Predoctoral Researcher - Groene Chemie en Technologie (30175

Organisation/Company Ghent University Research Field Agricultural sciences » Soil science Agricultural sciences » Other Chemistry » Other Environmental science » Other Technology » Environmental technology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Final date to receive applications 15 Aug 2026 - 21:59 (UTC) Country Belgium Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon Europe Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

→Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
→Department:

BW24 - Groene Chemie en Technologie
→Occupancy rate:100%
→Number of positions:1
→Type of employment:

Contract of unlimited duration with a 4 year clause
→Term of assignment:4 jaar
→Wage scale:

WM1 to WM4 (master degree)
→Required diploma:

Master

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With 11 faculties and more than 80 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

It is home to the Bio Refine Cluster Europe ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). ), a network of international research and development projects with a dedicated focus on guiding innovation towards applied market implementation.
As part of an extensive European programme on nutrient recycling, in the frame of Horizon Europe projects GREENHOOD and MARVELA we are recruiting a junior expert for a PhD degree at Ghent University (Belgium).

YOUR TASKS

At least 90% of your assignment will be spent on academic research in preparation of a doctoral dissertation.

Sustainable nutrient management is a key challenge for European agriculture, driven by the need to increase nutrient use efficiency while reducing environmental impacts and complying with evolving EU regulations. While the sector provides essential food and biomass, it is also responsible for approximately 11% of the EU's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) accounting for the majority of these emissions.

These gases primarily originate from livestock production, manure management, fertiliser application, and agricultural soils. Despite the availability of several mitigation strategies, their large-scale implementation remains limited due to uncertainties regarding their effectiveness, a lack of practical monitoring tools, and insufficient farm-level data.
Addressing these challenges requires an integrated systems approach that combines accurate monitoring with circular nutrient management and climate-smart farming practices. This includes optimising livestock feeding to reduce enteric CH4 emissions, recovering nutrients from livestock manure as RENURE fertilisers to partially replace synthetic mineral fertilisers, and applying precision fertilisation technologies to better match nutrient supply with crop demand while minimising nutrient losses.

As these innovations are increasingly adopted, there is a growing need for robust, cost-effective monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) tools that accurately quantify non-CO2 GHG emissions and related air pollutants, improve emission reporting, and support evidence-based mitigation strategies. This PhD project will contribute to the development and validation of such approaches through laboratory and field research, helping to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable, resilient and climate-neutral agricultural sector.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• You are interested in and motivated by the research topic, as well as in obtaining a PhD degree
• You hold a Master's degree – in applied biological sciences (agriculture, environmental technology,…)
• You have experience in designing and conducting laboratory and/or field experiments related to manure management and agricultural systems.
• You have mastered the English language,…