Doctoral student in simulation of assembly of bio-molecules using pH - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Project description

Third-cycle subject: Biological Physics.

Bio-based materials are promising because of their sustainability and abundance of supply. But to get attractive material properties, e.g. 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, which changes the charge of surface groups thereby modifying the interactions between molecules. For industrial processing, this can be combined with flow to obtain alignment of molecules. As it is impossible to measure protonation states of surface groups experimentally, these processes are currently mostly trial and error. This project will use atomistic classical molecular dynamics simulations to study aggregation of bio-molecules. A new dynamic protonation algorithm, which we implemented in the popular molecular simulation package GROMACS, provides the correct protonation for groups depending on their local environment. This enables both fundamental understanding of the processes and rational optimization of pH and flow conditions.

The position is linked with INTERFACE, a research environment that focuses on multiscale methods to study boiling, friction and synthesis of biomaterials, comprised of 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 GROMACS.

Supervision: The doctoral student will be 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.Read more
• A workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement.
• A postgraduate education at an institution that is active and supportive in matters pertaining to working conditions, gender equality and diversity as well as study environment.
• Help to relocate and be settled in Sweden and at KTH.

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:

• passed a degree at advanced level,
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at advanced level, or
• in any other way acquired within or outside the country acquired essentially equivalent knowledge.
• Language requirements

Selection

In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach and
• analyse and work with complex issues.

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 admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years ' time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

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:

• CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, about what your academic interests are and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Maximum 2 pages long)
• Copy of the degree certificate(s) and transcripts of records from your previously attended university-level institutions and certificates of fulfilled language requirements.These need to be translated into English or Swedish if the original documents are not issued in one of these languages.
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

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.