→ Apply before 15/08/2026 (DD/MM/YYYY) 23:59 (Brussels Time)
→ Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
→ Department: BW24 - Groene Chemie en Technologie
→ Occupancy rate:100%
→ Number of positions: 1
→ Type of employment: Contract of unlimited duration with a 4 year clause
→ Term of assignment: 4 jaar
→ Wage scale: WM1 to WM4 (master degree)
→ Required diploma:Master
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 11 faculties and more than 80 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.
It is home to the BioRefine Cluster Europe (www.biorefine.eu), a network of international research and development projects with a dedicated focus on guiding innovation towards applied market implementation.
As part of an extensive European programme on nutrient recycling, in the frame of Horizon Europe projects GREENHOOD and MARVELA we are recruiting a junior expert for a PhD degree at Ghent University (Belgium).
YOUR TASKS
At least 90% of your assignment will be spent on academic research in preparation of a doctoral dissertation.
Sustainable nutrient management is a key challenge for European agriculture, driven by the need to increase nutrient use efficiency while reducing environmental impacts and complying with evolving EU regulations. While the sector provides essential food and biomass, it is also responsible for approximately 11% of the EU's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) accounting for the majority of these emissions. These gases primarily originate from livestock production, manure management, fertiliser application, and agricultural soils. Despite the availability of several mitigation strategies, their large-scale implementation remains limited due to uncertainties regarding their effectiveness, a lack of practical monitoring tools, and insufficient farm-level data.
Addressing these challenges requires an integrated systems approach that combines accurate monitoring with circular nutrient management and climate-smart farming practices. This includes optimising livestock feeding to reduce enteric CH4 emissions, recovering nutrients from livestock manure as RENURE fertilisers to partially replace synthetic mineral fertilisers, and applying precision fertilisation technologies to better match nutrient supply with crop demand while minimising nutrient losses. As these innovations are increasingly adopted, there is a growing need for robust, cost-effective monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) tools that accurately quantify non-CO2 GHG emissions and related air pollutants, improve emission reporting, and support evidence-based mitigation strategies. This PhD project will contribute to the development and validation of such approaches through laboratory and field research, helping to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable, resilient and climate-neutral agricultural sector.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
- You are interested in and motivated by the research topic, as well as in obtaining a PhD degree
- You hold a Master's degree – in applied biological sciences (agriculture, environmental technology,…)
- You have experience in designing and conducting laboratory and/or field experiments related to manure management and agricultural systems.
- You have mastered the English language, both in writing skills and oral presentations
- You have basic knowledge in data analysis using R, Python, MATLAB, or equivalent software
- You have basic knowledge in GIS and digital mapping
- You have the required communicative skills to interact independently with scientific community, business community and farming community
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
- We offer you a contract of indefinite duration with a maximum term of 4 years.
- Your contract will start on 1/10/2026 at the earliest.
- Your remuneration will be determined by salary scale WM1. Click here for more information about our salary scales.
- 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 (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, a bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits.
- Being embedded in a team of young dynamic experts from academia and industry
- Involvement in a European projects (GREENHOOD and MARVELA) with research partners from all over the EU, with possibility of mobility across partner countries to visit innovative nutrient recovery processes at practical industrial scale
- An innovative and hot-topic research scope with clear practical applications
- Close supervision and guidance in the conducting of the planned research
- The possibility to develop a broad network
- Stimulation to self-improvement by encouraging participation in courses, workshops and conferences
- Career option (to be discussed with the selected candidate based on mobility/travel interests and research opportunities): for short or longer stays at partner organisations (in Europe and/or China) and the possibility to obtain Dual Degree PhD from both institutes as a result of such an exchange.
INTERESTED?
Apply online through the e-recruitment system before the application deadline (see above). We do not accept late applications or applications that are not submitted through the online system.
Your application must include the following documents:
- In the field ‘CV’: your CV (including a list of publications) and an overview of your study results (merged into one pdf file)
- In the field ‘Cover letter’: your application/motivation letter in pdf format
- In the field ‘Diploma’: a transcript of the required degree (if already in your possession). If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French or German) or English, please add a translation in one of the mentioned languages.
- In the field “other documents”: a reference letter, examples of your most represent publication for this job.
Note that the maximum file size for each field is 10 MB.
As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.
Selected candidates will be invited for an interview in the course of September with foreseen to start at the earliest convenience thereafter (based on candidate availability, but as soon as possible from our perspective).
MORE INFORMATION
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. E. Meers ([email protected], +32(0)478 78 60 98). Important: do NOT send your application by email, but apply online.
Do you have a question regarding the online application process? Please read the FAQ or contact us via [email protected].
