Post doctoral fellow in physical chemistry - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Work description

The project is financed by a Ventenskapsrådet grant: ‘Neutron reflectometry with high time resolution to enable studies of surface chemical and biochemical processes and take full advantage of the ESS source’. The project will be conducted in close collaboration with the Swedish partners; FREIA Laboratory at Uppsala University and ESS and the UK partner; ISIS pulsed neutron and muon source at STFC in Oxfordshire, UK.
Overall the project has two work packages; an engineering development with a complementary scientific study. The engineering effort (to be made by UU & ISIS) will ultimately allow reflectometry measurements to be made using the ESS reflectometers (currently under construction) covering a wide Q-range at speeds greater than currently possible. In parallel the scientific study (involving this PDRA) will attempt to elucidate the interactions of lipolytic enzymes with lipids at interfaces and, in particular, understand the kinetics of such processes. In the process it will inform the parameters and specifications required for the engineering development. On the timescale of this project (2.5 years), the research will take advantage of existing reflectometry instruments and a similar development on the ZOOM beamline at ISIS.
Lipolytic enzymes digest lipids and oils and are used in a range of cleaning and food technologies as well as having applications as catalysts in industrial scale biochemical synthesis. In particular, the development of a broad spectrum of enzymes has enabled the impressive wash performance in low-temperature, phosphate-free detergents widely used today. Since these lipolytic enzymes act on lipid substrates of low aqueous solubility, it is important to understand how their activity depends on the interfacial properties and structure of the lipid assembly/formulation. Traditional enzyme assays do not account for the complexity of the lipid substrates, and it is not known which lipids are preferentially digested by a particular enzyme and under which conditions, or how this affects the structure, and the fatty acids produced. The project will use a spin-freeze-thaw technique to form stable, uniform oil films on hydrophobically modified silicon substrates and thereby allow the preparation of oil-water interfaces that can be studied with neutron reflectometry. This technique will be used to determine the location and activity of a lipolytic enzyme at the oil-water interface and measure structural changes to lipid model membranes caused by lipolysis as a function of time. SANS will also be used to investigate the corresponding dispersions to give complementary information on structure and time resolution.

Qualifications

You need a Doctoral 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 (Neutron reflectometry & SANS in particular) is necessary, and experience of time-resolved neutron scattering measurements 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.