Lund University, Faculty of Engineering, LTH, Design Sciences

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.

By aerosol we mean a particle suspension in a gas or a gas mixture. The most common aerosol is our ambient air. Airborne particles in have great effects on our health. For example, air pollution causes about 9 million deaths globally every year. If smoking and airborne transmission of disease are included, the number will be twice as high. Therefore, it is important to gain more knowledge about the effects of different types of air pollutants on our health. At the same time, airborne particles can be used for good purposes in, for example, medical applications. Aerosol research at Lund University is interdisciplinary and is conducted in close collaboration with, among others, the medical faculty. We have a well-equipped state-of-the-art aerosol laboratory that enables advanced studies of aerosols and we have a large international network in the area.

Bioaerosol refers to biological material in the air such as bacteria, viruses, pollen, skin fragments and many allergens. Bioaerosol of various kinds has tremendous impact on our society through a variety of usually unwanted effects such as spreading diseases, asthma onsets, allergies, ecosystem impacts through transport of new organisms, agricultural damage and food contamination. Despite this, knowledge in the area is still very limited, as the microbiology of the air has long been overlooked.

Spreading of infectious diseases is one of humanity's greatest health problems, but yet there are large gaps in our knowledge of how viruses and bacteria are transported in the environment. For many of our most common diseases, such as influenza and winter vomiting disease, we still do not know to what extent infection is transmitted via air.

Work duties
The doctoral work focuses primarily on studies of transmission of infectious viruses between people. Which viruses are in the air? How do they get there? How long can they maintain their viability? When is the greatest risk of disease spreading through air? Where in the respiratory tract does inhaled virus deposit after inhalation? Are there interaction between viruses and other air pollutants? What can we do to reduce airborne infection?

A large part of the work is experimental and is done in collaboration with virologists, microbiologists and physicians at the Faculty of Medicine at Lund University. There is also a possibility of spending a few months of doctoral studies at other universities. Air samples are collected in different environments, especially hospitals where the risk of infection is large, and thereafter analysed in laboratory primarily by PCR. We also develop methodology to check how viruses survive in air in an experimental set-up.

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies, which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The tasks also include participation in teaching and other institutional work (no more than 20%). More information about the division can be found on our website http://www.eat.lth.se/English/

Admission requirements
A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if he or she:

  • has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
  • has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
  • has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.
A person meets the specific admission requirements if he or she has:
  • at least 50 credits in subjects of relevance to the field, including at least 25 second cycle credits, or
  • a one- or two-year Master’s degree or an MSc in Engineering of relevance to the field.
Finally, it is required that the student is deemed to have the ability needed to complete the education. Educational backgrounds that are relevant to this research include, for example, biotechnology, microbiology, virology, nanoscience or medicine.

Additional requirements

  • Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
  • Experience of experimental work in laboratory (could be through courses)

Assessment criteria
Appropriate background for employment is technical / science / medical high school education, e.g. master's degree. Knowledge in Swedish is a merit, but not a requirement. It is desirable that applicants have an interest and experience in experimental work. Much of the work is done in project form and important properties are social competence as well as a will and ability to work in a group, but also to be able to work independently and structured. Other desirable attributes for a research student are analytical ability, curiosity, drive, endurance and creativity.

Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the student’s potential to profit from such studies. The assessment of potential is made primarily on the basis of academic results from the first and second cycle. Special attention is paid to the following:

  1. Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study.
  2. An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
  3. Written and oral communication skills
  4. Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience.

Other assessment criteria:

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

Terms of employment
Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 years (including 20% departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Instructions on how to apply
Applications shall be written in English and include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).

Type of employment Temporary position
First day of employment Snarast
Salary Monthly salary
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100
City Lund
County Skåne län
Country Sweden
Reference number PA2019/184
Contact
  • Jakob Löndahl, universitetslektor, +46 46 222 05 17, +46 73 551 86 36
Union representative
  • OFR/ST:Fackförbundet ST:s kansli, +46 46 222 93 62
  • SACO:Saco-s-rådet vid Lunds universitet, +46 46 222 93 64
Published 06.Mar.2019
Last application date 29.Mar.2019 11:59 PM CET

Return to job vacancies