Posted 24 June, 2026
Postdoctoral Researcher in Industrial Biotechnology/Biobased Materials Engineering
University Vacancies Ireland
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Temporary
Reference: 712185471
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the following position:
#003412 Postdoctoral Researcher in Industrial Biotechnology/Biobased Materials Engineering, 18 Month Fixed Term Contract
Dublin City University
Dublin City University is a leading innovative European University with a mission to 'transform lives and societies'. DCU ranks as one of the world's Top 350 Universities, Times Higher Education , and is proud to be Ireland's No. 1 Young University. The University is known for the 'transformative student experience' it offers, and is also recognised for its impact in addressing global challenges in collaboration with national and international stakeholders.
Research Career Framework
As part of this role the researcher will be required to participate in the DCU Research Career Framework. This framework is designed to provide significant professional development opportunities to Researchers and offer the best opportunities in terms of a wider career path.
Background & Role
Dublin City University is seeking to appoint an outstanding Postdoctoral Researcher to join the BIOFABRICATE project: Integrated Bio-based Innovations for Sustainable Manufacturing, Construction, and Pharmaceutical Applications from Irish Forest Biomass .
BIOFABRICATE is a large multi-institutional research project funded under the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Research Programme. The project brings together leading researchers and industry partners across the forestry, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, and construction sectors to develop innovative bio-based technologies and materials derived from Irish forest biomass.
The DCU team leads project work focusing on the engineering of microbial and fungal systems for the production of high-value bio-based compounds, coatings, and functional biomaterials from forestry side-streams and wood residues.
The Postdoctoral Researcher will play a central role in the development, optimisation, and scale-up of microbial bioprocesses and bio-based coating systems for engineered wood products and related sustainable material applications.
Role Profile
The successful candidate will support the design, coordination, and delivery of experimental and translational research activities associated with microbial biomanufacturing, enzyme production, fungal biomaterials, and sustainable coating technologies.
The role will involve laboratory-based biotechnology research, microbial cultivation and fermentation, biomaterial formulation, analytical characterisation, collaboration with project partners and industry stakeholders, and preparation of scientific and technical outputs.
This position is ideally suited to a researcher with strong expertise in industrial biotechnology, microbial engineering, bioprocessing, biomaterials, or related disciplines who is interested in contributing to a highly interdisciplinary project with strong sustainability and commercialisation potential. The location for this position will be in DCU Glasnevin Campus, Dublin, Ireland. The role may involve occasional national and international travel associated with project meetings, workshops, conferences, and industry engagement.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Working under the supervision of the project leads, the postholder will be responsible for:
The duties may evolve in line with project needs and the professional development of the successful candidate.
Minimum Criteria
Applicants should hold a PhD in Biotechnology, Industrial Biotechnology, Microbiology, Bioprocess Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biomaterials, Environmental Biotechnology, or a closely related discipline.
Essential Criteria
Desirable Criteria
Candidates will be assessed on the following competencies:
Discipline knowledge and Research skills - Demonstrates knowledge of a research discipline and the ability to conduct a specific programme of research within that discipline
Understanding the Research Environment - Demonstrates an awareness of the research environment (for example funding bodies) and the ability to contribute to grant applications
Communicating Research - Demonstrates the ability to communicate their research with their peers and the wider research community (for example presenting at conferences and publishing research in relevant journals) and the potential to teach and tutor students
Managing & Leadership skills - Demonstrates the potential to manage a research project including the supervision of undergraduate students
Essential Training
The postholder will be required to undertake the following essential compliance training:
Other training may need to be undertaken when required.
Salary Scale: IUA Postdoctoral Researcher Salary Scale (Point 1) €47,273
Appointment will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and in line with current Government pay policy
Closing date: Sunday, 12th July 2026
Remote Working Policy
DCU operates a Remote Working Policy. Employees may be approved for up to 2 days of remote working per week (or an appropriate pro-rata amount for those part time). Any remote working arrangement will be reflective of the predominant on-campus working environment and the core University value of 'Student Focused'.
Employees will be based on campus for the majority of their working week to ensure a sustained on campus engagement and experience. The terms of the remote working policy will apply.
For more information on DCU and benefits, please visit Why work at DCU?
