Doctoral student in metabolic engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for anaerobic production - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Project description

Third-cycle subject: Biotechnology

The overall purpose of this project is to design, test and build new anaerobic pathways for low-molecular-weight microbial products that hitherto can only be made aerobically. Microbial metabolic pathways for anaerobic production of a desired chemical provide by definition the most efficient stoichiometric biotechnological option when thermodynamically feasible. Starting with proof-of-principle anaerobic production with yeast, general pathway-design strategies will be derived that can be applied to economically efficient and sustainable production of chemicals. The project will apply state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques, genomics and proteomics, enzyme-constrained genome scale models, combined with laboratory evolution and quantitative physiology in bioreactors.

The PhD student will communicate scientific progress within the team at KTH, as well as through oral presentations, scientific publications and through information for a general audience. In addition to the research, the PhD student will contribute to (co-)Supervision of MSc students and teaching and supervision in lab courses on Cultivation Technology and Bioprocess Design.

Supervision: Antonius van Maris is proposed to be the main supervisor. Dr. Gustav Sjöberg is proposed to be co-supervisor. Collaborators will also be involved in the project. Decisions are made on admission

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.
• Work and study in Stockholm, close to nature and the water.
• Help to relocate and be settled in Sweden and at KTH.
• The Department of Industrial Biotechnology at KTH provides societally relevant biotechnological solutions for sustainable production of pharmaceuticals, chemicals, materials and fuels, as well as contributing to clean water and environment.

Admission requirements

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 second cycle degree (for example a master's degree), or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
• acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6, read more here

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 assessed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach and
• analyse and work with complex issues.
• Functionally analyse central, and preferably anaerobic, metabolism of a microorganism, preferably Saccharomyces cerevisiae, preferably using (enzyme constrained) genome scale models.
• Perform, preferably CRISPR based, genetic engineering and/or bioreactor cultivations.
• Demonstrate personal integrity, good communication, focus on goals and results, persistence and seeing the bigger picture.

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal competency. 

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. In the case of studies that are to be completed with a licentiate degree, the total period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for two years.

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.

To apply for the position

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/Central 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)
• Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages.Copies of originals must be certified.
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

Other information

Striving towards gender equality, diversity and equal conditions is both a question of quality for KTH and a given part of our values.

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process please read here.

We firmly decline all contact with staffing and recruitment agencies and job ad salespersons.

Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.