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Project description
Third-cycle subject: biological physics
Bio-based materials are a promising class of materials because of their sustainability and abundance of supply, such as trees and waste products. But to get attractive material properties, such as tensile strength, the molecules involved need to be assembled in a controlled fashion into ordered structures such as fibers. Both in nature and in industry this often involves changes in pH driven by changes in solvent composition, which changes the charge of surface groups thereby significantly modifying the interactions between molecules. For industrial processing, this can be combined with flow to obtain orientation and alignment of molecules. In the flow the pH is then changed to initiate aggregation of molecules into fibers. As it is not possible to measure protonation states of surface groups in flow experimentally, the optimization of these processes is currently mostly trial and error with varying success. In this project we will use large-scale classical molecular dynamics simulations to study aggregation of bio-molecules in flow. A newly developed dynamic protonation algorithm, which we implemented in the popular molecular simulation package GROMACS, provides the correct average protonation for groups depending on their local environment. This enables both fundamental understanding of the processes, as well as as a route to rationally optimize pH and flow conditions.
This position as a PhD student is linked with INTERFACE, a research environment funded by the Swedish Research Council using multiscale methods to study boiling, friction and synthesis of biomaterials. The INTERFACE environment is a collaboration between several groups at the departments of Applied Physics and Mechanics and the Wallenberg wood science center at KTH. The environment is multi-disciplinary, international and includes main developers of the popular GROMACS molecular simulation package, which will be used in this project.
Supervision: The doctoral student will be placed at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology and supervised by: Professor Berk Hess
What we offer
The possibility to study in a dynamic and international research environment in collaboration with industries and prominent universities from all over the world.
A compulsory individual study plan to support your development in your area of interest.
A workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement.
Eligibility
To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:
A suitable background for this position is a Master of Science in physics, biophysics or physical chemistry. The candidate should have a strong interest in computer simulations. Experience with statistical mechanics and fluid mechanics is valued.
Selection
In order to succeed as an doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. In the selection of the applicants, the following will be assessed:
After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal qualities and personal suitability.
Target degree: Doctoral degree
Information regarding admission and employment
Only those who are or have been admitted to third-cycle studies may be employed as a doctoral student. The term of the initial contract may not exceed one year and may there after be extended. Doctoral students may engage in teaching, research, and administration corresponding to a maximum of 20 % of a full-time position.
Union representatives
You will find contact information for union representatives on KTH's website.
Doctoral section (Students’ union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology)
You will find contact information for doctoral section on the section's website.
Application
Apply for the position and admission through KTH's recruitment system. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.
Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/entral European Summer Time).
Applications must include the following elements:
Other information
Gender equality, diversity and zero tolerance against discrimination and harassment are important aspects of KTH's work with quality as well as core values in our organization.
For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process please read here.
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Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.
Type of employment | Temporary position |
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Contract type | Full time |
First day of employment | According to agreement |
Salary | Monthly salary according to KTH's doctoral student salary agreement |
Number of positions | 1 |
Full-time equivalent | 100% |
City | Stockholm |
County | Stockholms län |
Country | Sweden |
Reference number | S-2019-1916 |
Contact |
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Published | 14.Nov.2019 |
Last application date | 16.Dec.2019 11:59 PM CET |