Doctoral student in Engineering Geology with focus on geophysical monitoring of groundwater processes

 Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top 100 universities. The University has around 46 000 students and more than 8 000 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard gender equality and diversity as a strength and an asset.

Introduction

We seek a PhD student for the research project "Blue Transition - How to make my region climate resilient". The project is financed by the EU Interreg North Sea Region and Sweden Water Research. The project team consists of experts in groundwater resources and applied geophysics, and is a collaboration between universities, government agencies, water supply companies, river water councils, etc. The PhD student will work with monitoring of hydrogeological processes in the ground through geoelectrical measurements, in natural ground and in connection with MAR (managed aquifer recharge).

The investigation area will be in the south of Sweden, in particular in the Vomb Trough area and in the Bolmen area. In both areas, a monitoring system will be installed which will run for several years. This will be accompanied with geophysical measurements in adjacent areas, which may include ground based, air- and water-borne geophysical data acquisition. The data should then also be used to develop resp. improve the hydrogeological model. In parallel to the geophysical measurements, also hydrogeological, geochemical and microbiological investigations will be made to provide reference data to interpret the geophysical properties. Furthermore supporting laboratory investigations are conceivable. 

Work tasks

As a PhD student you will work on testing and optimising geophysical methods of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and induced polarisation tomography (IPT) combined as a tool for monitoring hydrogeological properties and processes. The work will chiefly include field tests, data collection techniques, signal processing, numerical modeling, visualisation and analysis of the results. Furthermore to present results in written and oral form in academic contexts as well as to the industry and stakeholders.

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies, which include both participation in research projects and third cycle courses. Duties may also include participation in teaching and other work at the department up to a  maximum of 20% of the time.

Admission requirements 

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant: 

  • has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
  • has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
  • has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in Engineering Geology if the applicant has: 

  • At least 45 second-cycle credits of relevance to the field of the third cycle programme.

Other requirements:

  • Good skills of English, spoken and written.
  • A good knowledge of physics, mathematics and statistics.
  • A base in hydrogeology or geophysics.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in computer programming.
  • Documented practical skills such as the ability to plan and carry out data collection in the field.
  • Good communication skills with ability to write reports/publications and to disseminate results.
  • Collaboration skills are a necessity to interact with the other participants in the research teams as well as organisations and industry taking part in the cooperation.
  • Valid driving license is necessary for carrying out the field experiments.

Other merits

  • A background in both hydrogeology and geophysics.
  • Knowledge of geology, GIS and inorganic chemistry.
  • Skills in written and oral communication in Swedish (to understand background material and interact with collaboration partners).

Assessment criteria

Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the student’s potential to profit from such studies. The assessment of potential is made primarily on the basis of academic results from the first and second cycle. Special attention is paid to the following: 

  1. Knowledge and skills relevant for the thesis and the thesis subject.
  2. Ability to work independently and ability to formulate and solve scientific problems.
  3. Skills in written and oral communication. 
  4. Other experience relevant to third-cycle studies, e.g.  professional experience.

Consideration will also be given to drive and independence as well as how the applicant's skills and experience are deemed to match the capacity needed to succeed with postgraduate education.

Terms of employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. Postgraduate education is four years of full-time studies. If teaching and other departmental work is included employment is extended correspondingly, up to a maximum of 5 years (i.e. max. 20%). Rules regarding the appointment of postgraduate students are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Instructions for application

Applications should be written in English. Applications must include a letter of motivation as to why you are interested in the position, and how the research project matches your interests and educational background. The application must also include a CV, diploma or equivalent, and documenation of other background that you wish to refer to (copies of diplomas, contact information for references, recommendation letters, etc.). You are also asked to answer the selection questions. 

Type of employmentTemporary position longer than 6 months
Contract typeFull time
First day of employmentAs soon as possible according to agreement
SalaryMånadslön
Number of positions1
Full-time equivalent100%
CityLund
CountySkåne län
CountrySweden
Reference numberPA2022/4006
Contact
  • Tina Martin, tina.martin@tg.lth.se
Union representative
  • OFR/ST:Fackförbundet ST:s kansli, 046-2229362
  • SACO:Saco-s-rådet vid Lunds universitet, kansli@saco-s.lu.se
  • SEKO: Seko Civil, 046-2229366
Published14.Dec.2022
Last application date11.Jan.2023 11:59 PM CET

