable).
- Other Documents Field: Reference letter and examples of representative publications.
Last Date for Apply
03/08/2026 before 23:59 (Brussels Time)
