Doctoral student in physical chemistry

Subject description and work duties

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are engineered proteins that can serve as substitute antibodies in the immune system. Due to their high potential in e.g. cancer treatment, they attract enormous attention from pharmaceutical industry. At the same time the formulation of high concentration injectable mAb biologics is very challenging as it is often severely limited due to high turbidity and/or high viscosity. An international consortium of leading groups has thus been established to perform a concerted research effort combining experiments and theory/simulations in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology NIST and Novartis. Our research group at the Division of Physical Chemistry is part of this consortium, and the advertised position will allow a PhD student to join this international effort.

In this project we aim at establishing a colloid-inspired approach to understand the origin of this behaviour and to predict it from low concentration data and mAb molecular structure. The candidate we are looking for will apply different static and dynamic scattering techniques (based on light and x-rays) on mAb samples, including static and dynamic light scattering (SLS/DLS) and small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), and analyse the data. A central part of the project will be the determination of mAb phase diagrams and the investigation of possible liquid-liquid phase separation. The candidate will also perform microrheology experiments and closely work together with simulators and theoreticians in a concerted effort towards a better understanding of the complex solution behaviour of mAbs.

The project will be conducted at the University of Lund, Department of Chemistry, at the Division of Physical Chemistry.

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%).

Admission requirements

The ideal candidate for the PhD position has a master’s degree in chemistry, physics, biophysics, physical chemistry or chemical engineering, or has equivalent merits from another topically related study program.

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.

The requirements for specific entry requirements for Physical Chemistry are fulfilled by those who have: At least 120 credits of chemistry courses, of which at least 30 credits must be second-cycle thesis work in the chosen specialisation or closely related specialisations. The special qualification may also have been obtained through other equivalent education, which is assessed in each individual case.

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• Good knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the work duties.
• Ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.

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:

• Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study.
• An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
• Written and oral communication skills.
• Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience.

Other assessment criteria:

• Experience in protein sample preparation and handling.
• Experience in the application of scattering techniques to soft and biological matter.
• Experience in scattering data analysis.
• Experience in the formulation and characterization of concentrated protein (antibody). solutions.
• Experience in determination of phase diagrams of protein (antibody) solutions.
• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.

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 employed as doctoral students. The duration of the doctoral studies is four years for full-time studies. In the case of teaching and other departmental work, the employment is extended correspondingly, but for a maximum of 5 years (i.e. a maximum of 20%). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications shall 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, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).