11 PhD positions in nanotechnology, physics, chemistry and biomedicine at the research center NanoLund - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

NanoLund, the Center for Nanoscience at Lund University, engages 55 research groups in the faculties of engineering, science and medicine. With more than 130 PhD students and an annual turnover of 19 M€, we are Sweden’s largest research environment for nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Our aim is to use nanoscience and nanotechnology to address societal challenges, and it is our ambition to be a Great Place to do Nanoscience: to be an international, highly visible nanoscience center that offers exceptional scientific opportunities, training, and career development. We do this through a strong culture of openness and by offering access to a wide range of state-of-the-art capabilities within characterization, nanofabrication and modelling.

In this call, we offer up to 11 doctoral positions in three of NanoLund’s research areas, namely in Materials Science, Quantum Physics, and Nanobiology. The hosting research groups are located at the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Natural Sciences or the Faculty of Medicine at Lund University in Sweden. Applicants can apply for one or several of the projects in this call.

The open positions will be funded by a combination of grants and projects, including from the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, NanoLund, as well as the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Cofund project GenerationNano (H2020 GA 945378) hosted by NanoLund.
All candidates will be engaged in frontline research in basic and/or applied sciences, and will receive training through courses in scientific as well as in transferable skills. We are offering a highly collaborative research environment, as well as an international network of cooperation partners from industry, academy and public authorities. Depending on the funding source for each project, students may undertake obligatory or voluntary secondments in the non-academic sector or abroad.

The research topics of the 11 open PhD positions are described in detail in the weblinks provided below. You can apply to one or several of the topics. Evaluation is merit-based on the assessment criteria below, thus, everyone who fulfils the admission requirements is encouraged to apply, from Sweden or anywhere in the world. Candidates who do not fulfil the MSCA mobility requirement relevant for GenerationNano can still be hired by other grants.

For more information email Gerda.Rentschler@ftf.lth.se or visit

https://www.nano.lu.se/

https://www.nano.lu.se/about/career-opportunities/generationnano

Open positions (click on links for details about projects, research groups, work tasks and desirable merits)

Formation and understanding of nanoparticle-based multifunctional novel materials for green-tech applications, generated by spark ablation. (1-2 positions)
Research subject: PhD-studies in physics, within the discipline of materials science (TEFAFF00)

Main Supervisor: Maria Messing

Smart nanomaterials: project description, work tasks, and more

Generation and characterization of functional nanostructured magnetic materials
Research subject: PhD-studies in physics, within the discipline of synchrotron radiation research (MNFYSI01)

Main Supervisor: Rasmus Westerström

Characterization of magnetic materials: project description, work tasks, and more

Fundamental relations between information and energy – Building electronic devices that use information as fuel
Research subject: PhD-studies in physics, within the discipline of quantum physics and devices (TEFAFF00)

Main Supervisor: Ville Maisi

Information as fuel: project description, work tasks, and more

Advanced nanostructures for photon detection and sustainable energy generation
Research subject: PhD-studies in physics, within the discipline of synchrotron radiation research (MNFYSI01)

Main Supervisor: Jesper Wallentin

Nanostructures for photon detection: project description, work tasks, and more

Ultrafast spectroscopy for new solar energy solutions
Research subject: PhD-studies in chemical physics (NAKEKF2)

Main Supervisor: Tönu Pullerits

Ultrafast spectroscopy: project description, work tasks, and more

Biomarker detection by optical sensing with nanowires
Research subject: PhD-studies in physics, within the discipline of optical biosensors (TEFAFF00)

Main Supervisor: Heiner Linke

Optical biosensors: project description, work tasks, and more

How does the shape of bacteria influence their capability to infect?
Research subject: PhD-studies in physics, within the discipline of biophysics (TEFAFF00)

Main Supervisor: Jonas Tegenfeldt

Morphology & virulence: project description, work tasks, and more

The role of the mechanics of cells, extracellular matrix and associated biomolecules in cancer
Research subject: PhD-studies in physics, within the discipline of biophysics (TEFAFF00)

