Subject description

In the biopharmaceutical industry it is common practice to produce the pharmaceutical proteins, and then dry them for safe storage until the final products are manufactured. At present, lyophilization is the gold standard, but it would be beneficial to be able to dry these proteins using spray-drying. However, at the early development stages when only small quantities of the protein are available, current lab-scale spray-drying requires too much material for assessment of processability. 

Therefore, this project will develop a miniaturized spray-dryer that emulates the lab- and pilot scale process regarding thermal load and other stresses. A second objective is to assess the effects of spray-drying on the protein structure, and the mechanisms behind such changes. Ultimately, this may allow for prediction of processabilty based on protein sequence and structure. 

This project is carried out in close collaboration with Novo Nordisk A/S in Denmark.

Work duties

The main duties involved in a post-doctoral position is to conduct research. Teaching may also be included, but up to no more than 20% of working hours. The position includes the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning. The purpose of the position is to develop the independence as a researcher and to create the opportunity of further development. 

The research duties in this project include developing a miniaturised spray-dryer, suited for biologics and very small sample volumes, and to assess the effects of drying on selected proteins using a suite of biophysical tools. Moreover, the miniaturised spray-dryer will be validated using lab- and pilot scale spray-dryers. 

A suitable background would be food engineering, bioengineering or chemical engineering, and good understanding of heat- and mass transfer as well as fluid dynamics in processes. This project benefits from a candidate with strong practical skills in designing and building equipment. 

Detailed description of work duties:

• You will be responsible for development, design and realisation of a miniaturized spray-drying setup to mimic the drying process in lab- and pilot scale. 
• You will be responsible for designing, planning and executing experiments to evaluate the performance of the miniaturised spray-dryer for model proteins and assessing the structure of the proteins before and after drying using biophysical tools.
• You will be responsible for validation of the miniaturised spray-drier using a lab- and pilot-scale spray-dryer 
• Teaching in the first and second cycles of studies
• Supervision of degree projects 
• Participating in seeking external research funding
• Collaboration with industry and wider society
• Administration related to the work duties listed above

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. The certificate proving the qualification requirement is met, must be received before the employment decision is made. Priority will be given to candidates who have graduated no more than three years ago before the last day for application. Under special circumstances, the doctoral degree can have been completed earlier.

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English. 
• has authored publications in scientific journals 
• very good knowledge of spray-drying and/or process engineering 
• experience of independently planning and carrying out experiments 
• proven ability to work independently as well as in teams

Assessment criteria 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. 

Other qualifications:

• Experience in spray-drying of purified proteins
• Good understanding of protein formulation and functionality
• Experience in characterisation of protein structure using e.g. DLS, CD, DFS, FTIR, SEC, SAXS or similar biophysical tools
• Experience in design and building of equipment and/or instruments
• Experience of supervision of degree projects 
• Experience of teaching
• Experience of collaboration with industry

Consideration will also be given to 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.

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme.
Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee Work at Lund University. https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/about-university/work-lund-university

Further information

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”).

How to apply

Applications are to be submitted via the University’s recruitment system. The application should include a CV and a personal letter justifying your interest in the position and how it matches your qualifications. The application should also include a degree certificate or equivalent and any other document to which you would like to draw attention (copies of grade transcripts, details of referees, letters of recommendation, etc.)”  

Welcome to apply!