PhD opportunity “Reaction Engineering in Biocatalysis”
Apply now for a PhD position in biocatalysis in collaboration with SpinChem! Gain hands-on experience in sustainable chemical processes and advance your career in enzyme innovation.
- Position: PhD in Biocatalysis as part of the MSCA Joint Doctoral Network
- Focus: Enzyme characterization, immobilization techniques, and sustainable process optimization
- Collaboration: Leibniz University Hannover, TU Graz, and SpinChem
- Duration: Includes 4-month industry secondment at SpinChem in Sweden
- Supervision: Professor Selin Kara (LUH) and Professor Robert Kourist (TU Graz)
- Start date: Summer/Autumn 2026
- Ideal candidate: Master's degree in biotechnology or bioprocess engineering with interest in sustainable chemical processes
Are traditional chemical processes in industry still meeting today's sustainability challenges? As environmental regulations tighten and resource efficiency becomes paramount, biocatalysis emerges as a critical technology for developing greener chemical manufacturing methods.
The Institute of Technical Chemistry at Leibniz University Hannover, in collaboration with TU Graz and SpinChem, is addressing this challenge through an innovative PhD project focused on reaction engineering in biocatalysis.
This position, part of the MSCA Joint Doctoral Network "Better BioBased Polymer Network" (B3PO), represents a significant opportunity to advance sustainable manufacturing technologies.
The selected candidate will work on characterizing enzymes, constructing effective biocatalytic systems, analyzing reaction kinetics, and developing enzyme immobilization techniques. Process optimization and scaling up successful laboratory concepts to industrial applications form core components of the research agenda.
Academic-industry synergy: driving enzyme tech innovation
What makes this project particularly valuable is its collaborative structure. The PhD researcher will benefit from academic expertise at both Leibniz University Hannover and TU Graz, while gaining practical industrial experience during a 4-month secondment at SpinChem in Umeå, Sweden.
During their time at SpinChem, the researcher will apply theoretical knowledge to real-world industrial challenges, working with our specialized Rotating Bed Reactor technology to enhance mass transfer efficiency in heterogeneous reactions involving immobilized enzymes.
The project will be supervised by Professor Selin Kara from Leibniz University Hannover and Professor Robert Kourist from TU Graz, both recognized experts in their fields. Their combined expertise in biocatalysis and bioprocess engineering will provide comprehensive guidance throughout the research process.
Applying for the biocatalysis PHD position: qualifications & process
Candidates should possess a Master's degree in biotechnology, bioprocess engineering, or a related field, with a strong academic record and genuine interest in biocatalysis and sustainable chemical processes. Previous experience with enzymatic synthesis or bioprocesses would be beneficial.
The position is expected to start in summer/autumn 2026, with applications currently being accepted. Interested candidates should submit their CV, cover letter, academic transcripts, and references to Professor Kara and Professor Kourist. See details in the file.