Last application date Jul 30, 2025 00:00
Department LA25 - Department of Biotechnology
Contract Limited duration
Degree Master degree in science in the domain of Applied Biological Sciences, Biology or any related field
Occupancy rate 100%
Vacancy type Research staff
Job description
ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY
Ghent University is a world of its own, employing more than 15.000 people. It is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area, and offers great career opportunities.
With its 11 faculties and more than 85 departments, offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.
For the CMET research group we are looking for one Doctoral fellow
About CMET
The Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET) (www.CMET.UGent.be) is part of the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering at Ghent University, as well as part of CAPTURE (www.capture-resources.be). CMET has over 40 years of experience in the study of applied microbial processes and microbial ecology in the contexts of waste(water) treatment, bioremediation, bioproduction and resource recovery. CMET is well recognized worldwide in its field, and links excellent basic science with application, leading to a high level of peer reviewed publications, besides commercial outcomes, including several spin-off companies. Reactor and process developments go from millilitre scale to full industrial scale
YOUR JOB
The development of microbial management plans for contaminants present in coastal seas is of crucial importance. Various anthropogenic contaminants from different sources—such as wet and dry atmospheric deposition, domestic sewage, industrial discharge, agricultural run-off, sea dumping operations, mining, explosions, and oil seepages—enter the marine environment. Maintaining healthy seas can only be achieved by developing an innovative monitoring strategy and clean-up technology.
In the framework of the ROPSAM project (Potential of contaminant degradation by specific (clusters of) microbiota), we are looking for a motivated PhD candidate in the field of microbial ecology and technology, with a strong interest and expertise in bioremediation technologies. The successful candidate will join the Microbial Community Engineering (MiCE) research group, led by Prof. Nico Boon and Prof. Kankana Kundu (MiCE-CMET).
Important:
Please note that this position is limited to max 11 months, and the selected candidate will be required to apply for a PhD fellowship from the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) in 2026. Applicants should verify their eligibility via the FWO website:
https://www.fwo.be/en/support-programmes/all-calls/phd/phd-fellowship-strategic-basic-research/
In your application, please indicate that you have consulted the FWO eligibility criteria and explicitly state how you meet them:
Academic degree: hold a master’s degree (not a master-after-master) or equivalent, awarded within the EEA or Switzerland. If your degree is from outside, you must provide either a NARIC recognition or a doctoral admission declaration from a Flemish university
Recency of degree: degree obtained not earlier than 1 March 2023 (i.e., within 3 years prior to the 2026 call deadline)
Scientific seniority: had no more than 18 months of research “seniority” as of 1 March 2025 .
Number of applications: you did not yet apply for an FWO PhD fellowship (either fundamental or strategic)
Study results and percentiles: Specify the percentile of your study results. How to do that is explained in this document: https://www.fwo.be/media/4nrfwqja/asp-study-results-and-percentiles.pdf
Job profile
- You hold a master degree in science in the domain of Applied Biological Sciences, Biology or any related field;
- You are interested in academic and/or project-based research and services;
- You have excellent laboratory skills in applied microbiology, and microbial and molecular techniques in general;
- You have knowledge of one or more of the following topics: Microbial cultivations, Omics technology, Flow Cytometry, basic reactor work and analytical chemistry;
- Previous experience in working with the biodegradation of contaminants is an asset;
- You have skills in statistical data analysis, and are keen on developing these skills further. Basic knowledge of R is an asset;
- You have experience in working with oligotrophic microorganisms.
- You have good scientific writing and communication skills in English (C1 level);
- You are willing to travel abroad for meetings, workshops or conferences;
- You are persistent and problem-solving oriented;
- You are able to work independently, as well as in a team;
- You are interested and motivated to work in an international team with people from different backgrounds.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
- We offer a full-time position as a doctoral fellow for an initial period of 11 months. This position is not automatically renewable: candidates are expected to apply in 2026 for a PhD Fellowship Strategic Basic Research from the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) in order to continue their doctoral research (see job description).
- The contract can start as early as 01/10/2025 and no later than 01/11/2025.
- All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave annually (for a full-time position), supplemented by fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance, eco vouchers, and more. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits.
How to apply
Send your application to [email protected]. Subject line of your mail should mention “ROPSAM-Marine-CMET”. The final closing date is July 30th (23h59 Brussels time) 2025. Candidates that will obtain their master degree before the 1st of October 2025 are also eligible. We do not accept late applications.
Your application must include the following documents:
- Cover Letter (maximum 1 page)
Include the position reference, your contact address and telephone number. Use this letter to introduce yourself and explain why you are a strong candidate, specifically addressing how your background and skills align with the research topic and the profile sought. Also confirm that you have consulted the eligibility requirements for the 2026 FWO PhD Fellowship Strategic Basic Research and state how you meet these.
- Curriculum Vitae (in PDF format), including the following:
- Educational qualifications and professional affiliations, including:
The full title of each degree
The year awarded
The name of the awarding institution
Your academic performance percentile (as required by FWO – see their guidelines) - Employment history in chronological order, starting with your current position, including:
Dates of employment
Job titles
Names of employers
Main responsibilities and achievements - Research fields and interests, including:
A full list of publications (attach as separate document)
Indicate three most significant publications with an asterisk, and list impact factor and quartile (Web of Science) for each
Any research grants awarded - Names and full contact details (postal address, telephone number, e-mail) of three referees, ideally including a senior academic or supervisor who can assess your current work and your potential for PhD research
- Transcript of your qualifying degree (if already obtained)
If your diploma is issued in a language other than Dutch, French, German, or English, please include a certified translation into one of these languages. - FWO Eligibility Confirmation
This position is limited to one year and is contingent on the selected candidate applying for the 2026 FWO PhD Fellowship Strategic Basic Research to continue their doctoral research.
Check your eligibility: https://www.fwo.be/en/support-programmes/all-calls/phd/phd-fellowship-strategic-basic-research/
In your application, confirm that:
- You have read the FWO criteria carefully.
- You meet the academic, time-based, and seniority-related eligibility conditions.
- You are committed to submitting a proposal in the 2026 FWO call.
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Kankana Kundu ([email protected])
