PhD student in biotechnology, designed nanostructures for cell studies (PA2022/2277)

Description of the workplace

The research group is lead by professor Roger Olsson. The research at the group Chemical Biology and Therapeutics (CBT) is highly interdisciplinary covering organic chemistry, in vivo and in vitro biology, physics, and materials science. We like to work on projects where we can advance life sciences by bringing together new ideas from all areas of the STEM fields. CBT is positioned within the Medical Faculty at Lund University and we have several ongoing projects with leading groups and clinicians.

What we offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that you receive specific benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension. Read more on the University website about being an employee at Lund University.

We are offering an interdisciplinary work environment where chemists, physicists, and biologists work closely together to solve complex problems. We hope that you thrive in a curiosity driven research environment.

Duties and responsibilities

Axially elongated nanostructures offer the possibility to pierce through the cell membrane into the cytosol of living cells. We have previously used this to transport biomolecules to/from cells using so called nanostraws. We are now extending our research efforts and develop conductive polymer based nanospikes that can provide stable and healthy electrical pipelines to the interior of cells.

In this project, the student will develop the conductive polymer nanospike platform and use it to solve biological problems both related to recording electrical activity and stimulating cells to guide their development. The work includes semiconductor processing in clean rooms, cell culturing, electrical characterization/stimulation. The candidate will work with animal models, especially Zebrafish.

The project is highly interdisciplinary and the candidate is expected to thrive both in a semiconductor clean-room environment and in a biomedicine laboratory.

Qualifications

Requirements

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• A degree within nanotechnology, materials science, chemistry, biotechnology, cell biology, or equivalent 

The following are considered merits for the position:  

• Experience in semiconductor processing and clean room work. E
• xperience in cell- and molecular biology methods, e.g. aseptic cell culture work, PCR, flow cytometry
• Experience in work with conductive polymers
• Experience in work with fluorescence microscopy and confocal microscopy
• Experience in electrophysiological measurements and/or electrical characterization of materials
• Experience in work with functional characterization of solid materials and/or materials in suspension
• Experience in work with animal models
• A broad competence profile is important and knowledge within areas such as materials science, chemistry, physics, biology, and nanoscience are relevant for the project. 

Further information

Employment is a full-time, fixed-term position of 4 years, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 5 Section 7. Starting date is September 1, 2022 or according to agreement.

Eligibility
Students with basic eligibility for third-cycle studies are those who- have completed a second-cycle degree- have completed courses of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits are from second-cycle courses, or- have acquired largely equivalent knowledge in some other way, in Sweden or abroad.

The employment of doctoral students is regulated in the Swedish Code of Statues 1998: 80. Only those who are or have been admitted to PhD-studies may be appointed to doctoral studentships. When an appointment to a doctoral studentship is made, the ability of the student to benefit from PhD-studies shall primarily be taken into account. In addition to devoting themselves to their studies, those appointed to doctoral studentships may be required to work with educational tasks, research and administration, in accordance with specific regulations in the ordinance.

How to apply

Applications must include a personal motivation letter, a CV, contact information of two references, a diploma (including a grade transcript) and other documents you wish to be considered (e.g. letters of recommendation). Those applicants, who will be called for interview, will likely be asked to perform a test to demonstrate basic competence.

We kindly decline all sales and marketing contacts.

About Lund University