PhD position in Biophysical Chemistry (MSCA COFUND project PRISMAS)

Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 37 000 students and about 4 700 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. The groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.

Are you interested in learning more? Read about Umeå University as a workplace.

Umeå University strives to offer an equal environment where open dialogue between people with different backgrounds and perspectives lay the foundation for learning, creativity and development. We welcome people with different backgrounds and experiences to apply for the current employment.

PRISMAS – PhD Research and Innovation in Synchrotron Methods and Applications in Sweden – is a new doctoral network training the next generation of 40 leading synchrotron experts, co-funded by the Horizon Europe MSCA COFUND Programme.

As a PRISMAS PhD student, you will have the chance to conduct cutting-edge research in your field, taking advantage of state-of-the-art tools that will bring attractive future job opportunities in academia or industry. Moreover, you will be part of designing the future of synchrotron technology and instrumentation and using these to tackle some of the most significant global challenges the world faces today while acquiring interdisciplinary and intersectoral knowledge. Being part of the PRISMAS programme will give you the one-of-a-kind experience in form of a secondment at the world´s first 4th generation synchrotron, MAX IV Laboratory in Lund, Sweden. Complemented with a tailored training programme, including courses to build scientific and technical competence as well as strengthen transferrable skills, PRISMAS provides you with the skills, knowledge and competence needed to successfully achieve your doctoral degree.

Workplace
The Department of Chemistry is one of the largest departments within the Faculty of Science and Technology with approximately 200 employees, of which approximately 40 doctoral students, and hosts a strong and expanding research environment. The Department has three major research areas: Biological Chemistry, Environmental and Biogeochemistry, and Technical Chemistry. Information about the postgraduate education can be found on the Faculty of Science and Technology website: www.umu.se/en/faculty-of-science-and-technology/education/doctoral-studies/chemistry/. For more information about working at Umeå University, https://www.umu.se/en/work-with-us/.

As a PhD student, you will be part of a research team that combines experimental methods and computer simulation to understand membrane protein transport and signalling processes. The focus is to develop novel structural biology techniques with the aim to understand membrane protein transport and regulation with applications in heart disease and antimicrobial resistance. The group has pioneered synchrotron-based time-resolved X-ray solution scattering of ATP-dependent protein reactions with significant contributions to the field both with respect to experimental design and high-performance computing protocols for data analysis, visualization, and interpretation. For more information, visit the research group website: https://www.biostruct.umu.se/principal-investigators/magnus-andersson/.

References
[1] Orädd, F., Andersson, M. Tracking membrane protein dynamics in real time. Journal of Membrane Biology. 254:51-64, (2021).

[2] Ravishankar, H., Pedersen, M.N., Eklund, M., Sitsel, A., Li, C., Duelli, A., Levantino, M., Wulff, M., Barth, A., Olesen, C., Nissen, P., Andersson, M. Tracking Ca2+ ATPase intermediates in real-time by X-ray solution scattering. Science Advances. 6(12):eaaz0981, (2020).

[3] . Orädd, F., Ravishankar, H., Goodman, J., Rogne, P., Backman, L., Duelli, A., Pedersen, M.N., Levantino, M., Wolff, M., Wolf-Watz, M., Andersson, M. Tracking the ATP-binding response in adenylate kinase in real time. Science Advances. 7(47):eabi5514, (2021).

What we offer
Umeå University has central collective agreements and other benefits that provides good conditions for a healthy lifestyle. In addition, Umeå University is a public authority, which includes special benefits, generous annual leave and, an advantageous occupational pension scheme. For more information about our benefits: https://www.umu.se/en/work-with-us/benefits/.

The MSCA COFUND project PRISMAS offers you outstanding opportunities as well as a stimulating and inspiring surrounding for performing cutting-edge research. Supporting your mobility, it creates perfect conditions for strengthening your international network.

Work duties and responsibilities
The doctoral studies are aimed at a doctoral degree where the main task is research within the project “Tracking membrane protein dynamics involved in biological signalling processes”. In this project, time-resolved X-ray solution scattering will be developed at the CoSAXS beamline at MAX IV Laboratory, with periods of time spent in Lund. Experiments will also be performed at the European Radiation Synchrotron Facility (ESRF) in France, and so the doctoral student will obtain solid expertise from a variety of synchrotron sources. In addition, a significant portion of the project involves code development for data analysis, visualisation, and interpretation. Here, the doctoral student will be trained in usage of national infrastructure for high-performance computing. All aspects of the project are pushing the boundaries for structural biology characterization of membrane protein function and regulation. The work is carried out at the absolute forefront of structural biology and will prepare the PhD student for a continued research career in academia or industry. In addition to the research assignment, participation in postgraduate courses is also included.