Informal Enquiries in relation to this role should be directed to:
Dr Jenny Lawler, Assistant Professor, School of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University.
Email: [email protected]
Please do not send applications to this email address, instead apply as described below.
Application Instructions
Application Procedure
Please submit your application through the online system. In order to be considered for the role to which you are applying for, you must upload:
1) Curriculum Vitae
2) Cover Letter
3) Completed application form (blank forms can be downloaded from the bottom of the Vacancy).
Please note, if all items are not uploaded, the application will be deemed incomplete, and will not be processed.
Dublin City University is an equal opportunities employer.
In line with the Employment Equality Acts 1998 - 2015, the University is committed to equality of treatment for all those who engage with its recruitment, selection and appointment processes.
The University's Athena Swan Silver Award signifies the University's commitment to promoting gender equality and addressing any gender pay gaps. Information on a range of university policies aimed at creating a supportive and flexible work environment are available in the DCU Policy Starter Packs
Document
003412 Postdoctoral Researcher in Industrial Biotechnology Biobased Materials Engineering.docx 4.44 MB
Apply
#003412 Postdoctoral Researcher in Industrial Biotechnology/Biobased Materials Engineering, 18 Month Fixed Term Contract
Dublin City University
Dublin City University is a leading innovative European University with a mission to 'transform lives and societies'. DCU ranks as one of the world's Top 350 Universities, Times Higher Education , and is proud to be Ireland's No. 1 Young University. The University is known for the 'transformative student experience' it offers, and is also recognised for its impact in addressing global challenges in collaboration with national and international stakeholders.
Research Career Framework
As part of this role the researcher will be required to participate in the DCU Research Career Framework. This framework is designed to provide significant professional development opportunities to Researchers and offer the best opportunities in terms of a wider career path.
Background & Role
Dublin City University is seeking to appoint an outstanding Postdoctoral Researcher to join the BIOFABRICATE project: Integrated Bio-based Innovations for Sustainable Manufacturing, Construction, and Pharmaceutical Applications from Irish Forest Biomass .
BIOFABRICATE is a large multi-institutional research project funded under the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Research Programme. The project brings together leading researchers and industry partners across the forestry, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, and construction sectors to develop innovative bio-based technologies and materials derived from Irish forest biomass.
The DCU team leads project work focusing on the engineering of microbial and fungal systems for the production of high-value bio-based compounds, coatings, and functional biomaterials from forestry side-streams and wood residues.
The Postdoctoral Researcher will play a central role in the development, optimisation, and scale-up of microbial bioprocesses and bio-based coating systems for engineered wood products and related sustainable material applications.
Role Profile
The successful candidate will support the design, coordination, and delivery of experimental and translational research activities associated with microbial biomanufacturing, enzyme production, fungal biomaterials, and sustainable coating technologies.
The role will involve laboratory-based biotechnology research, microbial cultivation and fermentation, biomaterial formulation, analytical characterisation, collaboration with project partners and industry stakeholders, and preparation of scientific and technical outputs.
This position is ideally suited to a researcher with strong expertise in industrial biotechnology, microbial engineering, bioprocessing, biomaterials, or related disciplines who is interested in contributing to a highly interdisciplinary project with strong sustainability and commercialisation potential. The location for this position will be in DCU Glasnevin Campus, Dublin, Ireland. The role may involve occasional national and international travel associated with project meetings, workshops, conferences, and industry engagement.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Working under the supervision of the project leads, the postholder will be responsible for:
- Contributing to the planning and execution of laboratory and bioprocessing research activities associated BIOFABRICATE.
- Developing and optimising microbial and fungal cultivation systems for the production of high-value bio-based compounds including enzymes and fungal-derived materials.
- Supporting the development and characterisation of bio-based fire-retardant, antimicrobial, and moisture-resistant coating formulations.
- Undertaking laboratory-scale fermentation, downstream processing, purification, and analytical characterisation activities.
- Supporting scale-up activities and development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for bioprocesses and coating systems.
- Analysing and interpreting experimental datasets and contributing to data management and reporting activities.
- Preparing research outputs including reports, presentations, datasets, manuscripts, conference papers, and dissemination materials.
- Contributing to intellectual property development, invention disclosure documentation, and technology translation activities where appropriate.
