PhD scholarship within Bioprocess Engineering - Deadline: Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Build AI digital twins for real-time fermentation control and drive the future of biotech

PhD scholarship within Bioprocess Engineering

The PhD position is for a period of 3 years, with a desired start date of 1st of October 2026.

The PhD position is part of the research project "fermentAtIon: AI controlled fermentation for microbial lipid production " funded by the Research Council of Norway. This highly innovative project aims to develop a fully AI driven digital twin that enables real-time optimization and control of fermentation processes. The candidate will develop the digital twin for microbial lipid fermentations by integrating data from online spectroscopy, standard bioreactor sensors, and lab-scale bioreactor experiments across various oleaginous microorganisms. The candidate will build and benchmark chemometric and physics-informed machine learning models to monitor, forecast, and ultimately control critical process parameters, implanting these models in advanced control frameworks to optimize performance.

• Investigate knowledge-driven, data-driven, and hybrid approaches for modeling fermentation processes based on spectral and other sensor data and utilizing a wide range of techniques such as mechanistic, chemometric, deep learning, and physics-aware models.
• Improve robustness and reliability of the developed methods for deploying AI models in real environments utilizing augmentation, transfer learning, uncertainty quantification and anomaly detection techniques.
• Design, evaluate and test automated control strategies (MPC, model-based and model-free RL) for optimal feeding and harvesting in the fermentation process.
• Participate in the development of a comprehensive digital twin for monitoring, prediction, and control of fermentation processes.
• Work cooperatively and constructively within the project team and collaborate with other project partners.

Secondary tasks

In addition to the main tasks listed above, during the project, the candidate is expected to learn and carry out the following activities to collect the experimental data necessary for model development:

• Lab-scale fermentation experiments at various scales and with different setups (batch, fed-batch, and continuous modes).
• Online vibrational spectroscopy measurements (such as Raman and FTIR).
• Infrared microscopy imaging of individual microbial cells.
• Reference analyses of the bioprocess samples with standard analytical techniques (such as HPLC and GC) on various samples collected during the fermentation experiments.
• Chemometric analyses of the obtained data.

NMBU

Competence

Required qualifications

• A Master's degree or equivalent in Bioprocess Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering,
  Systems/Control Engineering, Applied Biotechnology or a related field. Foreign degrees must correspond with
  the admission criteria for the PhD program . Candidates submitting M.Sc. thesis within 30. August 2026 may be considered.
  
• In the Master’s degree, both the average grade point and the Master’s thesis, must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system. Applicants who have recently graduated with excellent results may be given preference.
  
• Proficiency in both written and oral English in correspondence with the admission criteria for the PhD program.
• Documented knowledge and experience in process modelling and process kinetics (such as mass/energy balances and reaction rate modelling, growth models, parameter estimation and model validation).
• Documented knowledge and experience in data analysis and scientific computing (such as proficiency in
• Python/R/MATLAB, data visualization, machine learning, and statistics for bioprocesses).
• Personal suitability and motivation for the position.

Qualifications considered an advantage

• Documented knowledge and experience in machine learning, deep learning, and control (such as CNNs, RNNs/LSTMs, autoencoders, physics-informed neural networks, anomaly/outlier detection, uncertainty quantification, model predictive control).
• Documented knowledge and experience in vibrational spectroscopy and chemometrics (such as practical experience with Raman/infrared spectroscopies, spectral pre-processing and chemometrics for spectroscopic data).
• Documented knowledge and experience in analytical chemistry for fermentation products (such as sample preparation and measurement with HPLC and GC of microbial metabolites).
• Documented knowledge and experience in microbiology (such as working with bacteria/yeasts/microalgae in sterile conditions, safe lab practice).
• Documented knowledge and experience in bioprocess and fermentation operations (such as operation of lab scale bioreactors, experience with batch/fed-batch cultivations).
• Good time management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
• Good collaboration skills and an ability to join interdisciplinary academic communities.
• Good written and verbal communication skills for effective presentation of research findings.

Remuneration and further information

Salary in position as PhD Research Fellow, position code 1017, 550 800 NOK. For exceptionally well qualified candidates a higher salary may be considered.

By applying, the candidate confirms that information and documentation submitted via the job application may also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process to the PhD program. Admission to a PhD program is a prerequisite for appointment to the PhD position.

For professional and social interactions, the candidate is expected to be physically present at NMBU on a daily basis.

For further information, please contact Boris Zimmermann, Ph.D, phone: , (e-mail: ).

Application Deadline:

Your CV must be entered in Jobbnorge's CV form and not just included as an attachment. This is in order to be able to
comply with the regulations to the Public Administration Act §15.

Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged. Applicants invited for an interview are expected to
present original diplomas and certificates.

The following documents must be attached to the application:

• CV
• Certified copies of relevant academic diplomas and certificates. (i.e. Diploma, transcript. Diploma supplement for both bachelor and master). Diplomas, transcripts and diploma supplements that are not in Norwegian or English must be uploaded in the original language. An English translation of these documents must also be attached.
• Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement, or a similar document, which describes in detail the study program and grading system.
• Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge (for example, list of scientific works). If it is difficult to judge the applicant’s contribution for publications with multiple authors, a short description of the applicant’s contribution must be included.

About The Faculty of Science and Technology

The Faculty of Science and Technology (REALTEK) develops research-based knowledge and educates civil engineers and lecturers needed to reach the UN's sustainability goals. We have approximately 150 employees, 70 PhD students and soon 1500 students. The education and research at REALTEK cover a broad spectrum of disciplines.

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