Researcher in biotechnology with focus on synthetic biology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Subject description Biotechnology is an area of central significance for the transition to a sustainable society. In this research discipline, microorganisms or their components are developed and utilized using environmentally sustainable methods to achieve technical products and services. The researcher position is placed at the Department of Chemistry, Division of Biotechnology, which conducts research and education at undergraduate and graduate level within various branches of biotechnology. The specific research areas being pursued are industrial biotechnology, environmental biotechnology and biotechnology for health, involving both fundamental and applied aspects. Within industrial biotechnology, the division runs a number of multidisciplinary projects in collaboration with several industrial partners, which involve the development and optimization of microorganisms and enzymes, and processes for transformation of renewable resources into chemical building blocks for sustainable plastics suited for circular economy.

Work duties

• Research tasks in the research program STEPS and Vinnova project CIRCLESTRETCH at the Division of Biotechnology, dealing with metabolic engineering of microorganisms with heterologous enzymes/pathways for producing polymer building blocks from sugar; and protein engineering for improving activity and stability of enzymes.
• Supervision of degree projects and doctoral students
• Be a driving force in initiating interdisciplinary collaboration in synthetic biology at Lund University
• Developing a multidisciplinary graduate course in synthetic biology for the second cycle students
• Actively seeking external research funding
• Collaboration with industry and wider society
• Administration related to the work duties listed above

 Qualification requirements Applicant must have:

• A PhD or equivalent research qualification in Biotechnology or an equivalent subject.
• Very good oral and written proficiency in English and good communication abilities.
• Experience of participation and cooperation in multidisciplinary projects
• Research experience in genetic modification of bacteria and yeast, synthetic biology and metabolic engineering
• Experience in working with microbial cell factories at laboratory and pilot scale
• Experience in bioinformatics and protein modelling for designing, constucting and testing metabolic pathways
• Extensive experience in supervision of students.
• Experience of developing undergraduate courses
• Experience of research in other countries
• Experience of project management and collaboration with international partners

Assessment criteria and other qualifications Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.

Terms of employment Permanent position, 50 %. Probationary employment might be applied

Instructions on how to apply Applications shall be written in English. LTH uses a special qualifications portfolio to report and document qualifications – see link below. This is to be used also for appointments of researchers. Upload the application as PDF-files in the recruitment system. Read more: http://www.lth.se/english/working-at-lth/to-apply-for-academic-positions-at-lth/