Circular Biotechnology & Biomanufacturing Scientific (Biosolids Valorisation)

Please apply through Upwork only — we will not respond to applications or contact made outside Upwork. Job Description: We are a partner organisation in an EU-funded consortium preparing a research proposal in the field of circular bioeconomy and biotechnology, specifically around biosolids/biosolid-derived resource valorisation, synthetic and molecular biology, metabolic engineering, microbiome applications, and biofoundry approaches (TRL 4–5). The consortium already has strong grant-writing and proposal-management expertise — what we’re missing is a subject-matter expert in the actual science. We need someone who knows this field deeply and can guide us in drafting and finalising the research methodology from the ground up — not review something we’ve already finished, but help us build it properly. What we need: • Hands-on guidance in developing our research methodology from a scientific/technical standpoint — study design, validation methods, experimental/pilot logic • Expert input on the right approach to biosolids/bio-based resource valorisation, biomanufacturing, and related processes at the TRL 4–5 stage • Iterative collaboration as we draft — flagging where our thinking is off track and helping us shape it into a methodologically sound, technically feasible approach • Optionally: guidance on how the demonstrator/pilot design should connect to the methodology Ideal experience: • Academic or applied research background in biotechnology, biomanufacturing, synthetic/molecular biology, metabolic engineering, microbiome science, or circular bioeconomy/resource recovery • Direct hands-on experience with biosolids valorisation, waste-to-resource biotechnology, or closely related processes • Comfortable working collaboratively to help shape a methodology, not just providing after-the-fact critique • Horizon Europe proposal experience is a nice-to-have, not required — we already have that covered internally Scope: Short-term advisory engagement — ongoing collaborative input while we draft the methodology (written guidance and/or calls), not a one-off review, and not full proposal writing.