The Hydrofinery project at the Institute of Environmental Biotechnology focusses on the production of next generation biofuels from CO2 and H2 from surplus wind- and solar power as alternative energy storage forms.
Aim of the work is to produce methane and butanol from CO2 and H2 or acetate using specialized organisms. It shall be investigated how ABE fermentation can be directed to yield the desired products.

Your duties:
-) anaerobic cultivation of Clostridia and methanogenic Archaea
-) fermentation of gaseous substrates and directed Aceton-Butanol-Ethanol (ABE) fermentation
-) evaluating substrate conversion rates/ productivity/ max. product concentration

Lab work will be done at IFA-Tulln (20 min from U4 Heiligenstadt) and will start february 2016 for approx. 6 months; financial support will be provided

Background in microbiology / biotechnology / environmental science is desired; ability to work independently is essential