Main Supervisor: Jonas Tegenfeldt

Biomechanics & cancer: project description, work tasks, and more

Solubility of amyloid beta peptide as a function of intrinsic and extrinsic factors (1-2 positions)
Research subject: PhD-studies in physical chemistry (NAKEMFK2)

Main Supervisor: Sara Linse

Solubility of amyloid beta: project description, work tasks, and more

Nanoparticles in the brain: multitalented drug carriers to target neurodegenerative disease
Research subject: PhD-studies in medical sciences, within the discipline of neuroscience

Main Supervisor: Oxana Klementieva

Nanoparticles against neurodegenerative disease: project description, work tasks, and more

Work duties
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 work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%). All doctoral students will be included in multidisciplinary and international cooperation network and a secondment in industry or a public authority, or a research visit to a university abroad, may also be part of the project.

Additional information about methods used and specific work tasks can be found at the project pages under:
https://www.nano.lu.se/about/career-opportunities/generationnano

Admission requirements
All doctoral projects have general and specific admission requirements. Above under each doctoral project, you will find the code for the subject curriculum that lists the specific admission requirements.

General 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.

Physics, LTH (TEFAFF00):
A person meets the specific admission requirements for third-cycle studies if he or she has:

• at least 30 second-cycle credits of relevance to the subject, of which at least 15 credits shall comprise a second-cycle degree project, or
• an MSc in engineering physics or an associated field, or a Master’s degree in physics or an associated field.

Physics, Science faculty (MNFYSI01)
A person meets the specific admission requirements for third-cycle studies if he or she has:

• passed an independent project (e.g. degree project) of at least 30 credits in a relevant subject

Equivalent knowledge acquired through corresponding programmes will be assessed individually. In order to enable interdisciplinary initiatives and important specialisations in certain areas, students with qualifications in subjects other than Physics may be considered for admission.

Chemical Physics (NAKEKF2)
A person meets the specific admission requirements for third-cycle studies in chemical physics if he or she has: at least 120 second-cycle credits in chemistry of which at least 30 shall comprise a second-cycle degree project of relevance to the subject (here: Master degree in Physics, Chemical Physics, Molecular Spectroscopy, Optics or equivalent. Experience in spectroscopy and data analysis.). For chemical physics also 90 credits in physics will accepted. Equivalent knowledge acquired through corresponding programmes will be assessed individually.

Physical Chemistry (NAKEMFK2)
A person meets the specific admission requirements for third-cycle studies in physical chemistry if he or she has: at least 120 second-cycle credits in chemistry of which at least 30 shall comprise a second-cycle degree project of relevance to the subject (here: Master degree, or equivalent, with focus on physical chemistry, biophysical chemistry or equivalent, including advanced level courses in soft matter, surface- and colloid chemistry, biophysical chemistry or equivalent). Equivalent knowledge acquired through corresponding programmes will be assessed individually.

Medical Science:
To meet the requirements for specific eligibility, applicants must have:

• at least 60 higher education credits within the subject area of third-cycle (PhD) studies.

For the specialisation in neuroscience, the subject areas comprise biophysics, biomedicine, molecular or cellular biology.

Also, the basic experience in the following subjects is a requirement:

• biology or biophysics
• biochemical assays or biophysical experiments
• cell culture work (at least with cell lines)
• mouse animal models and animal work

Requirements for all positions:

• The student must be judged to have the potential to complete the programme
• The student must have very good oral and written proficiency in English.

Desirable skills/knowledge are listed on the sub-page for each of the projects here:

https://www.nano.lu.se/about/career-opportunities/generationnano

Basis of assessment
Selection to postgraduate studies is based on the expected ability to perform well in the studies. The evaluation of the ability to perform well is based primarily on the results of studies at the basic and advanced levels, in particular:

1. Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of the 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 postgraduate studies, such as professional experience.

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 Lund University 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 §§.

Minimum gross salary: 27000 SEK.

Instructions on how to apply
Applications must be written in English and include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the specific research project(s) you are applying for 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.).

You will be asked to answer a number of evaluation questions when submitting the application.