PhD position Protein engineering novel enzyme reactions in MSCA-DN BiodeCCodiNNg

 The main part of your PhD research (4 years in total) will be carried out at the University of Groningen (RUG, the Netherlands) under the supervision of Assist. Prof. Dr. Sandy Schmidt in the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology at the Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy. Within these four years, two academic research stays (in total 10 months) will take place at the University of Graz (UG, Austria) under the supervision of Prof. Karl Gruber, and at the University of Zagreb (UZAG, Croatia) under the supervision of Prof. Zvjezdana Findrik Blažević. Additionally, an industrial secondment at the company AstraZeneca (Gothenburg, Sweden) is foreseen. The Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) – Doctoral Network (DN) project starts in January 2023. The date of recruitment and start of the PhD project is planned for May 2023 and latest in December 2023. Your PhD degree will be awarded based on successful completion of the research work from University of Groningen (RUG, the Netherlands). You will also be required to participate in the training events and workshops organized by the DN program. As a MSCA fellow, you are also expected to contribute your time in the dissemination of your PhD project’s result through public engagement and other scientific platforms.

The PhD research will focus on:

(i) Interdisciplinary project on biocatalysis, structural biology and chemistry
(ii) Evaluation of substrate- and reaction scopes of novel nitrogen-nitrogen bond forming enzymes,
(iii) Solving the crystal structures of relevant enzymes and elucidating reaction mechanism (1st academic secondment),
(iv) Protein engineering and assay development,
(v) Characterization studies and preparative-scale reactions (2nd academic secondment),
(vi) Up-scaling of relevant reactions (industrial secondment).

Primary supervisor: Dr. Sandy Schmidt (s.schmidt@rug.nlhttp://schmidt-researchgroup.com)

Recruiting institution: University of Groningen (the Netherlands)

Qualifications

  • an outstanding M.Sc. degree in Biological chemistry, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Chemistry or related field
  • eligible as a graduate student at University of Groningen (the Netherlands)
  • research experience in molecular biology (molecular cloning, DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis), analytical methods (HPLC, GC, MS, NMR etc.), biochemistry (e.g. protein production and characterization) and microbiology (cultivation, induction of gene expression, knowledge of sterile working etc.)
  • ability to work in an international team
  • inter- and multidisciplinary thinking
  • high motivation
  • an integrative and cooperative personality with excellent communication and social skills
  • fluency in English – written and oral.

Organisation

Since its founding in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative centre of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. We encourage the 36,000 students and researchers to develop their own individual talents. Among the best research universities in Europe, we join forces with prestigious partner universities and networks around the world, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.

The position we offer will be embedded in the Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP) within the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology (CBP, https://www.rug.nl/research/grip/cpb/). Researchers at GRIP strive to find new and innovative drugs and therapies and wish to improve the use of existing drugs. Bridging the gap between the fundamental natural sciences (such as chemistry and physics) and the medical/clinical sciences in the field of medicinal products is the one of the core activities of the institute. The CPB Department is represented by an enthusiastic group of researchers from different parts of the world. The cell as producer and target for pharmaceuticals is the main part of the research at CBP.

Conditions of employment

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

  • a salary of € 2,541 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 3,247 gross per month in the fourth and final year
  • a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income
  • an 8.3% end-of-year bonus and participation in a pension scheme for employees
  • first, a temporary position of one year with the option of renewal for another three years. Prolongation of the contract is contingent on sufficient progress in the first year to indicate that a successful completion of the PhD thesis within the next three years is to be expected. A PhD training programme is part of the agreement and the successful candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School of Science and Engineering.

The 1.0 FTE appointment is temporary for a specified period of four years. The preferred starting date is between May 1st and July 1st 2023. The conditions of employment: https://www.rug.nl/about-us/work-with-us/

Application

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
To apply for the position, kindly provide:

(i) a letter of motivation including a statement of your research interests, relevant skills and experience and an explanation for the choice of position(s)
(ii) a CV including publication list (if applicable);
(iii) names and contact details of three referees willing to write confidential letters of recommendation;
(iv) copies of relevant diplomas including explanation of international grades.

Please upload applications only according to instructions at www.biodeccodinng.eu.

