Postdoc in Computational Chemistry: Scattering in Crowded Biomolecular Solutions

Subject description

This post-doctoral position is part of the EU cofund research project AMBER, Advanced Multiscale Biological imaging using European Research infrastructures, will address scientific and sectoral gaps in biological imaging ranging from molecular, through cellular, to tissue, organ and organism levels of organisation, and is coordinated by LINXS Institute of advanced Neutron and X-ray Science.

AMBER is funded by the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) COFUND scheme. Around 14 postdocs will be recruited in the first call, with each fellowship lasting 36 months.

AMBER has six core partners: Lund University/MAX IV, Sweden, the European Spallation Source (ESS), Sweden, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), France, the International Institute of Molecular Mechanisms and Machines, (IMOL), Poland, and the Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, United Kingdom.

Your work will include clinical and biomedical projects. It will also include technique development work aimed at combining imaging techniques and data analysis to provide a more integrated picture of life processes in the context of health and disease. To be a postdoc fellow at the AMBER programme you will get unprecedented medical, biological, and methodological capabilities, with a profound potential impact for Europe’s next generation of research and researchers. When you have completed the AMBER programme you will be extraordinarily well equipped to further your career in academia, at infrastructures, in the health and MedTech sectors, and beyond.

For more information about the total announced post-doctoral positions within in the AMBER co-fund project please visit  https://www.euraxess.se/jobs/178170

The interviews will start in April. For more information about AMBER, application and evaluation process etc please visit: https://www.ambercofund.eu

Specific subject description

The research of the PI, prof. Mikael Lund, encompasses a broad range of areas within the discipline of Statistical Thermodynamics, including fundamental theoretical research (often resulting in novel theories and simulation techniques), as well as more targeted studies, with applications within Life Science, Colloidal Science and Biophysical Chemistry. Lifting the perspective to a broader level, the Division of Computational Chemistry conducts research within Quantum Chemistry, Statistical Thermodynamics, Physical Chemistry, and Biophysical Chemistry.

Work duties

The main duties involved in a post-doctoral posistion is to conduct research. Teaching may also be included, but up to no more than 20% of working hours. The position shall include the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning.

This research project focuses on understanding protein-protein and protein proxy interactions (PPIs) in complex solutions using advanced Molecular Dynamics (MC) and Metropolis-Hastings Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, combined with experimental techniques. We will investigate how co-solutes such as salt; small molecules; and osmolytes in general affect biomolecular stability and conformation. This is important for fundamental understanding of biology, but also to effectively control biomolecular interactions in e.g. vaccine and drug development. Experimental techniques such as small-angle X-ray scattering; neutron scattering; osmometry; and UV/VIS/Fluorescent spectroscopy will be combined with classical thermodynamics and MD/MC simulation to gain deep understading of the physical mechanisms at play. This task entails development of new coarse grained represenations, and models of biomolecule and co-solutes based on a surface area approach. We will further develop computational efficient algorithms to mimick solution scattering from ensembles of microstates sampled using MD/MC. The latter will be implemented within the framework of our in-house software and validated against experimental data.

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:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• A strong background in physical chemistry, familiar with both theoretical and experimental techniques for assessing thermodynamics and interactions in (bio)molecular solutions, e.g. osmometry, UV/VIS/fluorescent spectroscopy, Molecular Dynamics or Monte Carlo molecular simulation techniques.
• Experience with Python as well as with compiled, modern programming languages such as Rust or C++.
• Candidate needs to have a maximum 8 years after a doctoral degree (PhD), as required by the Commission, in accordance with the Horizon-Europe MSCA cofund project Grant Agreement
• At least one original publication in a peer-reviewed journal,
• A background in the relevant methods,
• A complete application package submitted through the AMBER portal (including CV and detailed research plan), and finally,
• Strict compliance with the MSCA mobility rule that the researcher must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the host organisation's country for more than twelve months in the three years immediately prior to the call deadline.

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.

For appointments to a post-doctoral position, the following shall form the assessment criteria:

• A good ability to develop and conduct high quality research.
• Teaching skills.

Additional assessment criteria:

• Experience with Rust programming is advantageous.
• Experience from SAXS/SANS experiments, including interpretation of data.
• Competence within the field of scattering, and scattering theories.  

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

This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of 3 years. The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement “Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor” (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral fellow”) between Lund University, SACO-S and OFR/S, dated 1st February 2022.

Preferred start date is 2025-08-01 or as agreed.

Instructions on how to apply

For more information please visit www.ambercofund.eu.

If you are interested in applying for more than one position (maximum 3) you must be prepared to make a full application for each individual position.

Applications shall be written in English and compiled into a PDF-file containing:

i) A Curriculum Vitae (europass format). This is created by registering and using the Europass portal here: https://europa.eu/europass/en/create-europass-cv. Your CV can then be exported to a PDF file that you use in your application.

ii) A detailed research plan including any foreseen secondments (candidates can suggest more than the mandated one, they can also suggest their own secondments), schools and conferences as well as a templated budget plan. (as concise as possible, recommended about 3-5 pages, but at an absolute maximum 10 pages. The research plan should include a half page of summary/abstract. The template can be downloaded from the “For applicants” page, here: https://www.ambercofund.eu/for-applicants.

Additional texts to include in the PDF are:

iii) Letter of Commitment from any additional secondment partners the candidate wishes to bring

onboard.

iv) Evidence of English proficiency (minimum CEFR B22, also checked at interview).

v) A draft Individual Career Development Plan (ICDP).

vi) Two reference letters.

vii) Any additional documents to support the application.

viii) Ethical questionnaire (HE ethics checklist + research ethics commitment) link will be provided at the “For applicants” page, here: https://www.ambercofund.eu/for-applicants.

In addition, the application will require:

ix) Any candidate can apply for maximum of 3 positions. You must apply for each individual position. A list with order of preference of positions should be sent to the AMBER management. amber@linxs.se The template can be downloaded from the “For applicants” page, here: https://www.ambercofund.eu/for-applicants.

x) A pre-recorded video presentation (questionnaire-guided, via online video tool, about 10min). Upon successful completion of the rest of the application procedure eligible candidates will be sent a link.