The MELiSSA Pilot Plant is an external laboratory of the European Space Agency located at the Campus of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. The MELiSSA Pilot Plant is part of the MELiSSA Consortium, and represents a unique facility in Europe for the demonstration and integration of regenerative life support technologies in Space.
The MELiSSA (Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative) project aims to develop a regenerative live support system for long-term crewed mission in Space, such a base on the Moon or Mars. The basic functions for life support include the regeneration of the atmosphere for respiration, water recycling and edible material production. To gain in self-sustainability and reduced Earth dependance, the system should as well use the wastes generated by the crew as resources. Regenerative life support systems are part of the technology agenda to make human life in Space possible.
MELiSSA approach to life support system is inspired from an Earth ecological system. Based on analyzing the main biological functions in the system, it is proposing a structure based on five compartments, each one of them performing a specific function within the complete system, colonized by specific microorganisms, while connected one to each other. The MELiSSA Pilot Plant is the site of demonstration and integration of technologies to build the MELiSSA loop. It has all the compartments of the system at pilot scale, that are first tested at individual scale and then connected one to each other in the so-called integration phase. Remarkably, integration experimental campaigns imply long-term operation of the compartments, usually of several months. A distinctive aspect of the MELiSSA Pilot Plant operation is the extensive on-line instrumentation associated to each compartment to measure several variables on-line, the operation in axenic conditions of some of the compartments, the development of mathematical models to describe the operation of each compartment, using them in control as well as for performing simulations at different conditions. The MELiSSA Pilot Plant works under industrial quality standards and is certified ISO 9001. More information on the MELiSSA Pilot Plant can be obtained at https://webs.uab.cat/melissapilotplant/en/. More information on the MELiSSA project can be obtained at https://www.melissafoundation.org/
In order to achieve the challenges associated to the development and operation of the MELiSSA Pilot Plant, a Technical Team has been built, including 10 persons with different positions and responsibilities. Now, the MELiSSA Pilot Pant is recruiting 1 new member for the technical team, with the profile described below:
Bioprocess Engineer:
Qualifications and experience required:
– Minimum studies at master’s level in Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, or related fields.
– Basic use of computer software packages. Advanced use of Matlab and process design packages will be valued.
– English, spoken and written at a high level, particularly with experience in the preparation of technical documentation. Level B2.
– Work experience in the design and operation of bioprocesses and in pilot or industrial-scale biotechnological production plants, especially at pilot or industrial scale, and in sterile processes.
– Given the characteristics of the highly internationalized MELiSSA project, experience abroad will be valued.
Main duties and specific tasks:
– Take responsibility for the preparation of bioreactors and other equipment for their operation, both at the laboratory level and pilot scale, including instrumentation and control components.
– Take responsibility for the sterilization of pilot and laboratory reactors and operation under sterile conditions.
– Operation in clean room.
– Preparation of solutions, culture media, and other reagents.
– Preparation of inocula. Microbiological monitoring of reactors.
– Sterilization of materials.
– Sampling and analysis.
– Calibration of probes. Maintenance of instrumentation.
– Data processing: analysis, results, and conclusions.
– Specific tasks in design, installation, and validation of new hardware/software.
Salary (gross/year): 37000 Euro
Interested to join the Team? Please present your CV via the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona website at:
https://tauler.seu.cat/pagDetall.do?idEdicte=532869&idens=11
