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The SENTRY Client Manager is tasked with interpreting and relaying the value (energy savings, increased performance, etc.) created by SENTRY sensors installed at treatment facilities to the operators of these facilities. SENTRY is a cutting-edge technology providing real time biological information to treatment plant operations for process improvement and increased consistency. We are looking for someone who is personable and client focused. The Client Manager at SENTRY Water Technologies provides technical support to clients associated with the deployment and usage of SENTRY equipment (www.sentrywatertech.com) in the water and wastewater space. This role is critical for the deployment of SENTRY systems.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Client Manager will work closely with senior technical team members (engineers and scientists) in order to accomplish the following tasks:

• Weekly interaction with water and wastewater operators. This consists of email communication with clients to collect and understand operations data to combine with SENTRY data. Periodic video conferences and phone calls with the client to explain the functionality and value of SENTRY data. The candidate may be responsible for as many as 50 separate clients.
• Required to work with primarily wastewater treatment facilities (some water/environmental monitoring). A background or interest in environmental or civil engineering, wastewater treatment, water treatment, microbiology, and/or chemistry is preferred.
• To understand the client requirements and provide easy to understand, functional reports that improve the performance and operation of wastewater treatment facilities. The candidate will be required to receive large, complex data sets and utilize statistical methods to derive graphical outputs that are used to understand biological activity. Many of these processes are automated using the computer program R, however each situation/client is unique. The candidate will be responsible for preparing and reviewing report documentation that are suitable for dissemination to specific clients and the wider water or wastewater industry.
• Employees can work from home / remote geographic regions (example Europe or South East Asia) but must have high speed internet.
• Preference will be given to employees that currently live or have plans to live in Canada (SENTRY can support immigration to Canada).

Experience Required

•  Past experience or interest in understanding the wastewater treatment process
• Background or interest in statistics, modelling and/or computer programming is a plus
• Strong personal communication and management skills is preferred.
• Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Teams is preferred
• Experience with providing customer-centered service and supporting multiple clients
• Ability to work in a team environment remotely and in an office setting
• Maintaining a positive attitude and atmosphere in the workplace is valued.
• Providing assistance with incoming/outgoing shipments.
• Experience with Python or R Software or other coding experience required

Qualifications

Degree in engineering or equivalent technical degree.

Institution contact information

Head Office is in Charlottetown, PEI, Canada

Contact email address

rpaterson@islandwatertech.com

Deadline

08-12-2020

External link

https://www.sentrywatertech.com/blog

Electro-Active is looking for a Bioelectrochemical Engineer to assist with the scale up of our microbial electrolysis system for sustaining high levels of hydrogen production from food waste. The position will lead and assist in the execution of experiments to optimize reactor operation and performance across different scales and reactor designs. The ideal candidate will have a highly successful academic record, experience in laboratory work related to microbiology/biochemical engineering, high attention to detail, and the capability to undertake independent research tasks. An interest in sustainability and next-generation renewable energy technology as well as desire to work in a dynamic, fast-pace startup environment is a plus.

JOB OVERVIEW

• Design new experiments to probe reactor systems and test a variety of conditions to optimize hydrogen production
• Execute research experiments by performing various laboratory protocols and procedures
• Prepare materials and reports on the results of experiments and progress on milestones
• Guide and train interns in the maintenance and operation of bioelectrochemical systems
• Ensure data quality and integrity of assigned experiments

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Background in microbiology, molecular biology, biochemical engineering, with experience working with bioreactor systems preferred
• Wet lab experience and knowledge of general laboratory and industrial safety and potential hazards including proper protective clothing, chemical containment and biosecurity
• Previous experience with bioelectrochemical systems including microbial fuel cells or microbial electrolysis cells is required
• DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
• Experience with scale-up of MFCs or MECs
• Prototyping and hardware development experience

EDUCATION

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in an engineering or science discipline (e.g. Bioprocess Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Engineering,).

Interested candidates please submit a resume and cover letter to aborole@electroactive.tech. Location: Knoxville, TN. Relocation package will be provided. The position will remain open until filled. Candidates with less experience may be considered for internship positions.

Institution contact information

Knoxville TN USA

Contact email address

aborole@electroactive.tech

Deadline

12-31-2020

External link

https://www.electroactive.tech

Microbial electrogenesis, i.e., the production of electricity from organic compounds such as those found in wastes or marine sediments – and microbial electrosynthesis – the electrotrophic storage of electricity into organic energy storage molecules, are two prime application goals for microbial electrochemical technologies. Recent findings illustrate the possibility of combining electrotrophy and electrogenesis in one, switchable electrode-grown biofilm. This opportunity opens new ways to combine bioelectrochemical energy storage and power generation in a single device.
What are the mechanisms of the underlying metabolic processes, and how is the electrotrophic and electrogenic metabolism coupled with the extracellular electron transfer that connects cellular processes with the electrode? Single investigation methods, such as voltammetry or spectroscopy alone, will not allow achieve sufficient information depth. In collaboration with the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC – and by using sophisticated in operando techniques, such as differential electrochemical mass spectrometry – this research project aims to study the mechanisms of such switchable biofilms.

