Food

Institute of Thermal Separation Processes

Organisation/Company TUHH Department Institute of Thermal Separation Processes Research Field Engineering Chemical engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 9 Dec 2026 - 23:00 (Europe/Berlin) Country Germany Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 39 Offer Starting Date 1 Mar 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Reference Number 2 Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number 101312450 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The Candidate will investigate how food-grade aerogels interact with complex food environments such as syrups, oils, emulsions, sauces and semi-solid matrices. The project will establish mechanistic structure-property-function relationships describing dynamic processes including swelling, shrinkage, liquid uptake, softening and partial disintegration, which determine aerogel performance in stabilisation, controlled release, sensory modification and shelf-life enhancement. The candidate will combine advanced experimental characterisation with multiscale modelling. Surface and bulk properties, including polarity, hydrogen bonding, rigidity, pore structure, charge, sorption kinetics and viscoelasticity, will be analysed using ATR-FTIR, NMR relaxometry, DSC/TGA, BET analysis, rheology and dynamic sorption.

Real-time changes in complex media will be studied using optical and X-ray imaging, swelling analysis, tribology and microfluidic tools. Modelling activities will include diffusion-sorption models, continuum mechanics, coarse-grained simulations and data-driven predictive approaches. The goal is to develop predictive tools and practical guidelines for selecting aerogels for specific food applications. Hosted at TU Hamburg within FAroGels, the project includes secondments at partners and projects as METU, Barilla and Aerofybers, providing complementary training in rheology, oral tribology and others

YOUR TASKS

• Conduct research on development, characterization and validation of food-grade, bio-based and biodegradable aerogels for sustainable food systems
• Plan, perform, document and analyse experimental work using relevant laboratory, analytical, processing and/or modelling methods
• Participate actively in FAroGels network meetings, workshops, training schools, seminars and transferable-skills activities
• Undertake planned secondments at FAroGels partner organisations, as specified for the DC project
• Work collaboratively with academic and non-academic partners across the FAroGels network

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Researchers recruited within the Doctoral Network must be Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) and must not have a doctoral degree. Additionaly, they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting organization (here: Germany) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before recruitment date. Doctoral candidates funded by the Doctoral Networks can be of any nationality and should be enrolled in a doctoral programme leading to the award of a doctoral degree.

YOUR PROFILE

Requirements

• Completed scientific university studies (masters degree or equivalent considerablyabove average), in particular in the subject Chemical Engineering, focus on food engineering and/or thermal separation processes is advantageous

Specific Requirements

Desired knowledge and personal skills

• Strong laboratory and analytical skills, specific analytics are among others, adsorption isotherm and surface investigations, optical –metrical measurement
• Proficiency in English (written and spoken B2/C1) is required, good skills of german language for day to day conversations is recommended
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to collaborative research activities
• Willingness for instructing and supporting undergraduate students

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

Languages GERMAN Level Basic

Research Field Engineering Chemical engineering