Seeking a Doctoral Candidate (Ph.D. student) to join the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network “FAroGels – Food-Grade Aerogels for Sustainable Food Systems”

Doctorat / PhD Profil chercheur : First Stage Researcher (R1) Type de contrat : Temporary Date limite de candidature : 9 Dec 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Brussels) Date de début : 31 Mar 2027 Programme UE : Horizon Europe - MSCA Département : Office of Sponsored Projects Domaine : Engineering » Other

We are looking to admit outstanding applicant as Doctoral Candidate (DC8 – Moisture-Insensitive Aerogel Packaging for Mechanical Shock Protection) at the Department of Food Engineering, Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Türkiye. Highly motivated Ph.D. applicants are encouraged to join FAroGels, funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks (HORIZON-MSCA-2025-DN-01-01, Grant Agreement No. 101312450). The position is a fixed-term employment contract of 36 months, full-time (100%), with METU as both recruiting/host organisation and PhD awarding institution. Project summary FAroGels brings together academic and non-academic partners with complementary expertise in food science and technology, materials science, biopolymer science, biotechnology, process engineering, analytical characterization, packaging and sustainable innovation. FAroGels aims to develop, characterize and validate food-grade, bio-based and biodegradable aerogels for sustainable food systems. The network will investigate how these highly porous materials can support more efficient food processing, improved food quality and safety, nutritional and sensory functionality, protection and delivery of bioactive compounds, and sustainable packaging solutions. This position forms part of the FAroGels research program on food-grade, bio-based, and biodegradable aerogels and their application in sustainable food systems. The selected candidate will be employed by METU and will be required to enroll as a PhD student at METU, in accordance with the relevant admission and enrolment requirements. Project objectives Food transport still relies heavily on petroleum-based cushioning foams. Bio-based aerogels offer excellent shock absorption at very low density, but their sensitivity to moisture limits their use under real logistics conditions. DC8 will develop moisture-insensitive, food-contact-safe aerogel packaging materials that can replace these foams. Aerogels will be produced from cellulose, alginate and chitosan with tailored pore structures and surface chemistries, using controlled supercritical CO₂ drying for consistent structural integrity. Food-approved hydrophobisation strategies, such as mild salinisation and thin wax-based coatings, will be applied so that biodegradability and regulatory compliance are preserved. Each material will be evaluated for moisture uptake, mechanical compression and recovery, dynamic shock absorption and microstructure, guiding iterative optimisation and prototype development. The expected outcomes are moisture-tolerant aerogels with stable mechanical behaviour under variable humidity, datasets linking structure and surface modification to cushioning performance, validated packaging prototypes tested under simulated logistics conditions, and benchmark comparisons with biodegradable and petrochemical foams. DC8 anchors the packaging stream of FAroGels: it builds on the upstream materials developed in the network, uses shared characterisation workflows so that results remain comparable across projects, and feeds prototypes and datasets into the FAroGels packaging design guidelines, in close connection with DC9 on thermal insulation and DC12 on active and safe packaging. The position will involve laboratory-based research, data analysis, scientific communication and close collaboration with other FAroGels Doctoral Candidates, supervisors and partner organizations. Main responsibilities Conduct research on the development and characterisation of moisture-insensitive, food-contact-safe aerogel packaging materials for mechanical shock protection in food transport. Plan, perform, document and analyse experimental work using relevant laboratory, analytical, processing and/or modelling methods. Collaborate with academic and non-academic partners across the FAroGels network, including during the planned secondments. Participate actively in FAroGels network meetings, training schools, workshops and transferable-skills activities. Prepare scientific reports, contributions to project deliverables, presentations and publications, and contribute to dissemination and communication activities. Supervisory team and planned secondments The Doctoral Candidate will be supervised by a team combining academic and non-academic expertise: Mecit Halil Öztop, Middle East Technical University (METU), Türkiye (main supervisor); Dr. Lara Manzocco, Università degli Studi di Udine (UNIUD), Italy (academic co-supervisor); and Dr. Vincenzo De Tata, Barilla G. e R. Fratelli S.p.A. (BRL), Italy (industry supervisor). As part of the training programme, the Doctoral Candidate will complete planned secondments at FAroGels partner organisations: University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), academic, Spain, 1 month; AGH University of Krakow (AGH), academic, Poland, 2 months; MyBiotech GmbH (MyB), non-academic, Germany, 2 months; and Barilla G. e R. Fratelli S.p.A. (BRL), non-academic, Italy, 2 months. Requirements Master’s degree (or equivalent) in food engineering, food science and technology, chemistry, chemical engineering, biotechnology, materials science or a related field. Strong laboratory and analytical skills, in particular in biopolymer and hydrogel processing, mechanical testing (e.g. compression, resilience and shock absorption), moisture sorption and humidity studies, and physicochemical characterisation (e.g. BET, SEM, FTIR, rheology); experience with supercritical CO₂ drying, surface modification or packaging testing is an asset. Fluency in written and spoken English. Strong motivation to pursue doctoral research in an international and interdisciplinary environment. Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to collaborative research activities. Good organization, communication and problem-solving skills. Willingness to travel for planned secondments, network meetings and training activities. MSCA Doctoral Network eligibility criteria Applicants of any nationality are welcome to apply. At the date of recruitment, applicants must meet the following MSCA Doctoral Network requirements: Doctoral candidate status: Applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree. Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet been formally awarded the doctoral degree are not eligible. Mobility rule: Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Türkiye for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention or EU temporary protection are not taken into account. Compliance is verified before the start of employment, on the basis of the candidate’s passport and, where necessary, other documents. PhD enrolment: Doctoral Candidates must be enrolled in a doctoral programme leading to the award of a doctoral degree in at least one EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. For this position, this is the doctoral programme at METU; applicants must therefore meet its admission requirements. Institution-specific requirements: For enrolment at METU (in the Food Engineering, Biotechnology or Biochemistry PhD programme): English proficiency of at least METU EPE 65, or TOEFL iBT 79 or PTE Academic 70 (IELTS is not accepted; native speakers graduating from an English-medium university are exempt), an ALES (quantitative) score or an equivalent GRE Quantitative score – ALES 70 / GRE Q 153 for Food Engineering and Biotechnology, ALES 65 / GRE Q 152 for Biochemistry – and the minimum grade point average of the chosen programme (Food Engineering: BSc CGPA 2.75/4.00 or MSc CGPA 3.50/4.00; Biotechnology and Biochemistry: BSc CGPA 2.50/4.00 and MSc CGPA 3.00/4.00). A letter of intention, two reference letters (it is preferred that one of the references be from the MSc thesis advisor) and both undergraduate and graduate transcripts are also required. Programme criteria: Biotechnology https://fbe.metu.edu.tr/en/biotechnology | Biochemistry https://fbe.metu.edu.tr/en/biochemistry | Food Engineering https://fde.metu.edu.tr/en/admission-requirements The doctoral school at METU takes 4 years, which requires continuation as PhD student for 1 year after finishing the employment contract. Visa and residence permit: a visa or residence/work permit is not required at the application stage and is not a selection criterion. Where needed, it will be arranged after selection and before the start of employment, with the support of the recruiting organisation. Candidates from non-EU countries are equally welcome to apply. What FAroGels offers A full-time doctoral position funded through the FAroGels MSCA Doctoral Network. A fixed-term employment contract for 36 months at METU. A competitive salary and employment conditions in accordance with the MSCA Doctoral Networks funding provisions, applicable national legislation and the policies of METU. Social-security coverage and other employment-related benefits in accordance with the applicable national and institutional framework. A Personal Career Development Plan (PCDP), prepared with the supervisory team and reviewed and updated during the project. Access to research facilities, infrastructure, training and support services at METU and within the FAroGels network. Participation in a structured doctoral training programme including scientific and technical training, transferable skills, career development and innovation-oriented activities. Planned secondments at FAroGels partner organizations, offering…