Post-doctoral fellow in Material Science, Sustainable Materials - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Subject description

In this project, we intend to study clay and its possibility to be used as a carrier of phosphates, for example as a "green" fertilizer in agriculture. Clay is an environmentally friendly, sustainable, and ancient material. The underlying idea is to develop a material based on clay that allows us to control and predict the release of polyphosphate. We anticipate that our results will be of great interest to society in general and the agricultural sector and companies producing fertilizers. To this end, we will combine experiments such as low-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR), and osmotic stress with atomistic and coarse-grained molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations. The project is suitable for a postdoctoral fellow with experience of independent work and project management, who can work with several tasks in parallel. If it is promising and funding is available, the project can be extended to three years.

At the division of Computational Chemistry (former division of theoretical chemistry) we study chemical processes with the help of computational methods, including quantum chemical calculations and statistical mechanics simulations. The aim is to understand chemical systems and processes at the molecular level, including interactions, structure and dynamics.  While we have a strong focus on basic research and model development, our methods are applied to a variety of systems such as clay, cement, seawater, dental environments, wood fibers, sand, and dairy products!

We also have well-equipped laboratories for preparing protein samples and performing physico-chemical experiments. The PI for the project is Marie Skepö, who is a professor of theoretical chemistry, and a member of the pedagogical academy at the Faculty of Science. Skepö's background is in surface and colloid chemistry, and she has a PhD in physical chemistry from Lund University. The main techniques are atomistic and coarse-grained molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations combined with experiments mainly small angle X-ray and neutron scattering. Skepö is deputy director of LINXS, the Institute for Advanced X-ray and Neutron Scattering. For more information, see https://www.teokem.lu.se/people/seniors/skepoe/#/.

This recruitment is connected to the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE, wise-materials.org). WISE, funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, is the largest-ever investment in materials science in Sweden and will encompass major efforts at Sweden’s foremost universities over the course of 10 years. The vision is a sustainable future through materials science.

Read more: https://wise-materials.org

All early-stage researchers recruited into the WISE program will be a part of the WISE Graduate School <https://wise-materials.org/research/graduate-school/>, an ambitious nationwide program of seminars, courses, research visits, and other activities to promote a strong multi-disciplinary and international network between PhD students, postdocs, researchers, and industry.

Work duties

The main duties involved in a post-doctoral posistion is to conduct research. You will work closely with a doctoral student, and there is thus an opportunity to qualify as a supervisor. Teaching may be part of the duties, but no more than a fifth of the working time and this includes supervision of bachelor's and master's students. Applying for external research funding is a natural part of the job and a part of merit. Within the framework of the employment, the opportunity is given for three weeks of university pedagogical training. The purpose of the employment is to develop one's independence as a researcher and to create the conditions for further qualifications.

The project consists of two parts, an experimental part that aims to develop particles with desired properties, and a computational part to understand the underlying physics.

The duties include conducting experiments at international infrastructure facilities for low-angle X-ray scattering, such as the MAX IV-laboratory, Lund, Sweden and ESRF, Grenoble, France. Computer simulations will be carried out at LUNARC, center for scientific and technical computing at Lund University.

Qualification requirements

Appointment to a post-doctoral position requires that the applicant has a PhD, or an international degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, within the subject of the position, completed no more than three years before the date of employment decision. Under special circumstances, the doctoral degree can have been completed earlier.

Additional requirements:

• Doctoral degree in chemistry, material chemistry, physical chemistry, soft matter physics, nanophysics or similar.
• Very good knowledge of English, in speech and writing.
• Experience of experimental work Experience of computer simulations

Other qualifications that will be considered positively in the assessment:

• Experience in surface- and colloid chemistry
• Experience with experimental techniques such as SAXS, NMR, and osmotic stress Experience of programming

Assessment criteria and other qualifications

This is a career development position primarily focused on research. The position is intended as an initial step in a career, and the assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and potential as researchers.

Particular emphasis will be placed on research skills within the subject.