PhD Position Systems Design for Resilient and Sustainable Production of Novel Protein

Interested in researching novel food proteins and their potential to ensure food security in different regions around the world? Please join this transdisciplinary research project.

Job description

In this project, you will investigate novel proteins as proposed solutions to the climate change threats on food security, such as water scarcity and increased occurrence of natural disasters, which are exacerbated by conventional food production itself through land use changes, freshwater consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. Novel proteins involve production systems that are said to be adaptable to harsh circumstances and require substantially fewer resources compared to current protein sources, such as fish and livestock.

We are looking for a PhD candidate to develop a comprehensive approach to assess the potential of various novel protein technologies and their capacity to mitigate food insecurity. The focus will be on proteins from cellular agriculture and single cell proteins derived from (water-)waste streams.

The assessment will focus on two different regions: a European region and an East-African region. The different regional causes for food insecurity will be identified. A context-sensitive conceptual design for inclusive value chains and associated production facilities will be developed for each of the protein types. These conceptual designs will take into account the local threats to food security, as well as provide adaptive strategies to future threats.

These conceptual value chains can provide input to policy making on addressing food security through novel proteins and give recommendations on which type of novel protein may be most suitable in specific conditions, as well as guidelines on how the associated value chains and production facilities should be set up. Relevant issues relate to integration with local food practices, use of local resources, and local acceptance of lab-grown meat, proteins derived from waste, and advanced genetic techniques.

Responsibilities

• Combine qualitative and quantitative data into a comprehensive approach. This requires strong analytic skills as well as experience with mixed methods approaches, or willingness to learn.
• Travel to two different regions and do local fieldwork. This requires a flexible attitude, an open mind, strong organisational skills, and experience with qualitative methods, or willingness to learn.
• Develop conceptual design for inclusive novel protein value chains. This requires a basic understanding of relevant technological processes and methods for conceptual design, or willingness to learn.

This PhD position is part of the interdisciplinary Climate Safety & Security centre (CaSS) at TU Delft | Campus The Hague. This center conducts research on fair access to fundamental human needs - water, food and energy - and their crucial enablers: infrastructures and materials. The goal is to contribute to a safe and secure future society by connecting insights from engineering, design and governance. The PhD student will contribute to the Food Security flagship within CaSS.

The successful candidate will work 1 day/week at TU Delft | Campus The Hague and will have the opportunity to collaborate with researchers from across TU Delft, as well as policy makers from (national) governments and (inter)national organisations in The Hague and beyond. Additionally, the PhD candidate will collaborate with the Cellular Agriculture Nederland consortium, in which groundbreaking cellular agriculture technologies are being developed, as well as with the department of Civil Engineering, where single cell proteins from wastewater are applied in the Global South.

The candidate will be hosted by the Section Biotechnology and Society (BTS), which focusses on understanding societal aspects and translating this into responsible innovation in biotechnology for sustainable development. The candidate will be supervised by Lotte Asveld, Josh Flack and Mar Palmeros Parada.

Job requirements

• Master’s degree in a relevant field, such as Industrial Ecology, Innovation Science, Sustainability Science or a related field.
• Preferably a combined background in food technology or biotechnology and any of the above mentioned disciplines. A master’s degree in one of these subjects is also possible, if combined with a demonstrable affinity with the other disciplines.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Good organisational skills.
• Research experience and writing skills demonstrated through a thesis, publications, or previous research projects.
• Fluent in English.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society.

Faculty Applied Sciences

With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, the faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. Its scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1.5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months, followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.