Doctoral student in biomedical engineering with a focus on acoustofluidics

Are you driven by a desire to explore fundamental physics and are you interested in its future applications in medical technology? Are you keen to build up your own experiments in collaboration with talented colleagues? Are you interested in a career as a researcher in academia or are you preparing for a future job in a research and development department in a company?

Description of the workplace

Our group is well-renowned in the field of acoustofluidics through our fundamental experimental studies of ultrasound resonances to generate acoustically induced flow phenomena as well as to exert forces on microscopic objects in microchannels. We are also developing applications related to medical engineering. Examples of such applications include sorting circulating tumor cells from the blood of cancer patients or capturing extracellular vesicles from blood samples.
More about the research field of acoustofluidics 

Our agenda is ambitious, with publications in PRL, Nature Communications, and Analytical Chemistry, and with competitive funding from the ERC and the Swedish Research Council. The group has currently 9 members involved in collaborative research projects within and outside the group and is headed by Professor Per Augustsson.

Being a doctoral student 

As a doctoral student, you are both admitted as a student and employed at Lund University. 

As a doctoral student, you will be trained in a scientific approach. In short, you will be trained to think critically and analytically, to solve problems independently using the right methods, and to develop an awareness of research ethics. In addition, you will have the opportunity to work on projects, to develop your leadership and pedagogical skills. Throughout your studies, you will be guided by supervisors. Doctoral studies end with a thesis and a doctoral degree.

More about being a doctoral student at LTH on lth.se. 

Subject and project description

The doctoral project focuses on studying a range of fundamental transport phenomena related to acoustic streaming in fluids and radiation forces on cells and biological nanoparticles. To exemplify, we were first to discover that thermal gradients combined with an acoustic field can generate rapid thermoacoustic streaming in liquid inside microcavities. The results were published in Physical Review Letters (lucris.lub.lu.se) 

Further, we have shown that cells can be acoustically separated by their intrinsic mechanical properties using gradients formed in microchannels, which you can read more about in an article published in Nature Communications (nature.com).  We are now exploring this new physics with the long-term goal of translating the technology into practical applications. To achieve this, we will study fundamental interactions and transport phenomena related to ultrasound resonances at the microscale.

In connection with these projects, we have identified a need to recruit a PhD-student that will contribute to our group by developing theoretical and practical expertise in acoustofluidics. You will not be working alone. Within our research environment, which is exceptionally strong in acoustic microfluidic systems, we work closely together, are generous with ideas, and share our knowledge.

Work duties

You will primarily devote yourself to your doctoral programme, which includes participation in research projects as well as third cycle courses, seminars and conferences. 

Your research work will primarily consist of experimental and theoretical studies of basic physical phenomena related to acoustic streaming effects and cell mechanophenotyping in acoustofluidic systems. You will be supervised by Professor Per Augustsson and a co-supervisor from the research environment. 

The specific work duties include:

• Fundamental research in experimental fluid mechanics and material properties of blood and cancer cells
• Modeling and building acoustofluidic systems
• Integration of acoustofluidics with optical systems to image cells and fluid flows in close collaboration with experts in optics.
• Administration related to the work duties.
• The duties may also include participation in teaching and other departmental work (however, a maximum of 20% of working hours).

Qualifications 

To be eligible for admission and employment as a doctoral student, you must fulfil the requirements below.

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 Biomedical Engineering if the applicant has at least 45 second-cycle credits of relevance to the field of study. 

Additional requirements

To complete the doctoral programme in question, the following are also required: 

• Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study (e.g. fluid dynamics, acoustics, cell handling, programming, modelling, microscopy, or microfabrication).
• Very good analytical abilities (problem solving, analyzing data etc.)
• Goal oriented (persistent, well organized etc.)
• Good ability to work independently and to understand and tackle research problems
• Ability to cooperate (sharing ideas, constructive attitude etc.)
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Very good knowledge of English, spoken and written

Other qualifications (advantages)

For the doctoral programme in question, the following are considered as other qualifications: 

• Master's degree in engineering physics, nanotechnology, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering or equivalent 
• Practical experience with microfluidics
• Practical experience with optical systems
• Practical experience in ultrasound physics or technology
• Experience in programming beyond basic courses
• Practical experience in fabrication of mechanical components
• Experience in simulating fluid mechanics
• Experience in image or data processing

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. 

More about working at Lund University - on Lund University's website. 

About the employment 

The employment is a fixed-term employment at full time, starting as agreed. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. In the case of teaching and other departmental duties, the employment is extended accordingly. Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

More about terms of employment for doctoral students on Lund University’s Staffpages. 

How to apply

Applications shall be written in English and include: 

• CV 
• A cover letter including (1) the reasons why you are interested in the doctoral programme/employment and (2) in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational backround, and also (3) a description of your career goals and what you hope to learn during your time as a doctoral student. 
• Copies of issued study certificates and/or awarded degree certificates. These must confirm that you meet the general and specific admission requirements for the doctoral programme and show that you have the subject knowledge required for the doctoral programme project. 
• Other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.)

We look forward to receiving your application!