Applications should be sent by e-mail (keyword “ONR-Project”) to Uwe Schröder (uwe.schroeder(at)tu-braunschweig.de), and must contain the following documents.

– Motivation Letter including contact information for two references
– Curriculum Vitae including complete address, phone number, email address, educational background, language skills, and work experience-
– Copies of diploma and transcript of grades in original language and in English or German translation
– Additional documents should be provided on request
– All documents should be in PDF format, preferably in a single file. Personal data and documents relating to the application process will be stored electronically. Please note that application costs cannot be refunded.

The open position is to be filled as soon as possible. The employment will be arranged by the administration of the TU Braunschweig (salary TVL E13, including health insurance, 1.5 years contract).

Institution contact information

Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany
Institute of Environmental and Sustainable Chemistry

Contact email address

uwe.schroeder@tu-braunschweig.de

Deadline

20.10.2020

External link

https://www.tu-braunschweig.de/en/oekochemie/job-offers/postdoc

The University of Bremen is offering (under the condition of job release) at the earliest possible date:

Ph.D. position in bioelectrochemical enrichment of metals
Salary group 13 TV-L (75 %), 36 months

in an interdisciplinary project at the interface of microbiology, electrochemistry and material sciences. The motivation of this PhD project is the search for new technological approaches for the extraterrestrial fabrication of metal alloys under tough environmental constraints, in particular the limitation of utilizing mineral and energy resources available in situ on Mars or Moon. More specifically, the project aims at exploring bio-based possibilities to extract iron species from regolith and enrich them as purified iron compounds. These compounds are then used in steel-making processes based on non-conventional metallurgy. In this sub project, microbial electrochemical technologies such as microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) will be used for enhanced production and selective recovery of metal ion species. Microbial communities developing in MFCs will be characterized using state-of-the-art tools such as high-throughput sequencing, metagenomics and metatranscriptomics.

Within the new research initiative in close collaboration with the Hochschule Bremen (HSB), Ph.D. students are supervised by a team of experienced scientists ranging from electrochemistry, material sciences to microbiology and biomimetics. Additional training and support are offered by international graduate Programmes within the MAPEX Center for Materials and Processes, the MarMic Graduate School and the Biomimetic-Innovation-Centre (HSB). These offers include expert as well as skills and methods courses, coaching, networking opportunities, and the opportunity to compete for internal funds. Ph.D. students have the opportunity to acquire expert knowledge in their field and a solid background across many disciplines involved in the interdisciplinary project.

Specific tasks will include:
1. Setting up and running novel microbial electrochemical enrichments
2. Characterization of metal ions and solid metal compounds by chemical and spectroscopic methods
3. Extraction and analysis of nucleic acids from bioreactor samples
4. Investigation and optimization of conversion efficiency and energy demands
5. Bioinformatic and statistical analysis of data
6. Opportunity for scientific qualification in the context of a PhD degree

Your profile:
• A completed MSc or diploma degree in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Electrochemistry, Material Sciences or a comparable program
• Interest in interdisciplinary research
• Interest in developing new methods for microbial fuel cell technology
• Skills in (bio)informatics would be advantageous
• Working in teams, visiting collaboration partners

The goal of the MAPEX is the system-oriented research and development of materials and processes for sustainable transport and energy applications. The centre merges the know-how of more than 1000 scientific and technical staff, 480 of which are doctoral candidates, active in the fields of natural and engineering sciences as well as mathematics and aiming at a thorough understanding of the process-properties-performance relationships in materials.
MarMic is the International Max-Planck-Research School (IMPRS) with a focus on marine microbiology at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology. Since its foundation in 2005 the Biomimetics-Innovation-Centre at the Hochschule Bremen has been coordinating research activities in the fields of fundamental interdisciplinary research and development.

The University of Bremen follows a diversity strategy. It strives to increase the number of women in the academy and strongly encourages applications from suitably qualified female candidates. International applications and applications of academics with a migration background are explicitly welcome. Disabled persons with the same professional and personal qualifications will be given preference. The employment is fixed-term and governed by the Act of Academic Fixed-Term Contract, §2 I (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz – WissZeitVG). Therefore, candidates may only be considered for appointment if they still have the respective qualification periods available in accordance with § 2 (1) WissZeitVG.

We look forward to receiving your e-mail application in English including CV, letter of motivation, and reference contacts!

Institution contact information

Information regarding the open PhD position can be obtained by contacting

Sven Kerzenmacher (Bioelectrochemistry; Kerzenmacher@uvt.uni-bremen.de)
Michael Friedrich (Microbiology; Michael.friedrich@uni-bremen.de)
Jan-Henning Dirks (Biomimetics; jan-henning.dirks@hs-bremen.de)

Contact email address

kerzenmacher@uni-bremen.de

Deadline

15-09-2020

External link

https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/uvt/jobs

The research activities of this fellowship will be carried out in the frame of the H2020 research project Electra “Electricity driven Low Energy and Chemical input Technology foR Accelerated bioremediation”.

