Energy and Environment Fusion Technology Center (E2FTC) is currently seeking for postdoctoral fellows in the field of BIOTECHNOLOGY and METABOLIC ENGINEERING

Research will be focused on the Biorefinery production of specialty chemicals using recombinant yeast from diverse carbohydrates. We do not welcome applicants specializing in fermentation technology.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. degree in Biochemical/Biological/Metabolic engineering, Biotechnology, or Synthetic Biology, or any related field
• At least 2 years of experience on the field of metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, or biotechnology, or other biotechnology-related work is preferred
• A good publication record in SCI journals is required
• Ability to work as part of a inter-disciplinary research team and to guide/work with Ph.D. students
• Capable of working independently in carrying out experiments, make proposals, and working with graduate students

Application Materials Required
Interested applicants are required to submit the following:

• Cover letter (including contact information)
• Curriculum vitae including list of publications, research activities, and courses taught (if any)
• At least three (3) pdf files of your best and relevant publications

Salary and other benefits

Postdoctoral position will start immediately. The salary will be KRW 30,000,000 per year and may vary based on the candidate's qualifications

Additional information for postdoctoral positions

1. The appointment is for one (1) year and will be extended further up to two (2) or three(3) based on the accomplishments.
2. We offer a competitive salary, which will be determined based on candidate’s qualifications.
3. The contract will cover a national medical insurance plan.
4. The offered position is funded by the University Key Research Center program of Korean Ministry of Education and Science
5. At least 2 accepted papers every year is preferred for successful applicants.
6. Dormitory housing or off campus housing is available
7. One way economy class airfare to Korea for relocation will be reimbursed.

Starting date:The successful candidate will be requested to start by March 1, 2014.

Additional Requirements after initial screening

1. contact information of 2 references included in the CV
2. Pdf files of transcripts for BS, MS, Ph D
3. Pdf file of Ph D certificate
4. Pdf file of official current job employment certificate
5. Passport size photo
6. Autobiography including your personal character and other things
7. Research plan less than 5 pages with a topic of biorefinery production using recombinant yeast

Application Procedure
Applications should be sent to Professor Wook-Jin Chung by January 31, 2014, either by email or by post.

Professor Wook-Jin Chung
Director of Energy and Environment Fusion Technology Center (E2FTC)
Department of Energy and Biotechnology(DEB, graduate program)
Department of Environmental Engineering and Energy(undergraduate program)
Engineering building 2, room 8805
Myongji University
San 38-2, Nam-dong, Cheoin-gu, Yongin
Gyeonggido, 449-728, Republic of Korea
E-mail: wjchung1001@gmail.com
Office phone number:82-31-337-2901(O)

Successful candidates will be contacted by Professor Wook-Jin Chung

About Myongji University

With a diverse history spanning over sixty years, Myongji University founded in 1948 has evolved into a leading academic institution of higher learning, admirably living up to its founding spirit of ‘Love, Truth, and Service.’ Encompassed in a picturesque and natural setting, our vibrant and eminent faculty, cutting edge education and research, and our internationalized student body have played an essential role in bringing forth competent intellectuals.

Myongji University is comprised of two campuses. Our Seoul Campus is located minutes away from the economic, political, and cultural centers of Seoul’s metropolitan downtown. An hour drive away in Yongin, enshrouded in a beautiful and natural setting is our Yongin Campus. Our E2FTC research center and the Department of Energy and Biotechnology (DEB) are located in Yongin Campus.

DEB includes 11 Faculty members and 60 graduate students (50% are foreign graduate students). The DEB and E2FTC have have state-of-the-art research facility and equipments (e.g. fermentors, anaerobic gas chambers, gas permeation equipment, coating machine, pervaporation unit, FTIR, TGA, GC-MS, LC-MS, ICP-MS, Pilot fermenter, spinning process, GC, HPLC, IC, PCR and molecular biology related equipments).

We are expanding our graduate program of Energy Science and Technology which was opened on March 1, 2010 with a cooperation of E2FTC and Graduate program of Environmental Technology.

In Professor Chung’s Lab, more than 10 international papers are being published every year. We have 12 Ph.D. graduate students, 3 postdoctoral research fellows, and 2 private researchers. Right now, his lab is dealing with bioenergy-related projects: biomass pretreatment by ionic liquid and nano catalyst for alcohol production, metabolic engineering work to produce valuable compounds (polyalcohol, isobutanol, propnaediol, butanediol and monomers of biopolymer), and fermentation and production of butanol and butanol recovery. Other works include chemical conversion of carbohydrates to HMF and other intermediate compounds, and also synthesis of mixed matrix membrane, liquid supported pervaporation membrane and ionic liquid supported membrane for the recovery of alcohol. …