Bio-based Aerogels for Active & Safe Food Packaging

UNIVERSIDADE DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA; España; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Living allowance

Mobility allowance

Family allowance

Job summary

UNIVERSIDADE DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA in Spain invites applications for a First Stage Researcher (R1) position as part of the FAroGels MSCA Doctoral Network. The selected candidate will enroll as a PhD student at USC and conduct research on bio-based aerogels for sustainable food systems.

The project combines chemistry, materials science and food technology, with ample collaboration across partners. It offers laboratory-based work, international exposure, and a clear focus on safety and

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, or related field.
• Strong laboratory and analytical skills in analytical chemistry and materials analysis.
• Proficiency in English (written and spoken).

Responsibilities

• Carry out lab‑based research on bio‑based aerogels.
• Analyze data and publish findings within the network.
• Collaborate with supervisors and partner organizations.
• Enroll as a PhD student at USC per requirements.

Skills

Analytical chemistry

Laboratory skills

English proficiency

Independent researcher

Education

Master’s degree in a relevant field

Tools

GC-MS

LC-MS/MS

Job description

Organisation/Company UNIVERSIDADE DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA Department Vicerrectorado de Investigación e Ciencia Aberta Research Field Pharmacological sciences Chemistry Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 9 Dec 2026 - 00:00 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number 101312450 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

FAroGels – Food-Grade Aerogels for Sustainable Food Systems is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe. The network brings together academic and non-academic partners with complementary expertise in food science and technology, materials science, biopolymer science, biotechnology, process engineering, analytical characterization, packaging and sustainable innovation. FAroGels aims to develop, characterize and validate food-grade, bio-based and biodegradable aerogels for sustainable food systems. The network will investigate how these highly porous materials can support more efficient food processing, improved food quality and safety, nutritional and sensory functionality, protection and delivery of bioactive compounds, and sustainable packaging solutions.

Position Description

This position forms part of the FAroGels research program on food-grade, bio-based, and biodegradable aerogels and their application in sustainable food systems. The selected candidate will be employed by University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) and will be required to enroll as a PhD student at USC in accordance with the relevant admission and enrolment requirements.

The doctoral project will focus on Bio-based aerogels with integrated active and safety functionalities for food-contact packaging.

The transition towards sustainable food packaging requires innovative materials that combine bio-based composition, high functionality and demonstrated safety. DC12 will develop polysaccharide-based aerogels with integrated antioxidant and antimicrobial functionalities for direct food-contact applications, while establishing a comprehensive strategy for their safety assessment.

The project will focus on polysaccharides derivatives functionalised with polyphenolic tannins recovered from agro-industrial side streams. Unlike conventional surface-coated systems, tannins will be incorporated during the gelation process to achieve a homogeneous distribution within the aerogel network, promoting strong intermolecular interactions, high porosity and controlled release. Aerogels will be produced through sol-gel processing followed by supercritical CO₂ drying or freeze-drying, depending on the desired structural and functional properties.

The PhD candidate will investigate the relationships between composition, processing conditions, structure and functionality through a multidisciplinary characterisation approach, including morphological and structural analyses, thermal and mechanical properties, swelling behaviour, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, and stability during relevant storage and application conditions. Experimental results will be used to optimise aerogel formulations and identify the most promising materials for food-contact applications.

A central challenge will be to demonstrate that enhanced functionality does not compromise food-contact safety. The candidate will therefore develop and apply analytical strategies for the identification and quantification of potential migrants and transformation products using GC‑MS and LC‑MS/MS, complemented by migration testing under relevant food‑contact conditions. The project will further integrate dietary exposure assessment and in‑silico toxicological approaches to support the safety evaluation of the developed materials according to the EU regulatory framework for food contact materials.

The research will contribute to FAroGels by linking bio‑based aerogel design, active functionality and safety‑by‑design, supporting the development of sustainable and safe next‑generation food‑contact materials.

• The position will involve laboratory‑based research, data analysis, scientific communication and close collaboration with other FAroGels Doctoral Candidates, supervisors and partner organizations.
• Educational Background: Master’s degree (or equivalent) in relevant field, e.g., pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, materials science, food science and technology, chemical engineering, biochemistry or biotechnology.
• Skills: Strong laboratory and analytical skills in analytical chemistry and food and materials analysis and characterization.
• Languages: Proficiency in English (written and spoken) is required.
• Strong motivation to pursue doctoral research in an international and interdisciplinary environment.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to collaborative research activities.
• Good organization, communication and problem‑solving skills.
• Willingness to travel for planned secondments, network meetings and training activities.
• Commitment to responsible research conduct, inclusion, collegiality and professional development.

This position is funded by the FAroGels MSCA Doctoral Network (HORIZON‑MSCA‑2025‑DN‑01‑01, Grant Agreement No. 101312450). The salary is based on the following monthly MSCA allowances:

• Living allowance: EUR 4,010, adjusted by the country correction coefficient of the country of the recruiting organisation to ensure equal treatment and comparable purchasing power for all researchers.
• Mobility allowance: EUR 710, contributing to mobility‑related costs such as relocation and travel.
• Family allowance (if applicable): EUR 660, paid for the months in which the Doctoral Candidate has a family during the project, including where family obligations arise after recruitment. ‘Family’ means persons linked to the researcher by marriage (or a relationship with equivalent status recognised by the legislation of the country where it was formalised) or dependent children actually being maintained by the researcher. The allowance is paid in accordance with the rules of the recruiting organisation, and supporting documents may be requested.

Eligibility criteria

Applicants of any nationality are welcome to apply. At the date of recruitment, applicants must meet the following MSCA Doctoral Network requirements:

• Doctoral candidate status: Applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree. Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet been formally awarded the doctoral degree are not eligible.
• Mobility rule: Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention or EU temporary protection are not taken into account. Compliance is verified before the start of employment, on the basis of the candidate’s passport and, where necessary, other documents.
• PhD enrolment: Doctoral Candidates must be enrolled in a doctoral programme leading to the award of a doctoral degree in at least one EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. For this position, this is the doctoral programme at USC; applicants must therefore meet its admission requirements.
• Visa and residence permit: a visa or residence/work permit is not required at the application stage and is not a selection criterion. Where needed, it will be arranged after selection and before the start of employment, with the support of the recruiting organisation. Candidates from non‑EU countries are equally welcome to apply.

Selection process

FAroGels follows an open, transparent and merit‑based recruitment process in line with the European Charter for Researchers:

• Eligibility check by the FAroGels Project Manager.
• Evaluation of the eligible applications by an Interview Committee (primary supervisor, co‑supervisor(s) and a representative of a non‑academic partner) with a standardised scoring matrix; the three to five best‑ranked candidates are shortlisted.
• Online interview with the shortlisted candidates.
• Approval of the selection by the FAroGels Supervisory Board, after which an offer is made.

All applicants are informed of the outcome and receive feedback on request.

Indicative timeline