Newly discovered · posting date unknown · Found via Official
Doctoral Candidate DC5 (MSCA FAroGels): Aerogel-based selective adsorption of anti-nutritional factors in plant proteins
METU in Ankara is hiring a doctoral candidate to design food-grade biopolymer aerogels that remove anti-nutritional factors (tannins, phytates, protease inhibitors) from legume and oilseed proteins under mild conditions. The PhD is in METU's Food Engineering, Biotechnology or Biochemistry graduate programme.
- Country
- TR
- Experience
- Experience not specified
- Salary / stipend
- MSCA allowances per month (total employment cost before deductions): living EUR 2,586.45 +
- Apply by
- 09 Dec 2026
- Job type
- Full-time
- Work mode
- On-site
- Function
- Research
- Openings
- 1
Contact for this vacancy
This notice lists 1 email and 0 phone numbers to apply or ask about the role.
Sign up free to see contact detailsWho can apply
Master's degree in food engineering, food science and technology, chemistry, chemical engineering, biotechnology or materials science
Review the original notice to confirm the requirements. Related degrees are not automatically equivalent; the recruiting organisation decides eligibility.
What you’ll do
- Produce biopolymer aerogels with tailored pore structure and surface chemistry by hydrogel structuring and supercritical CO2 drying
- Characterise microstructure, hydration and surface functionality, including TD-NMR and MRI
- Run adsorption trials with purified anti-nutritional factors and ANF-rich plant extracts
- Quantify adsorption capacity, selectivity and regeneration using HPLC and LC-MS/MS
- Translate results into design rules for plant-protein processing
- Take part in FAroGels network meetings, training schools and planned secondments at partner organisations
- Prepare reports, deliverables, presentations and publications
What the employer asks for
- Master's degree (or equivalent) in food engineering, food science and technology, chemistry, chemical engineering, biotechnology, materials science or a related field
- Strong lab skills in biopolymer/hydrogel processing and physicochemical characterisation (BET, SEM, FTIR, rheology)
- Chromatographic analysis experience (HPLC, LC-MS/MS)
- Supercritical CO2 drying or TD-NMR/MRI experience is an asset
- Must not already hold a doctoral degree (MSCA Doctoral Network rule)
- Mobility rule: must not have lived or worked mainly in Türkiye for more than 12 months in the 36 months before recruitment
- Fluent written and spoken English
- Willing to travel for secondments, network meetings and training schools
- Able to work independently and in an international team
Selection process
- Eligibility check and pre-selection of applications
- Interviews (planned January 2027)
- Final evaluation and outcome (February 2027)
Documents to keep ready
- Detailed CV with countries of residence, study and work for the last 36 months
- Motivation letter
- Bachelor's and Master's diplomas and transcripts (or proof the Master's will be finished before recruitment)
- Contact details of two referees and reference letters
- Proof of English proficiency if required
- MSCA eligibility declaration and passport or ID copy
Pay, benefits and perks
- Full-time 36-month employment contract with social-security coverage
- MSCA living, mobility and (if applicable) family allowances
- Personal Career Development Plan
- Structured doctoral training and transferable-skills courses
- Planned secondments at academic and industry partners
- Visa support after selection for non-EU candidates
About the employer
FAroGels is a Horizon Europe Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (grant 101312450) developing food-grade, bio-based aerogels for sustainable food systems. Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara coordinates the FAroGels network through its Department of Food Engineering.
How to apply
Apply by email to farogels@metu.edu.tr.
Applications close 9 December 2026, 23:59 CET
Skills for this role
What employers ask for in Research (JRF / SRF / PhD / Postdoc) roles. named in this notice
- HPLC
- LC-MS/MS
- BET
- SEM
- FTIR
- Rheology
- Supercritical CO2 drying
- TD-NMR / MRI
- PhD
- Junior Research Fellow
- JRF
- Senior Research Fellow
- SRF
- Postdoctoral
- Research Associate
- Food Technology research
Prepare for the interview
Questions commonly asked for Research (JRF / SRF / PhD / Postdoc) roles. Practise answers with an example and a number.
- Summarise your dissertation or main research project in two minutes for a non-specialist panel.
- Why this group or lab, and how does your experience fit the project described in the call?
- How did you design your experiments and choose the statistical analysis?
- Which analytical techniques have you used hands-on, and what were their limitations?
- What would be the first three months of work on this project if you were selected?
- Tell us about a result that did not work and what you did next.
Before you apply
- Read the original notice end to endDates, eligibility and the application route are decided by the employer, not by FSD.
- Tailor your resume to this vacancyMatch the keywords in the requirements. Resume Studio shows what is missing.
- Prepare a short research statementOne page on your project experience and why this group or call fits.
- Line up refereesMost calls ask for two or three referees; tell them in advance.
- Check the funding termsFellowship amount, duration, HRA and eligibility (NET / GATE) differ between calls.
Source & editorial check
Apply via the FAroGels online form at farogels.eu/apply. Network contact: farogels@metu.edu.tr. Fixed-term 36-month full-time employment contract; expected start March 2027 at the earliest. Applicants of any nationality may apply.
Original posting: Date not stated
Checked 2026-11-05 · Updated 2026-11-05
Sign up free to open the original notice and the apply link.