Address applications to: Dr. Sandy Schmidt

The University of Groningen strives to be a university in which students and staff are respected and feel at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identities. We believe that working on our core values of inclusion and equality are a joint responsibility and we are constructively working on creating a socially safe environment. Diversity among students and staff members enriches academic debate and contributes to the quality of our teaching and research. We therefore invite applicants from underrepresented groups in particular to apply. For more information, see also our diversity policy webpage: https://www.rug.nl/(...)rsity-and-inclusion/
Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP): https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/nl/sollicitatiecode and European Commission's European Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code

We provide career services for partners of new faculty members moving to Groningen.

Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.

APPLICATION DEADLINE
You may apply until 10th of January 11:59pm / before 11th of January 2023 Dutch local time (CET) for this position by means of the electronic application form on the project website (http://biodeccodinng.eu/recruitment).

Information

For information you can contact:

  • Dr. Sandy Schmidt, for more information about the project or questions about the position, s.schmidt@rug.nl

Please do not use the e-mail address(es) above for applications.

PhD position Enzyme discovery and characterization in MSCA-DN BiodeCCodiNNg DC1

 The main part of your PhD research (4 years in total) will be carried out at the University of Groningen (RUG, the Netherlands) under the supervision of Assist. Prof. Dr. Sandy Schmidt in the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology at the Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy. Within these four years, two academic research stays (in total 6 months) will take place at the University of Graz (UG, Austria) under the supervision of Prof. Karl Gruber, and at the Ruhr-University Bochum (RUB, Germany) under the supervision of Prof. Dirk Tischler. Additionally, an industrial secondment at the company AstraZeneca (Gothenburg, Sweden) is foreseen. The Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) – Doctoral Network (DN) project starts in January 2023. The date of recruitment and start of the PhD project is planned for May 2023 and latest in December 2023. Your PhD degree will be awarded based on successful completion of the research work from University of Groningen (RUG, the Netherlands). You will also be required to participate in the training events and workshops organized by the DN program. As a MSCA fellow, you are also expected to contribute your time in the dissemination of your PhD project’s result through public engagement and other scientific platforms.

The PhD research will focus on:

(i) Interdisciplinary project on bioinformatics, biocatalysis, and chemistry
(ii) Genome-guided identification of novel nitrogen-nitrogen bond forming enzymes (1st academic secondment),
(iii) Cloning, expression and biochemical characterization of identified candidates,
(iv) Elucidation of enzyme promiscuity,
(v) Analysis of N-hydroxylating enzymes for precursor synthesis (2nd academic secondment),
(vi) Application of novel enzymes in drug discovery platform (industrial secondment).

Primary supervisor: Dr. Sandy Schmidt (s.schmidt@rug.nlhttp://schmidt-researchgroup.com)

Recruiting institution: University of Groningen (the Netherlands)

Qualifications

  • an outstanding M.Sc. degree in Biological chemistry, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Chemistry or related field
  • eligible as a graduate student at University of Groningen (the Netherlands)
  • research experience in molecular biology (molecular cloning), analytical methods (HPLC, GC, MS, NMR etc.), enzyme purification and assays
  • ability to work in an international team
  • inter- and multidisciplinary thinking
  • high motivation
  • an integrative and cooperative personality with excellent communication and social skills
  • fluency in English – written and oral.

Organisation

Since its founding in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative centre of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. We encourage the 36,000 students and researchers to develop their own individual talents. Among the best research universities in Europe, we join forces with prestigious partner universities and networks around the world, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.
The position we offer will be embedded in the Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP) within the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology (CBP, https://www.rug.nl/research/grip/cpb/). Researchers at GRIP strive to find new and innovative drugs and therapies and wish to improve the use of existing drugs. Bridging the gap between the fundamental natural sciences (such as chemistry and physics) and the medical/clinical sciences in the field of medicinal products is the one of the core activities of the institute. The CPB Department is represented by an enthusiastic group of researchers from different parts of the world. The cell as producer and target for pharmaceuticals is the main part of the research at CBP.

Conditions of employment

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

  • a salary of € 2,541 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 3,247 gross per month in the fourth and final year
  • a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income
  • an 8.3% end-of-year bonus and participation in a pension scheme for employees
  • first, a temporary position of one year with the option of renewal for another three years. Prolongation of the contract is contingent on sufficient progress in the first year to indicate that a successful completion of the PhD thesis within the next three years is to be expected. A PhD training programme is part of the agreement and the successful candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School of Science and Engineering.