The research project aims at the development of an innovative process for the electrobioremediation of sediments contaminated by polyhalogenated organic pollutants. The process is based on the use of polarized electrodes deployed in the sediment able to promote the establishment of reducing and oxidative redox conditions and to provide the anaerobic and aerobic dechlorinating microorganisms with electron donors and acceptors, either directly or indirectly through water electrolysis. This approach can represent a clean and efficient method to stimulate and control the activity of dechlorinating bacteria in contaminated environments, as it avoids the supplementation of chemicals to the contaminated matrix, and may allow to increase the selectivity and control of the process. In particular, the research activity will aim at the development of a bioelectrochemical process in which the reductive dehalogenation and oxidative degradation processes will be stimulated sequentially within the matrix in order to promote the complete degradation of the pollutant.

Research plan

The research activity will consist in:

• the set-up of H-type bioelectrochemical cells with contaminated sediment and the conduction of the process under varying operational conditions;
• the evaluation of the system performances through: (i) the monitoring of target pollutants and their dechlorination/biodegradation products, (ii) the monitoring of the physico-chemical parameters of the matrix, (iii) mass and energy balances, (iv) the monitoring of the composition and dynamics of the microbial community;
• the enrichment and isolation from the contaminated sediment of dehalogenating microbial communities and their characterization in terms of composition and biodegradative abilities towards different organohalogenated pollutants;
• the selection of the best operational parameters and the validation of the process at mesocosm scale.

As regards the training aspects, the research fellow will have the opportunity to interact, in a highly interdisciplinary environment, with researchers from different disciplines who will offer the opportunity to expand their scientific and cultural background.

Application details

For more information and the application form, see this website.

We are offering a 2-years Post-doc position in industry. The project is funded by our start-up company Algaria through research grants. It is in collaboration with the University of Milan (Italy) and other research institutions. The project focuses on electroactive biochar (material developed by us) and on some applications in the field of microbial electrochemical technologies applied to the recycling of nutrients from agri-food chains. In particular, we have a patent for an ‘electroactive artificial soil’, combined with the cultivation of Spirulina, to recover nutrients from agri-food waste. Another application is in hydroponic agriculture (with a partner company). In Algaria, we are developing the application to TRL7 of this patent for the cultivation of spirulina. The project deals also with a TRL8-pilot for the extraction of phycocyanin (food coloring) from Spirulina, at our production plant near Cremona (Italy). We are looking for a highly-skilled research profile, to be responsible for the research project with the University of Milan and at the same time become responsible for the production and R&D of Algaria. A brief overview of the projects and some publications can be found below.

Contact information

Andrea Schievano: schievanoa@gmail.com

The Institute of Environmental and Sustainable Chemistry, TU Braunschweig, Germany, is looking for an excellent Phd student to support our interdisciplinary research project “Fundamentals of canode biofilm electro-metabolism”.

Microbial electrogenesis – the electricity production from organic compounds such as those found in wastes or marine sediments – and microbial electrosynthesis – the reduction of CO2 into organic energy storage molecules, are two prime application goals for microbial electrochemical technologies. Recent findings by the team of Dr. Leonard Tender from the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC illustrate the possibility of combining electrotrophy and electrogenesis in one, switchable electrode-grown biofilm denoted as canode biofilm (cathode/anode). The canode opens new ways to combine bioelectrochemical energy storage and power generation in a single device.

But what are the mechanisms of the underlying metabolic processes, and how is the electrotrophic and electrogenic metabolism coupled with the extracellular electron transfer that connects cellular processes with the electrode? Single investigation methods, such as voltammetry or spectroscopy alone, will not allow achieve sufficient information depth. Only by combining these methods (so-called hyphenated techniques) to probe real-times changes in molecular signatures of the canode, as it switched for energy storage to power generation modes, can information down to molecular reaction mechanisms be gained. In this research project – which is carried out in collaboration with the group of Dr. Leonard Tender – we take a further step. We combine a set of state of the art hyphenated techniques in order to close this knowledge gap and acquire fundamental understanding on the thermodynamics, mechanisms and kinetics of the energy conversion and metabolism in canode biofilms.

The starting date is October 1, 2020. The employment will be arranged by the administration of the TU Braunschweig (salary TVL E13/50%, including health insurance, 3 years contract).

Applications: should be sent by e-mail to Uwe Schröder (uwe.schroeder@tu-braunschweig.de), and must contain the following documents.

Motivation Letter including contact information for two references
Curriculum Vitae including complete address, phone number, email address, educational background, language skills, and work experience
Copies of diploma and transcript of grades in original language and in English or German translation
Additional documents should be provided on request
All documents should be in PDF format, preferably in a single file. Personal data and documents relating to the application process will be stored electronically. Please note that application costs cannot be refunded.

Institution contact information

Prof. Uwe Schröder, Institute of Environmental and Sustainable Chemistry, TU Braunschweig

Contact email address

uwe.schroeder@tu-braunschweig.de

Deadline

30-08-2020

External link

https://www.tu-braunschweig.de/en/oekochemie/stellenangebote/phd