Current Vacancies

Munster Technological University, through CircBio will lead a new first-of-its-kind decentralised green biorefinery demonstration initiative funded under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU). “Rural BioReFarmeries” project will advance the development of farm-centred bioeconomy approaches through the deployment of green biorefineries across grassland regions of Europe.

Two primary green biorefinery and anaerobic digestion demonstration sites in Ireland and Denmark will optimise the conversion of grasses, clover and green biomass residues sourced from local farms into value-added products such as human and animal grade protein, bio-based food packaging, flavours, anti-microbials, fertiliser and energy, in collaboration with upstream research and industrial sites in Netherlands, Ireland, Denmark, and Poland.

Description of Work

This position of “Biorefinery Pilot Plant Engineer and Project Manager” is an exciting opportunity to help oversee the implementation and management of a grass biorefinery demo facility at Farm Zero C, Cork Ireland. The engineer will work closely with the MTU project team, based at Kerry (Tralee) and Cork, along with the broader Farm Zero C Team at Shinagh Farm. In the addition the engineer will collaborate closely with Irish and EU downstream partners (who will further analyse projects), industry (product end-users) and the green biorefinery demonstration plant of Aarhus University, Viborg, home to the Danish demo site. The position would suit a candidate in backgrounds such as process engineering, marine engineer (Maskin Mester), agricultural engineering, mechanical engineering, energy engineering, with experience of large scale process integration, management and maintenance.

All applications to be made online at www.mtu.ie/vacancies

Typically, industrial biomass residues, such as brewers’ grain, are preferred for their purity and homogeneity. Conversely, mixed biomass, such as agricultural and forestry residues, despite their rich carbon content and abundant availability, are usually not converted due to their heterogeneity, which complicates the conversion process. In addition, the current process of converting biomass into biopolymers involves complex steps to separate target components like cellulose and lignin, followed by chemical conversion, often leading to partial biomass valorisation. This underutilization underscores the need for improved methods to effectively handle diverse biomass sources.

Applicants should email Dr Yuanyuan Chen (Yuanyuan.chen@tus.ie) with a curriculum vitae (CV) and a short cover letter detailing their motivation for applying for the position. Academic references should also be provided. Deadline for application: open until a suitable candidate is found.