The 1.0 FTE appointment is temporary for a specified period of four years. The preferred starting date is between May 1st and July 1st 2023. The conditions of employment: https://www.rug.nl/about-us/work-with-us/

Application

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
To apply for the position, kindly provide:

(i) a letter of motivation including a statement of your research interests, relevant skills and experience and an explanation for the choice of position(s)
(ii) a CV including publication list (if applicable)
(iii) names and contact details of three referees willing to write confidential letters of recommendation
(iv) copies of relevant diplomas including explanation of international grades.

Please upload applications only according to instructions at www.biodeccodinng.eu. Address applications to: Dr. Sandy Schmidt

The University of Groningen strives to be a university in which students and staff are respected and feel at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identities. We believe that working on our core values of inclusion and equality are a joint responsibility and we are constructively working on creating a socially safe environment. Diversity among students and staff members enriches academic debate and contributes to the quality of our teaching and research. We therefore invite applicants from underrepresented groups in particular to apply. For more information, see also our diversity policy webpage: https://www.rug.nl/(...)rsity-and-inclusion/
Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP): https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/nl/sollicitatiecode and European Commission's European Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code

We provide career services for partners of new faculty members moving to Groningen.

Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.

APPLICATION DEADLINE
You may apply until 10th of January 11:59pm / before 11th of January 2023 Dutch local time (CET) for this position by means of the electronic application form on the project website (http://biodeccodinng.eu/recruitment).

PhD position Discovery and exploration of enzymes in MSCA-DN BiodeCCodiNNg

 The main part of your PhD research (4 years in total) will be carried out at the University of Groningen (RUG, the Netherlands) under the supervision of Prof. Gerrit J. Poelarends in the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology at the Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy. Within these four years, two academic research stays (in total 6 months) will take place at the University of Zagreb (UZAG, HR) under the supervision of Prof. Zvjezdana Findrik Blažević, and at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (UGOE, DE) under the supervision of Prof. Kai Tittmann. Additionally, an industrial secondment at the company Enzymicals AG (Greifswald, DE) is foreseen. The Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) – Doctoral Network (DN) project starts in January 2023. The date of recruitment and start of the PhD project is planned for May 2023 and latest in December 2023. Your PhD degree will be awarded based on successful completion of the research work from the University of Groningen (RUG, the Netherlands). You will also be required to participate in the training events and workshops organized by the DN program. As a MSCA fellow, you are also expected to contribute your time in the dissemination of your PhD project’s result through public engagement and other scientific platforms.

The PhD research will focus on:

(i) Interdisciplinary project on enzyme discovery, enzyme engineering and biocatalysis,
(ii) Investigation of the ability of 4-oxalocrotonate tautomerase (4-OT), as well as 4-OT homologues, to promiscuously catalyze Morita—Baylis—Hillman (MBH) reactions,
(iii) Engineering 4-OT to optimize its activity and enantioselectivity for MBH reactions,
(iv) Characterization of the best 4-OT variants including kinetic and biotransformation studies,
(v) Exploration of the newly engineered enzymes for large-scale synthesis of MBH products,
(vi) Determination of crystals structures of the best enzymes in complex with non-native substrates.

Primary supervisor: Prof. Gerrit J. Poelarends (g.j.poelarends@rug.nlhttps://www.rug.nl/staff/g.j.poelarends/)

Recruiting institution: University of Groningen (the Netherlands)

Qualifications

  • a M.Sc. degree in Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Chemistry or related field
  • eligible as a graduate student at the University of Groningen (the Netherlands)
  • research experience in molecular biology (molecular cloning, PCR), analytical methods (HPLC, GC, NMR etc.), enzyme purification and assays
  • ability to work in an international team
  • inter- and multidisciplinary thinking
  • high motivation
  • an integrative and cooperative personality with excellent communication and social skills
  • fluency in English – written and oral.

Organisation

Since its founding in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative centre of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. We encourage the 36,000 students and researchers to develop their own individual talents. Among the best research universities in Europe, we join forces with prestigious partner universities and networks around the world, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.

The position we offer will be embedded in the Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP) within the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology (CBP, https://www.rug.nl/research/grip/cpb/). Researchers at GRIP strive to find new and innovative drugs and therapies and wish to improve the use of existing drugs. Bridging the gap between the fundamental natural sciences (such as chemistry and physics) and the medical/clinical sciences in the field of medicinal products is the one of the core activities of the institute. The CPB Department is represented by an enthusiastic group of researchers from different parts of the world. The cell as producer and target for pharmaceuticals is the main part of the research at CBP.

