Offer: Stage- Internships process/ R&D at biotech pilot plant

Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant
BE - Flanders - Ghent
January 18, 2025
Management

Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant was founded in 2008 and currently employs more than 160 staff members. It is a unique and open innovation pilot and demonstration facility for process development, scale-up and custom manufacturing of biobased products and processes from lab to multi ton scale. A wide and flexible spectrum of modular unit operations combined with a team of highly trained and experienced engineers and bioprocess technicians facilitates the translation of biobased laboratory processes into viable industrial processes.
To date, Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant has successfully performed 500+ projects on a bilateral basis with 200+ companies from all over the world. It was/is also involved in more than 50 consortium-based public projects.
Below is a list of topics for which we have internship vacancies. TOPIC 1
Capturing biogenic CO₂ into biobased intermediates through gas fermentation
Available from September 2025
This project will focus on producing acetic acid via gas fermentation on syngas or H2/CO2, using biogenic CO2. It will involve fundamental research to understand the workings of the organisms and the process. Based on this research, the process will be scaled to 1 L in four parallel gas fermenters at Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant. The process will be further intensified by means of cell recycle and the use of elevated pressures, aiming to improve the acetic acid productivity. As a final part, the downstream processing of acetic acid will be investigated to ensure that the stream can be used as a valuable carbon source for other liquid fermentation processes.
This project is framed within the EU-funded projects CAPTUS and FUELPHORIA, which focus on the transformation of biogenic CO2 into biochemicals and fuels in a truly renewable manner.
TOPIC 2
Fermentation development to convert 2G feedstocks into acetic acid with 100% carbon conversion efficiency
Available from July 2025
The first goal of this project is to evaluate the performance of various acetogenic strains on 2G sugars. Then, the best performing strains will be cultivated on synthetic and real 2G hydrolysates. Analytical procedures such as HPLC and HPAEC will be used to follow up on the process. This process will next be studied in gas bioreactors and optimized in terms of carbon efficiency and productivity.
TOPIC 3
Intensified production of microbial oil (TAG) from CO₂-based acetic acid
Available from January 2025
The objectives of this internship project include:
Process development and optimization: Investigate the performance of oleaginous microorganisms capable of converting CO₂-based acetic acid into TAGs.
Process intensification: Design and implement advanced strategies such as fed-batch, high-cell-density cultivation, or continuous cultivation with tailored cell recycling systems.
Scale-up: Perform experiments at different scales, starting from laboratory-scale bioreactors and progressing to a 30 L stainless steel bioreactor.
TOPIC 4
Development and scale-up of sustainable downstream processing strategies for SAF precursors
Available from April 2025
The specific objectives of this internship position include:
Development of Sustainable DSP Strategies.
Evaluation of Technologies and Process Conditions.
Benchmarking Green Solvents.
Solvent Recycling for Process Intensification.
TOPIC 5
Hybrid process development for upcycling mixed plastic waste into high-value dicarboxylic acids
This internship focuses on upcycling plastic waste into DCAs using a yeast-based fermentation platform. Key tasks include:
Fermentation Process Development.
Biphasic Fermentation.
Process Integration and Scale-Up.
TOPIC 6
Production of sustainable microbial proteins within a seaweed biorefinery
Available from March 2025
This internship project aims to explore and develop biotechnological strategies for seaweed and seaweed residues in a zero-waste biorefinery approach.
TOPIC 7
This research project will focus on the sustainable production and use of enzymes that can depolymerise plastic wastes.
TOPIC 8
Development and scale-up of the fermentation and downstream processing to produce protein nanofibrils, a precursor for sustainable textile materials
A novel class of protein nanofibrils was discovered, showing promising properties regarding chemical and tensile durability.
Which student profile do we require? Requirements are:
You are studying for a degree in bio-engineering or related (bioprocessing, chemistry, biotechnology, cell- and gene technology) for the master internship.
You are studying for a bachelor degree (agro- en biotechnologie of voeding- en dieetkunde) for the bachelor internship.
Some experience with bacterial, yeast or fungal hosts is an asset.
Some relevant experience with biocatalytic processes for the production of chemicals, food ingredients or cosmetics is an asset.
The duration of your internship is at least 6 months.
What do we offer? We offer a dynamic, international and young working environment and a full learning experience. You are based at the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, situated in the port of Ghent in Belgium.
The internship runs for a minimum of 6 months fulltime to preferably a whole academy year fulltime.
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Read the full job description and apply online on the recuiter's web-site

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