Lunds universitet, Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten, kemiska institutionen

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universities. The University has around 47 000 students and more than 8 800 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard gender equality and diversity as a strength and an asset.

Job description

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have evolved into smart multifunctional carriers for drug delivery, most notably in the thriving field of siRNA and mRNA therapeutics. Characterization of LNP bulk and in particular surface structure is of major importance to understand their interactions and therapeutic function. The structure determination of complex lipid-based nanoparticles with entrapped RNA and other biomacromolecules is challenging due to their size, intrinsic disorder, hierarchical structure at different length scales, low lipid-RNA contrast and fast dynamics. Standard analysis using approximate analytical scattering functions fail to unravel important details like phase separated surface domains, the structure of the interior bulk phase and the conformation of the encapsulated RNA macromolecules. The core of the PhD project is to combine neutron and X-ray scattering in both the small-angle and wide-angle regime together with novel data analysis tools to obtain new knowledge on the structure of LNP, not possible with present experimental and modeling strategies. The use of computational simulations to infer structural details from multiple sets of experimental data has begun to evolve and the experimental results generated in the project will allow for comprehensive computational analysis. This will establish not only basic understanding of structures but allow for rational design of new delivery vehicles for e.g. RNA with unsurpassed performance.

The project is financed by the Swedish-German Röntgen-Ångström Cluster MEDISOFT: Combined SANS/SAXS and model-independent simulations for structure determination of complex, therapeutically relevant lipid nanoparticles. The PhD project is conducted in close collaboration with the Swedish partners Chalmers University of Technology, Uppsala University, MAX-IV and ESS and the German partners at Ludwig Maximillians University, Munich; MPI for Biophysics Frankfurt and Jülich Center for Neutron Scattering at MLZ, Garching.

Qualifications

You need a Master's degree in physical/biophysical chemistry, physics or equivalent. Good knowledge in one or several of the experimental methods: advanced microscopy, surface techniques, and scattering methods is necessary, and experience of computer modeling is an advantage. Laboratory experience in handling lipid formulations and biomacromolecules is also a merit. You should be highly motivated and you should have demonstrated the ability to work independently to address research questions. Documented excellent level of English (understanding, speaking, writing) is essential. Excellent communication and presentation skills are also essential. The candidate should have the ability to work in a team and collaborate with people from complementary disciplines.


Eligibility
Students with basic eligibility for third-cycle studies are those who- have completed a second-cycle degree- have completed courses of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits are from second-cycle courses, or- have acquired largely equivalent knowledge in some other way, in Sweden or abroad.

The employment of doctoral students is regulated in the Swedish Code of Statues 1998: 80. Only those who are or have been admitted to PhD-studies may be appointed to doctoral studentships. When an appointment to a doctoral studentship is made, the ability of the student to benefit from PhD-studies shall primarily be taken into account. In addition to devoting themselves to their studies, those appointed to doctoral studentships may be required to work with educational tasks, research and administration, in accordance with specific regulations in the ordinance.

Type of employment
Limit of tenure, four years according to HF 5 kap 7§.

Type of employment Temporary position
First day of employment 2019-01-01
Salary Monthly salary
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100 %
City Lund
County Skåne län
Country Sweden
Reference number PA2018/3238
Contact
  • Tommy Nylander, Professor, +46462228158
Union representative
  • OFR/ST:Fackförbundet ST:s kansli, 046-222 93 62
  • SACO:Saco-s-rådet vid Lunds universitet, 046-222 93 64
Published 08.Oct.2018
Last application date 19.Nov.2018 11:59 PM CET

Return to job vacancies