Master Thesis

As a leading research institution for microbial biotechnology the Institute of Bio
- and Geosciences - Biotechnology (IBG-1) focuses on the development of biotechnological processes for the sustainable bio-based production of pharmaceutical and chemical products. We investigate how microorganisms and isolated enzymes can be used to produce a variety of products from renewable raw materials. IBG-1 is a leading institution in process development for industrial biotechnology with increasingly miniaturized and automated experiments. The institute provides an excellent infrastructure for parallelized lab robotic experiments on microtiter plates. Various analytical methods are available for online and at-line measurements. These are combined with advanced digital technologies for data analysis, modeling, experimental design and process optimization. Chromatography is widely used in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry as a downstream process for separating target molecules from fermentation broth or natural sources.

**Your Job**:
Membrane separations play a pivotal role in the downstream processing of biopharmaceutical products, enabling the efficient separation and purification of target compounds from complex mixtures. This master thesis aims to explore and develop advanced models for membrane separations, taking into account various operating modes, the impact of different physicochemical effects, and the implementation of a comprehensive modelling toolbox.

Your tasks will include:

- Integration of the developed models into the CADET software, expanding its capabilities to encompass membrane separations.
- Verification and validation of the integrated models using experimental data and comparison with existing models.

We are currently expanding the capabilities of the CADET software to include other unit operations, allowing for integrated process modeling that considers the interactions and optimization of multiple separation techniques. Our team brings extensive expertise in modeling and state-of-the-art numerical methods, as well as parameter estimation and process optimization techniques.

**Your Profile**:

- You are currently pursuing a master's degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics
- Expertise in downstream processing
- Programming skills, preferably in Python and/or C++
- Knowledge in parameter estimation and optimization
- A self-motivated and independent style of working

**Our Offer**:
We work on highly relevant innovative topics and offer you the possibility to actively shape the change.

You will learn:

- In-depth understanding of membrane separations and their operating modes and effects.
- Integration of membrane separation models into process simulation software.
- Parameter estimation and optimization techniques for model calibration.
- Independent research skills and problem-solving in the context of membrane separations.
- Best practices of research software engineering, including version control, documentation, testing, code review, and software sustainability.

We support you with:

- An interesting and socially relevant topic for your thesis with future-oriented themes
- Ideal conditions for gaining practical experience alongside your studies
- An interdisciplinary collaboration on projects in an international, committed and collegial team
- Excellent technical equipment and the newest technology
- Qualified support through your scientific colleagues
- The chance to independently prepare and work on your tasks
- Flexible working hours as well as a reasonable remuneration
- A large research campus with green spaces, offering the best possible means for networking with colleagues and pursuing sports alongside work