Doctoral student in Physics within modelling of molecular motors - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Description of the workplace
The research at the division of Solid State Physics within the Physics Department is focused around different aspects of nanophysics, ranging from materials science to quantum physics, to different applications. The division plays a central role in NanoLund, the major interdisciplinary research environment within nanoscience and nanotechnology at Lund University, and it hosts Lund Nano Lab, a central key facility for fabrication of material and devices on the nanoscale. The division is also heavily involved in the undergraduate education, especially within the “Engineering Nanoscience” program.

A significant part of the research at the division is in the area of nano-biotechnology, where we develop new methods to investigate biological systems, and to use biomolecules in nanodevices. The department hosts the ERC Synergy Grant ArtMotor (PI Heiner Linke), which aims at designing and building functional, synthetic protein motors, and to detect their movements along a DNA-track. The aim is to construct, step by step, an autonomous protein motor capable of transducing chemical energy to move along a track. Our role in the project is to characterize the motors’ performance as well to guide the design of the protein motors and to evaluate the experimental results using coarse grain (Brownian dynamics) modelling. The research will be performed in close collaboration with Birte Höcker (University of Bayreuth, Germany) and Paul Curmi (UNSW, Sydney, Australia) who will be responsible for protein design, synthesis and characterization of the molecules, as well as with Ralf Eichhorn (Nordita), expert in stochastic thermodynamics and modelling of Brownian dynamics.

More information can be found at: www.ftf.lth.se, www.nano.lu.se, www.nano.lu.se/heiner-linke, https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/951375

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%).

Coarse-grain modelling of protein motor designs and their expected performance. Development of software to examine the molecules in numerical simulations. The purpose of the PhD project is to guide the design of various types of motors, to develop understanding of how design details determine motor performance, and to guide interpretation of experimental measurements of the motors’ performance. In addition, the position may include fundamental studies of the stochastic thermodynamics of molecular motors.

The PhD student is expected to work independently as well as in close collaboration with the other partners in the project.

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

• 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 for third-cycle studies in Physics if the applicant:

• 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.

Finally, the student must be judged to have the potential to complete the programme.

Additional requirements

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.

Assessment criteria
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 the study
2. An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems. The assessment can, for example, be based on the thesis and a discussion about this during a possible interview
3. Written and oral communication skills
4. Other experience relevant to postgraduate studies, such as professional experience

Other assessment criteria

• Knowledge of proteins and/or modelling of proteins
• Knowledge of stochastic processes and/or of modelling of Brownian motion
• Experience of numerical methods (for example numerical integration of stochastic differential equations)
• Basic knowledge of C or C++
• Experience of experimental work with DNA or proteins, for example biophysical characterization of proteins

The research is to a large extent interdisciplinary, and a broad competence profile and experiences from relevant areas of physics and biophysics are of special value.

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 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 research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, a copy of the master thesis or equivalent or a summary of the thesis work if the thesis has not yet been finished, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).

Applicants are also required to answer job specific questions.