- Collaborating with academic and industry project partners across the biotechnology, forestry, construction, and manufacturing sectors.
- Supporting the supervision and mentoring of postgraduate researchers associated with the project.
- Assisting with workshops, stakeholder engagement activities, and project dissemination events.
The duties may evolve in line with project needs and the professional development of the successful candidate.
Minimum Criteria
Applicants should hold a PhD in Biotechnology, Industrial Biotechnology, Microbiology, Bioprocess Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biomaterials, Environmental Biotechnology, or a closely related discipline.
Essential Criteria
- Strong research track record in lignocellulosic biomass valorisation, biorefinery development, compositional analysis, pretreatment, and hydrolysate generation, microbial biotechnology, fermentation, bioprocessing, or biomaterials research.
- Experience in microbial cultivation, fungal systems, enzyme production, or biomanufacturing workflows.
- Competence in process optimisation and DoE using statistical (RSM/CCD) and/or Machine Learning methods.
- Demonstrated experience in laboratory research, experimental design, and scientific data analysis.
- Experience applying TEA and life-cycle/sustainability assessment to process evaluation.
- Practical experience with materials characterisation (FTIR, TGA, DSC, XRD, SEM, HPLC/UHPLC).
- Evidence of scientific writing ability including peer-reviewed publications.
- Excellent organisational, communication, and teamwork skills.
- Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary research consortium.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience with fungal biotechnology or engineered microbial systems.
- Experience in biomaterials, polymer composites, coatings, or bio-based materials.
- Familiarity with downstream processing, analytical characterisation, or bioprocess scale-up.
- Experience working with industry collaborators or translational research projects.
- Knowledge of circular bioeconomy, sustainable materials, or forestry-related applications.
- Experience supervising MSc or PhD students.
- Awareness of IP and patent filing.
Candidates will be assessed on the following competencies:
Discipline knowledge and Research skills - Demonstrates knowledge of a research discipline and the ability to conduct a specific programme of research within that discipline
Understanding the Research Environment - Demonstrates an awareness of the research environment (for example funding bodies) and the ability to contribute to grant applications
Communicating Research - Demonstrates the ability to communicate their research with their peers and the wider research community (for example presenting at conferences and publishing research in relevant journals) and the potential to teach and tutor students
Managing & Leadership skills - Demonstrates the potential to manage a research project including the supervision of undergraduate students
Essential Training
The postholder will be required to undertake the following essential compliance training:
- Orientation
- Health & Safety
- Data Protection (GDPR)
- Cyber Security Awareness
- AI Literacy
Other training may need to be undertaken when required.
Salary Scale: IUA Postdoctoral Researcher Salary Scale (Point 1) €47,273
Appointment will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and in line with current Government pay policy
Closing date: Sunday, 12th July 2026
Remote Working Policy
DCU operates a Remote Working Policy. Employees may be approved for up to 2 days of remote working per week (or an appropriate pro-rata amount for those part time). Any remote working arrangement will be reflective of the predominant on-campus working environment and the core University value of 'Student Focused'.
Employees will be based on campus for the majority of their working week to ensure a sustained on campus engagement and experience. The terms of the remote working policy will apply.
For more information on DCU and benefits, please visit Why work at DCU?
Informal Enquiries in relation to this role should be directed to:
Dr Jenny Lawler, Assistant Professor, School of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University.
Email: [email protected]
Please do not send applications to this email address, instead apply as described below.
Application Instructions
Application Procedure
Please submit your application through the online system. In order to be considered for the role to which you are applying for, you must upload:
1) Curriculum Vitae
2) Cover Letter
3) Completed application form (blank forms can be downloaded from the bottom of the Vacancy).
Please note, if all items are not uploaded, the application will be deemed incomplete, and will not be processed.
Dublin City University is an equal opportunities employer.
In line with the Employment Equality Acts 1998 - 2015, the University is committed to equality of treatment for all those who engage with its recruitment, selection and appointment processes.
The University's Athena Swan Silver Award signifies the University's commitment to promoting gender equality and addressing any gender pay gaps. Information on a range of university policies aimed at creating a supportive and flexible work environment are available in the DCU Policy Starter Packs
Document
003412 Postdoctoral Researcher in Industrial Biotechnology Biobased Materials Engineering.docx 4.44 MB
Apply