Conditions of employment

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

  • a salary of € 2,541 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 3,247 gross per month in the fourth and final year
  • a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income
  • an 8.3% end-of-year bonus and participation in a pension scheme for employees
  • first, a temporary position of one year with the option of renewal for another three years. Prolongation of the contract is contingent on sufficient progress in the first year to indicate that a successful completion of the PhD thesis within the next three years is to be expected. A PhD training programme is part of the agreement and the successful candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School of Science and Engineering.

The 1.0 FTE appointment is temporary for a specified period of four years. The preferred starting date is between May 1st and July 1st 2023. The conditions of employment: https://www.rug.nl/about-us/work-with-us/.

Application

To apply for the position, kindly provide:

(i) A letter of motivation including a statement of your research interests, relevant skills and experience and an explanation for the choice of position(s);
(ii) A CV including publication list (if applicable);
(iii) Names and contact details of three referees willing to write confidential letters of recommendation;
(iv) Copies of relevant diplomas including explanation of international grades.
(v) Please upload applications only according to instructions at www.biodeccodinng.eu. Address applications to: Prof. Gerrit J. Poelarends

The University of Groningen strives to be a university in which students and staff are respected and feel at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identities. We believe that working on our core values of inclusion and equality are a joint responsibility and we are constructively working on creating a socially safe environment. Diversity among students and staff members enriches academic debate and contributes to the quality of our teaching and research. We therefore invite applicants from underrepresented groups in particular to apply. For more information, see also our diversity policy webpage: https://www.rug.nl/(...)rsity-and-inclusion/

Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP): https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/nl/sollicitatiecode and European Commission's European Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code

We provide career services for partners of new faculty members moving to Groningen.

Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.

APPLICATION DEADLINE
You may apply until 10th of January 11:59pm / before 11th of January 2023 Dutch local time (CET) for this position by means of the electronic application form on the project website (http://biodeccodinng.eu/recruitment).

Postdoctoral researcher in Learning and Data-driven Control

 We offer a postdoctoral researcher position at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. As a postdoc, you will work together with Henk van Waarde and Kanat Camlibel within the Systems, Control and Optimization Group. You will develop an original research line at the cross-section of machine learning and data-driven control, with an eye towards kernelized controller synthesis for linear and nonlinear dynamics.

About the University of Groningen
Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative center of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Balanced study and career paths in a wide variety of disciplines encourage currently more than 36,000 students and researchers to develop their own individual talents. Belonging to the best research universities in Europe and the top 100 universities in the world, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.

The Systems, Control and Optimization (SCO) Group is embedded in the Bernoulli Institute within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. The Bernoulli Institute conducts research combining theoretical as well as practical aspects of three disciplines, namely (Applied) Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence.

The University of Groningen is renowned for its long tradition in systems and control theory.

The Jan C. Willems Center for Systems and Control unites the SCO Group and the control-related research within the Engineering and Technology Institute Groningen. According to the 2022 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, the University of Groningen ranks 3rd in Europe and 15th worldwide for Automation and Control.

Qualifications

The successful applicant has:

  • a PhD degree in systems and control or applied mathematics
  • a keen interest in data-driven control, identification and learning
  • a working proficiency in English, knowledge of the Dutch language is not required.

Organisation

Conditions of employment

You will be employed by the University of Groningen (UG). You will have the opportunity to work in a vibrant research environment, and interact with researchers from the four different research groups geared towards Systems and Control at UG. You will also be able to participate in national activities organized by the Dutch Institute for Systems and Control. Funding is available to support international travel to conferences and workshops.

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

  • a full-time (1.0 FTE) postdoc position of one year with the possibility for an extension of at most one more year
  • starting date upon agreement, but preferably before September 1, 2023
  • a full-time gross salary ranging from €3.557,- to €4.670,- per month (salary scale 10)
  • benefits including 8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
  • a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible employment conditions based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities.

In addition to the employment conditions laid down in the CAO for Dutch Universities, the University of Groningen has a number of own arrangements ranging from professional development and leave arrangements to sports.

More information about working at the University of Groningen can be found here: https://www.rug.nl/(...)ork-with-us/?lang=en

Application

If you have the expertise and the experience to thrive in this role then submit your application enclosing:

  • a cover letter
  • your curriculum vitae with publication list
  • a research statement
  • three reference letters.

