Post-doctoral fellow in soft matter physics: multi-faceted conceptual understanding of liquid-liquid phase separation in protein solutions

Subject description

Protein-rich biocondensates of intrinsically disordered proteins have in the last decade excited a very active research field, due to many potential connections of physicochemical phase behavior to biological function in the intracellular medium. While experimental, simulational and bioinformatical accounts are very widespread and getting increasingly established, a more fundamental understanding in terms of soft matter and complex liquid concepts is still largely missing. Importantly, the related liquid-liquid phase separation has a long history in globular protein solutions, e.g. in the eye-lens fluid and antibody solutions, which resulted in a number of fundamental and general results not yet available for intrinsically disordered proteins.

Within this postdoctoral project, we aim for a comprehensive conceptual understanding of liquid-liquid phase separation in protein solutions, and related phenomena such as equilibrium cluster / micellar phases and arrested phase separation. We plan for theory-oriented work, combining analytical modeling based on liquid theory and coarse-grained simulations to explain experimental phenomenology. Connection to experimental work is explicitly encouraged, and active involvement in experiments can also be included into the project, if desired.

The project will be conducted at Lund University, Chemistry Department (KILU) and within the COMMONS Center of Excellence (www.physchem.lu.se/commons/), which includes researchers at Universities in Lund, Copenhagen and Gothenburg. The overarching aim of COMMONS is to provide a multifaceted scientific environment focusing on unifying physicochemical processes of key importance for the function of biomolecular assemblies. The scientists within COMMONS conduct experimental and theoretical research on soft and biological matter. Significant work is devoted to protein self-assembly and co-assembly as well as interactions with other biomolecules. In addition, the project will be connected to the new theme SMILE (Soft Matter in Life) at the advanced institute for neutron and X-ray science LINXS (wwx.linxs.se), providing opportunities to reach out to the national and international soft matter community for collaborations and networking.

The project will be run in collaboration of different groups, including in particular Assoc. Prof. Felix Roosen-Runge and Prof. Anna Stradner (both Division of Physical Chemistry, Lund University) as contact persons. Connections to other experimental and theoretical groups within the COMMONS Center of Excellence for biomolecular assembly are possible and encouraged. Please reach out to felix.roosen-runge@chem.lu.se for more information and discussion on potential project ideas related to the research plan required for the application.

This post-doctoral position is also 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 15 postdocs will be recruited in the fifth call 2026, 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 may include clinical and biomedical projects. It may 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/392999

The interviews will start in April/May 2026. For more information about AMBER, application and evaluation process etc please visit: ambercofund.eu

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 shall include the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning.

Detailed description of the work duties, such as:

• Research within the subject area.
• Exploration of potential collaborative projects within the COMMONS center of excellence beyond the core project.
• Active contribution to topical discussions within the COMMONS center of excellence.

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.

Minimum requirements are:

• candidate needs to have a maximum 8 years after a doctoral degree (PhD), as required by the project Grant Agreement signed with the European Commission,
• at least one original publication in a peer-reviewed journal,
• a documented strong background in soft matter, biophysics, physical chemistry, or corresponding areas.
• a documented strong 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.
• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.

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 this post-doctoral position, the following shall form the assessment criteria:

• A good ability to develop and conduct high quality research.
• Documented experience within theoretical or computational work in soft matter and/or biophysics, ideally on (bio)polymer systems.
• A well-developed ability and motivation for interdisciplinary work combining theoretical modeling with experimental results.
• Teaching skills.

Additional assessment criteria of specific merit:

• Documented interdisciplinary work.
• Experience with scattering techniques, microscopy and other relevant experimental techniques.
• Experience with liquid-liquid phase separation of polymers, proteins or colloids.
• Knowledge of general conceptual and theoretical approaches in soft matter.

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 a maximum 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.

Instructions on how to apply

For more information and documents/templates/europass link, please visit https://www.ambercofund.eu/for-applicants.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure that you upload all the required documents specified below i-ix.

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 all documents shall be in pdf format.

i) A Curriculum Vitae (europass format). Your CV shall 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. The research plan should be as concise as possible, 3 pages, including one-third page of summary/abstract.

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, for example PhD certificate/diploma, PhD upcoming defense date

viii) Ethical questionnaire (HE ethics checklist + research ethics commitment)

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