Seed Coats as Inspiration for Sustainable Packaging (2 x PhD)

12 Feb 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

University of Salzburg

Department

Chemistry and Physics of Materials

Research Field

Biological sciences » Biodiversity
Physics » Biophysics
Engineering » Materials engineering

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Austria

Application Deadline

8 Mar 2024 - 12:00 (Europe/Vienna)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

35

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

We are currently looking for 2 PhD Candidates to work on a project funded by the VW Foundation to explore the properties of seed coats of plants found in extreme environments.

There is an increasing need for recyclable coatings and packaging that are both economically efficient and sustainable. Recycling of current solutions/materials is often impeded by difficult or even impossible separation into their original components. In nature, however, solutions for efficient and sustainable coatings and packaging are omnipresent: Plant seed coats (testa or fruit walls) are biodegradable, pack and protect embryos – even under extreme conditions such as heat, frost, radiation, chemical and microbial attack. However, surprisingly little is known about these incredibly thin, natural packaging/protecting solutions and the physical properties of such “natural functional barriers”. Closing this knowledge gap is equally important for bioinspired developments of sustainable packaging materials made from plant-based raw materials as well as for natural and artificial seed storage to biodiversity conservation.

The project is collaborative between the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Department of Biomaterials in Potsdam and the Paris Lodron University Salzburg, Department of Chemistry and Physics of Materials and the Department of Environment and Biodiversity. To achieve the goals of the proposed project we are currently looking for 2 Phd candidates at the University of Salzburg. The duration of employment will be 4 years for each candidate.

The first PhD student should hold a Masters degree in Biology (with a focus on Botany, Ecology or similar) with a strong focus on ecology. The person will be working also in the field (including high alpine regions) to set up and follow the development of seeds in different alpine regions. Lab work will comprise seed characterization (germination experiments but also seed coat characterization – in close interaction with project partners in Potsdam). Willingness to travel and spend some time for experiments in Potsdam is highly appreciated

The second PhD student should hold a Masters degree in Physics, Biophysics, or Materials Science and will work on understanding how structural and chemical characteristics allow seed-coats to act as natural functional barrier materials. Of particular interest is the role of geometrical effects of seed coats and their tessellations on transport. This project will consist of a combination of theoretical and experimental analysis. The work will be done, in close interaction with the other project members and the project leaders/supervisors Michaela Eder, John Dunlop and Andreas Tribsch. Again, we would appreciate the willingness to travel to Potsdam for experiments.

If you are interested in these positions please send you application, consisting of a motivation letter and your curriculum vitae to [email protected]  .

For further questions related to the project or working conditions please contact 

John Dunlop, [email protected] , Salzburg, Department of Chemistry and Physics of Materials

Andreas Tribsch, [email protected] , Salzburg, Department of Environment and Biodiversity

Michaela Eder, [email protected] , Potsdam, Department of Biomaterials, MPI-CI

Requirements

Research Field

Biological sciences » Biodiversity

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Physics » Biophysics

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

2

Company/Institute

Paris Lodron University of Salzburg

Country

Austria

State/Province

Salzburg

City

Salzburg

Postal Code

5020

Geofield

Where to apply

E-mail

[email protected]

Contact

State/Province

Salzburg

City

Salzburg

Website

https://www.plus.ac.at/chemistry-and-physics-of-materials/?lang=en

Street

Jakob-Haringer-Straße 2

Postal Code

5200

STATUS: EXPIRED