You may apply for this position until 31 January 11:59pm / before 1 February 2022 Dutch local time (CET) by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website).

The University of Groningen strives to be a university in which students and staff are respected and feel at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identities. We believe that working on our core values of inclusion and equality are a joint responsibility and we are constructively working on creating a socially safe environment. Diversity among students and staff members enriches academic debate and contributes to the quality of our teaching and research. We therefore invite applicants from underrepresented groups in particular to apply. For more information, see also our diversity policy webpage: https://www.rug.nl/(...)rsity-and-inclusion/
Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP): https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/nl/sollicitatiecode and European Commission's European Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code

We provide career services for partners of new faculty members moving to Groningen.

Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.

Information

For information you can contact:

Please do not use the e-mail address(es) above for applications.

Apply

PhD/Post-doc positions on Building a Synthetic Cell & Membrane Biology

 Prof. Bert Poolman, Membrane Enzymology (b.poolman@rug.nl)

Prof. Dirk-Jan Slotboom, Structural Membrane Biology (d.j.slotboom@rug.nl)
We aim to design and construct minimal cells from molecular building blocks that are capable of accumulating amino acids for protein synthesis from peptide precursors via a single peptide transport system in conjunction with encapsulated aminopeptidases. Similarly, we aim to obtain nucleotides for DNA and RNA synthesis and cofactor regeneration by developing minimal metabolic networks in vesicle based systems. Example and founding work: doi: 10.1021/jacsau.1c00406
Application link: https://bit.ly/3Wrntej

Prof. Siewert-Jan Marrink, Molecular Dynamics (s.j.marrink@rug.nl)
Based on the Martini force field and associated tools, we are currently at a stage where we can simulate the dynamics of entire cells and cellular organelles at near-atomic resolution. We aim to construct realistic models of minimal cells as well as mitochondria in order to obtain insight in their molecular level organization. Alongside, we will develop improved Martini models for the constituents, as well as efficient tools to facilitate the workflow of simulating such complex systems.
Example and founding work: doi:10.1002/wcms.1620
Application link: https://bit.ly/3UQrCar

Prof. Siewert-Jan Marrink, Molecular Dynamics (s.j.marrink@rug.nl)
Prof. Timon Idema, TU Delft (t.idema@tudelft.nl)
To aid in the rational design of synthetic cells we use a multiscale modeling framework, coupling mesoscale simulation approaches to detailed molecular dynamics simulations. We aim to understand what is needed to drive the cell to successful fission, an essential step during cell division. Improving the coupling between the different levels of resolutions will be one of the associated challenges.
Example and founding work: doi:10.3389/fmolb.2019.00059
Application link: https://bit.ly/3UNA9dV

Prof. Matthias Heinemann, Molecular Systems Biology (m.heinemann@rug.nl)
Prof. Bert Poolman, Membrane Enzymology (b.poolman@rug.nl)
The challenges of developing functional synthetic systems increase exponentially with the number of components. We aim to tackle the integration of metabolic networks by merging of reconstituted vesicles, carrying different synthetic modules, by membrane fusion as well the separation of modules over different synthetic cells and allow cross feeding. Second, by model-based experimental analysis of reconstituted systems we will debug the networks and obtain insight for further engineering.
Example and founding work: doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-12287-2
Application link: https://bit.ly/3Y8VxNT

Prof. Giovanni Maglia, Chemical Biology (giovanni.maglia@rug.nl)
Biological nanopores are protein-based sensors that have been used in single-molecule DNA and protein sequencing, and to identify molecules in complex biological samples. In our group and startup company, we use synthetic biochemistry techniques to designing and engineer nanopores for a variety of applications, with the aim of replace standard techniques such as microarrays and mass spectrometry for the analysis and sequencing of proteins.
Example and founding work: DOI: 10.1038/s41557-021-00824-w
Application link: https://bit.ly/3uJHYGY

Prof. Bert Poolman, Membrane Enzymology (b.poolman@rug.nl)
Prof. Cristina Paulino Electron Microscopy (c.paulino@rug.nl)
Physicochemical homeostasis is the ability of a system to maintain steady internal physical and chemical conditions such as pH, ionic strength, osmotic pressure and (macro)molecular crowding. The 2nd messenger cyclic-di-AMP plays a crucial regulatory role in physicochemical homeostasis of bacterial cells. We aim to elucidate the structural basis of cyclic-di-AMP sensing and control of the internal pools using biochemical and biophysical approaches, among which high-resolution electron microscopy and activity assays.
Example and founding work: doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abd7697
Application link: https://bit.ly/3Bu6DmG

