Researcher in single-molecule microscopy

Description of the workplace

The position is placed at the Division of Solid State Physics at the Department of Physics, a division with around 100 employees where extensive research is carried out centered on various aspects of nanophysics, ranging from materials science to bio- and quantum physics to various applications. The division is a central part of NanoLund, Lund University's large interdisciplinary research center on nanoscience and nanotechnology. The research center includes also Lund Nano Lab, a central and shared cleanroom facility to produce materials and components at the nanoscale. The Division has a strong commitment to undergraduate education, not least in the Master's programme "Engineering Nanoscience" at LTH.

ArtMotor is a project within functional protein design and synthetic biology. The goal is to design, build, and characterize artificial, self-propelled protein motors. The proteins themselves are developed and provided by our collaborators Birte Höcker (University of Bayreuth, Germany) and Paul Curmi (UNSW, Sydney, Australia). Our role in the project is to support the design process and to perform single-molecule experiments that demonstrate the motion of the proteins and characterize their performance.

Work duties

• to plan, coordinate and carry out single-molecule experiments to characterize artificial protein motors synthesised by our collaborators
• to perform image and data analysis related to single-molecule experiments
• co-supervision of PhD and MSc projects.
• assist in seeking external research funding.
• administration related to the work duties listed above.
  
  

Qualifications

Appointment to a position as a researcher requires that the applicant has a PhD.

Required qualifications:

• a PhD or equivalent research qualification within the subject of the position. 
• at least five years of postdoctoral research experience
• very good oral and written proficiency in English. 
• multiple years of experience of designing and performing single-molecule fluorescence microscopy experiments based on FRET and TIRF techniques
• experience of quantitative analysis of single-molecule time traces

Additional requirements:

Experience of working with:

• MINFLUX microscopy
• DNA origami including specific binding properties for DNA-protein interactions
• microfluidics
• surface passivation for single-molecule experiments
• modelling of molecular motors
• interdisciplinary collaboration
• successfully guiding the daily work of PhD and MSc students.
  
  

We offer

You will be part of a research team within NanoLund, an internationally prominent research center that offers strong career development opportunities, an open and inclusive research environment with an active community among doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers, as well as access to state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment for characterization, nanofabrication, and modeling.

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. 

Further information

The position is a fixed term position for one year, 2026-08-21 until 2027-08-20, at one hundred per cent of full time. Researchers are covered by a local collective agreement on annual working hours for researchers and assistant researchers. The planning of annual working hours is done in dialogue between the manager and the employee.

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.)”  

We welcome your application!