The training implies a secondment of 3-12 months at MAX IV Laboratory in Lund, Sweden. Additional secondments and/or short stays may be arranged in agreement with the supervisor of the research project. Moreover, you will attend international conferences, participate in periodical project meetings and training schools as well as in specialised courses at different universities to complement your knowledge.  A certain amount of travelling is foreseen in relation to these activities.

Qualifications
Good knowledge of the English language, both written and spoken, is required as well as a great interest within the field of biophysics and/or biochemistry. Experience of protein production and characterization and/or Linux terminal/programming are considered as merits. A suitable candidate must also be creative, have good collaboration skills, have a high degree of independence, and problem-solving analytical ability.

Eligibility criteria
To comply with the mobility rule of the MSCA COFUND programme, you are eligible if you have not resided in Sweden for more than 12 months during the period 2020-10-30 to 2023-10-31 for work or studies as main occupation.

By the employment date (before 01/03/2024) you must have completed courses of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits are from second-cycle courses, have been awarded a Master´s degree or have acquired largely equivalent knowledge in some other way, in Sweden or abroad.

In addition to the criteria abovementioned, you must have fulfilled a second cycle education in a relevant field, such as chemistry or another subject considered to be directly relevant to the specialization in question.

You are eligible for the PRISMAS programme, if you are a doctoral candidate, i.e., are not already in possession of a doctoral degree.

To fulfil the specific entry requirements to be admitted for studies at third-cycle level in chemistry, you are required to have completed first-cycle courses of at least 90 ECTS credits within the field of chemistry or another subject considered to be directly relevant to the specialization in question. Of those 90 ECTS credits, at least 15 ECTS credits shall have been acquired at second-cycle level within the specialization or an equivalent subject.

Job assignments
The position is a full-time, fixed term employment for four years, forseen to start on 1/3/2024. Admission to the doctoral studies takes place at the respective University.

The appointment aims at a PhD degree and the main task of the PhD student is to pursue their doctoral studies, which includes participation in research projects as well as postgraduate courses. In the assignments, teaching and other departmental work (up to a maximum of 20%) can be included. The employment is limited to four years full-time or up to five years when part-time teaching. The salary placement takes place according to the established salary level for doctoral employment.

How to apply
Applications are to be submitted via Varbi (https://umu.varbi.com/what:job/jobID:656422/?lang=se) and must include the following documents:

• CV in Europass format
• A two-page cover letter, justifying your interest in the position and how it matches your qualifications as well as the prioritization in case of applying to several PRISMAS positions.
• at least one reference letter
• an evidence of English 3 proficiency (minimum B2 level)
• Copy of academic records (including marks for all coursework) with a transcript of diploma in English,
• and any other document to which you would like to draw attention (details of referees, letters of recommendation, etc.).

These documents should be uploaded (pdf) in the job application portal. Exam certificates and other documents on paper should be scanned or photographed before being uploaded. Incomplete applications lacking the abovementioned documents will be excluded by the PRISMAS Management without any additional notification to the applicant.

The application will be evaluated based on scientific excellence, the adequacy of your career plan and your thesis project as well as your research experience.

Details on the novel, unique and common selection process for all the PRISMAS positions can be found here: How to apply – MAX IV (lu.se).

Contact
For more detailed information on the position or the research project, please contact:
Magnus Andersson
Email: magnus.p.andersson@umu.se.

If you have questions on the selection process, please contact:
prismas@maxiv.lu.se.

For questions on the employment conditions and the university, please contact:
Linda Lundberg
Email: linda.lundberg@umu.se.

Information box

Admission

2023-09-01 or by agreement

Salary

Monthly

Application deadline

2023-10-31

Registration number

AN 2.2.1-1405-23

Contact

Magnus Andersson

090-7865756

Union representative

SACO 090-7865365

SEKO 090-7865296

ST 090-7865431