Prof. Dirk Slotboom, Membrane Enzymology (d.j.slotboom@rug.nl)
Uptake of vitamins by Gram-positive bacteria is often carried out by essential Energy-Coupling Factor transporters, which are powered by ATP hydrolysis. These proteins use a unique mechanism of transport that includes conformation-specific modulation of the lipid bilayer morphology changes to steer substrate translocation. We aim to elucidate the structural basis of this unique mechanism using biochemical and biophysical approaches, among which high-resolution electron microscopy and activity assays, and molecular dynamics simulations.
Example and founding work: doi: 10.1073/pnas.2105014118
Application link: https://bit.ly/3Hx9z5U

Qualifications

• the most important criteria are enthusiasm, excellence, commitment to research and team spirit. Educational background preferably in the area of bioengineering, biochemistry, biophysics, multiscale modeling, systems biology or synthetic biology (see Job descriptions)
• candidates for a PhD position need to have completed a European Master’s degree or equivalent prior to the application deadline. Post doc candidates need to have completed their PhD
• excellent proficiency in English language.

Organisation

The University of Groningen provides an excellent environment for top-notch research in the field of biomolecular sciences. In the framework of a national program on the construction of a synthetic cell, seven PhD/Post-doc positions are available at the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute of the University of Groningen in The Netherlands.

The building of a synthetic cell is a great scientific and intellectual challenge for biophysicists, biochemists, and biologists. We aim to take on this challenge in the context of the NWO Gravitation Program BaSyC (https://goo.gl/CMRpEZ) and personal funding programs (ERC). We will combine biomolecular building blocks to create an autonomous self-reproducing cell - a synthetic cell that can sustain itself, grow, replicate and divide.

Seven PhD and Post-doc positions are available for both computational and experimental research: (i) to develop computational models at different levels of complexity with the aim to generate a feasible design of the synthetic cell; (ii) to experimentally reconstruct metabolism for cell fuelling and biosynthesis, with the ability to produce energy carriers and molecular building blocks; (iii) to build pathways that are responsible for the biosynthesis of lipids and macromolecules and integrate these pathways into a synthetic cell, (iv) to design proteins de novo that control the molecular transport across protocell membranes, also including the development of nanopores for diverse applications.

Conditions of employment

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

• for the PhD position: a salary of € 2,541 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 3,247 gross per month (based on fulltime employment) in the fourth and final year. The successful candidate will first be offered a temporary position of one year with the option of renewal for another three years. Prolongation of the contract is contingent on sufficient progress in the first year to indicate that successful completion of the PhD thesis within the next three years is to be expected. A PhD training program is part of the agreement and the successful candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School of Science and Engineering
• for the postdoc position: a temporary appointment of three years and a salary from a minimum of € 3,557 gross per month up to a maximum of € 4,670 gross per month (salary scale 10) based on a full-time position and dependent on qualification and work experience
• a full-time position (1.0 FTE)
• a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income
• an 8.3% end-of-year bonus and participation in a pension scheme for employees.

Starting date: early 2023

Application

Please send us a complete application with the below-mentioned supporting documents:

• a cover letter with background and motivation to apply for this position (1-2 pages)
• a curriculum vitae including a brief description of your research interests and accomplishments
• two letters of recommendation from former advisors/professors.

You may apply for this position until 30 January 11:59pm / before 31 January 2023 Dutch local time (CET) by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website).

The University of Groningen strives to be a university in which students and staff are respected and feel at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identities. We believe that working on our core values of inclusion and equality are a joint responsibility and we are constructively working on creating a socially safe environment. Diversity among students and staff members enriches academic debate and contributes to the quality of our teaching and research. We therefore invite applicants from underrepresented groups in particular to apply. For more information, see also our diversity policy webpage: https://www.rug.nl/(...)rsity-and-inclusion/

Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP): https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/nl/sollicitatiecode and European Commission's European Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code

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Information

For information you can contact:

  • Please contact the contact person that is mentioned in each job description,

Please do not use the e-mail address(es) above for applications.

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