Postdoc in Microfluidics-SANS for characterising therapeutic nanoparticles

Karlstad University; Göteborgs kommun; On-site; SEK 420,000 - 540,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee benefits

Swedish courses

Coastal city of Gothenburg

Job summary

Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg invites applications for a postdoctoral position to design a microfluidics setup for studying lipid and polymer-based nanoparticles under flow, using small angle neutron scattering at ESS. The project is a collaboration with the Holme group, Stubelius group, and international partners.

You will work independently and with colleagues to develop structure–function relationships in therapeutic delivery systems, supervise master’s/PhD students to some

Qualifications

• A doctoral degree in a relevant field such as soft matter, biophysics, materials science, nanomedicine, chemistry, or related disciplines, or an equivalent foreign degree. Must be obtained no later than the time the employment decision is made.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Experience in microfluidics for nanoparticle characterisation.
• Strong analytical skills, experience with interdisciplinary research, and ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Experience (meritorious) if the doctoral degree has been obtained within the last three years prior to the application deadline.
• Experience in using neutrons or X-rays to study soft or hard matter at large‑scale research infrastructures.
• Experience in in‑vitro experiments to characterise nanoparticle therapeutic efficacy.
• Experience in molecular dynamics simulations (coarse grain or all atom) and working knowledge in Python.

Responsibilities

• Develop a microfluidics system to be employed at small angle scattering beamlines at the ESS to study nanoparticle structures and interactions under various biologically relevant conditions.
• Understand how surface functionalisation, protein corona formation, and glycosylation influence the structure and biological function of lipid‑ and polymer‑based nanocarriers.
• Collaborate with group members with expertise in small‑angle neutron scattering (SANS), in‑vitro characterisation, and molecular dynamics simulations to establish structure–function relationships in advanced therapeutic delivery systems.
• Supervise master’s and/or PhD students to a certain extent.
• Position is based at Chalmers University of Technology, in Gothenburg, and occasional travel to the ESS in Lund for periods of up to a week at a time for beamtime experiments.

Skills

Microfluidics

Interdisciplinary research

English proficiency

Independent work

Nanoparticle characterisation

In‑vitro experiments

Molecular dynamics simulations

Python

Education

Doctoral degree in soft matter/biophysics/chemistry or related field

Experience within last 3 years (meritorious)

Tools

Python

Job description

Postdoc in Microfluidics‑SANS for characterising therapeutic nanoparticles

Our goal is to focus on competence, knowledge and collaboration in order to play an important, demonstrable role in social development.

Do you want to contribute to groundbreaking research in the field of structural characterisation of therapeutic nanoparticles? This is an exciting opportunity for a postdoctoral position at the Division of Molecular Bioscience, Department of Life Sciences, focused on innovative research in designing microfluidics chips for studying lipid and polymer-based nanoparticles under flow using neutron and X-ray scattering techniques.

About the research project

You will design a microfluidics setup for studying therapeutic nanoparticles and how they respond to their environment, using small angle neutron scattering at the European Spallation Source (ESS). This project is a collaboration between the Holme group (main supervisor), Stubelius group and others at Chalmers University of Technology, James Doutch at ISIS Neutron and Muon Source (UK), and Judith Houston at the ESS (Lund, Sweden). The Holme group is highly specialised in SANS data collection and analysis, and previous expertise in SANS, while meritous, is not a primary requirement for successful candidates.

Qualifications

• A doctoral degree in a relevant field such as soft matter, biophysics, materials science, nanomedicine, chemistry, or related disciplines, or an equivalent foreign degree. Must be obtained no later than the time the employment decision is made.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Experience in microfluidics for nanoparticle characterisation.
• Strong analytical skills, experience with interdisciplinary research, and ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Experience (meritorious) if the doctoral degree has been obtained within the last three years prior to the application deadline.
• Experience in using neutrons or X-rays to study soft or hard matter at large‑scale research infrastructures.
• Experience in in‑vitro experiments to characterise nanoparticle therapeutic efficacy.
• Experience in molecular dynamics simulations (coarse grain or all atom) and working knowledge in Python.

What you will do

• Develop a microfluidics system to be employed at small angle scattering beamlines at the ESS to study nanoparticle structures and interactions under various biologically relevant conditions.
• Understand how surface functionalisation, protein corona formation, and glycosylation influence the structure and biological function of lipid‑ and polymer‑based nanocarriers.
• Collaborate with group members with expertise in small‑angle neutron scattering (SANS), in‑vitro characterisation, and molecular dynamics simulations to establish structure–function relationships in advanced therapeutic delivery systems.
• Supervise master’s and/or PhD students to a certain extent.
• Position is based at Chalmers University of Technology, in Gothenburg, and occasional travel to the ESS in Lund for periods of up to a week at a time for beamtime experiments.

Contract terms

The position is a temporary full‑time employment for two years with the possibility of a one‑year extension.

Physical presence is required throughout the entire employment. A valid residence permit must be presented by the start date, otherwise the offer may be withdrawn.

What we offer

• A postdoc at Chalmers, an employee enjoying all employee benefits.
• A dynamic and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg.
• Swedish courses to help settle in for non‑native speakers.