Post-Doctoral Researcher Environmental Research Institute ERI/The Research Ireland Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine MaREI/Circular Economy Energy and Environmental Systems Research Group CEEES
12 Months, Fixed-Term, Whole-Time Post
Position Summary
Research background and concept:
The production of protein from alternative sources including by-products from the food and beverage sector, as well as non-agriculture linked sources has the potential to revolutionise global food production. Integration of these novel protein production processes into a circular bioeconomy polygeneration system can enhance the sustainability of protein production. A successful polygeneration system centred around the protein production process depends on understanding how individual processes and systems can interact with one another in a symbiotic manner. This project aims to develop a decision support framework to aid in the identification and comparison of circular bioeconomy polygeneration systems which integrate the alternative the protein production process with other processes, technologies, and systems in the surrounding region.
This project aims to provide an overview of potential technologies that may be integrated with the alternative protein production process, identify their input and output materials, combine these technologies and processes in a collection of potential polygeneration system topologies, identify suitable topologies for detailed modelling, and collect data to enable future comparison of the modelled polygeneration systems with regards to the three core elements of sustainability across environmental, economic, and social performance. The framework outlined above could be applied to a test site under development in order to inform both site development, and the development of the framework itself as a means of providing decision support to future potential sites.
MaREI, the Research Ireland Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine
MaREI is a key research centre within UCC’s Environmental Research Institute (ERI), which is an internationally recognised Institute for environmental research dedicated to the understanding and protection of our natural environment and to developing innovative technologies, tools, and services to facilitate a transformation to a zero carbon and resource efficient society. The MaREI Centre is an Research Ireland funded research centre headquartered in the ERI and includes 13 other Universities and Third Level Institutes from across Ireland, has 82 industrial partners, and has accumulated research funding of approximately €60m. It combines the expertise of a wide range of research groups and industry partners, with the shared mission of solving the main scientific, technical, and socio-economic challenges across the climate, energy, and marine spaces. MaREI is also funded by SEAI, EI, EPA, ERDF, EU, HEA, Marine Institute, DCCAE and IRC, as well as through contributions from our industry partners. Researchers in the MaREI Centre have over 30 years of experience in conducting fundamental and applied research supported by competitively won national and international funding, and commercial contracts with government agencies and industry. MaREI’s strengths lie in the multi-disciplinary nature of its research teams, allowing it to combine insights across areas such as MRE Technologies, Materials & Structures, Observations & Operations, Coastal & Marine Systems, Bioenergy, Energy Policy & Modelling and Renewable Energy Management.
Circular Economy Energy and Environmental Systems Research Group (CEEES)
CEEES was initiated in the ERI in 2007 by Prof Jerry D Murphy. CEEES focus on renewable gaseous biofuel production (biohydrogen and biomethane) from substrates such as wastes, agricultural residues and lignocellulosic energy crops, macro-algae (seaweed) and micro-algae. Research covers biological and thermochemical bioenergy pathways. The group investigates a range of anaerobic digestion applications at lab scale including for innovative technologies such as Power to X, demand driven biogas, novel biogas upgrading technologies and bioeconomy and biorefinery applications. Fundamental and applied aspects of biomass gasification, pyrolysis, and methanation are also investigated. Work includes for desktop analyses such as chemical kinetic modelling, process simulation, geographic specific bioresources, Life Cycle Analysis, sustainability analyses, techno-economic studies, and multi criteria decision analysis.
Achievement of the expected progression within Post Doc and Senior Post Doc is transferable between the Irish HEI’s. This can be reflected in the starting pay of a PD researcher. Similarly, as the PD scheme is an intergenerational training scheme completion of PD1 or PD 2 levels in one HEI will normally render that researcher ineligible for appointment at a similar level in another Irish HEI Researcher Career Development Framework | Irish Universities Association
Project Title: Poly Generation Systems and Alternative Protein Production
Post Duration: 12 Months
Salary: €45,847 - €52,339 p.a. IUA PD1 Scale
For an information package including further details of the post see https://ore.ucc.ie/
Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Dr Richard O’Shea, Lecturer in Sustainability in Enterprise, School of Engineering and Architecture, Tel: + 353 (0) 21 4901971/085 2786568 Email: richard.oshea@ucc.ie or to Dr Archishman Bose, Eli Lilly Lecturer in Process and Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering and Architecture, Tel: +353 (0) 21 490 3687/ 085 7255565 Email: archishman.bose@ucc.ie
Applications must be submitted online via the University College Cork vacancy portal https://ore.ucc.ie/ Queries relating to the online application process should be referred to recruitment@ucc.ie quoting the job-title and project name.
Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12 noon (Irish Local Time) on Friday 27th June 2025.
No late applications will be accepted.
Please note that an appointment to posts advertised will be dependent on University approval, together with the terms of the employment control framework for the higher education sector.
UCC is committed to creating and fully embracing an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated. As a University we strive to create a workplace that reflects the diversity of our student population where people from a wide variety of backgrounds learn from one another, share ideas, and work collaboratively. UCC is committed to being an employer that recognises the value of diversity amongst its staff. We encourage applicants to consult our policies at https://www.ucc.ie/en/edi/policies and initiatives at https://www.ucc.ie/en/edi/implementation and we welcome applications of everyone, including those who are underrepresented in the protected characteristics set out in our Equal Opportunities & Diversity Policy.
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