Postdoctoral position in Gas Fermentation
University of Tartu - Valgepea lab, Estonia
- Institution
- University of Tartu - Valgepea lab
- Country
- Estonia
- Position type
- Postdoc
- Subject area
- Biology & Life Sciences
- Application deadline
- 30 September 2026
- Salary
- €3200-3400/month (before tax), based on experience
- Location
- EE
- Funding
- Fully funded position
Want to be the strongest applicant for this position?
Book a free 15-minute call with our team. We will look at your profile against what University of Tartu - Valgepea lab is actually looking for, and tell you honestly where you stand and what to strengthen before you apply.
Book a free call about this position →No cost, no obligation. Mentors who have secured funded PhD positions themselves.
We mentor STEM applicants only. If your research aspirations are outside STEM subjects, you're very welcome to use this board and apply directly; we just aren't the right people to mentor you.
About this position
Join ValgepeaLab to advance sustainable biomanufacturing! We are seeking a creative and motivated Postdoc to lead gas fermentation experiments in two collaboration projects with local and global partners.
ABOUT THE LAB
ValgepeaLab, established in 2019 at the University of Tartu (UT), Estonia, is a leading research group in gas fermentation. Our success was recognised by an ERC Consolidator grant in 2024. We integrate gas fermentation with systems and synthetic biology to tackle global biosustainability challenges. Learn more about our cutting-edge gas fermentation facility and platforms from: Valgepea et al. 2017, Cell Systems; de Lima et al. 2022 Front Bioeng Biotech; Nwaokorie et al. 2023 Front Bioeng Biotech; Ingelman et al. 2024 New Biotech; Ingelman et al. 2025 Microb Biotechnol; Shaikh et al. 2026 ACS Sustain Chem Eng; Re et al. 2026 Nat Commun.
DUTIES
The postdoc will perform gas fermentation experiments in both bottle and bioreactor cultures to phenotype various carbon oxide (CO or CO2) fixing native and engineered microbial strains.
QUALIFICATIONS
• PhD in Biological Sciences, Chemical Engineering, or related fields
• Strong background in microbiology and quantitative analysis
SKILLS
• Microbial cultivation and bioreactor operation
• Ability to work independently and in a team
• Excellent organisational and record-keeping skills
• Strong communication skills and proficiency in English
WE OFFER
• Pioneering projects in the field of gas fermentation
• Cutting-edge facilities and international collaboration network
• Opportunities for career development
• 2-year position
• Competitive salary (€3200-3400/month before tax), based on experience
HOW TO APPLY
• Send a letter describing your motivation and skills, CV, and contact details of two referees to kaspar.valgepea@ut.ee by September 30, 2026
• Preferred start date: November-December 2026
• Work location: Institute of Bioengineering, Nooruse 1, Tartu
For more information, contact group leader Kaspar Valgepea at kaspar.valgepea@ut.ee
*A copy of a document (including its annexes) can be required from the applicant which shows the candidate to hold the required qualification (authorized translation into Estonian or English if the credential is not in one of these languages). If the candidate has acquired the higher education in question outside Estonia, he or she may be required to submit an assessment issued by the Academic Recognition Information Centre (the Estonian ENIC/NARIC) of his or her qualification in respect of the qualification requirements for the position.
Apply directly to University of Tartu - Valgepea lab
Emerging Scholars Council is not the employer and does not recruit for this position. It is advertised by University of Tartu - Valgepea lab, and your application goes to them. We help students prepare and strengthen their applications.
Go to the official application page →Applications close 30 September 2026.
Contact listed in the advert
Some positions — especially in Germany, Austria and Switzerland — are filled by writing directly to the supervisor rather than through an online form. These addresses were taken from the advert text, so check them against the official listing before you write.
A cold email to a supervisor is the highest-leverage thing you can send — and the easiest to get wrong. Ask us to look at yours before you hit send.