项目介绍

2025年2月26日

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universities. The University has around 47 000 students and more than 8 800 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.

The research project will be conducted at the Department of Chemistry at Lund University which belongs to both the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Engineering (LTH). The Department of Chemistry has a unique strength for Sweden with education in all areas of chemistry and research by internationally leading research groups which ranges from basic to applied research areas. The PhD student will be part of a collaborative network of students and researchers at the division of Physical Chemistry ( http://www.physchem.lu.se ) at Lund University.

The project will be in the research group of Assoc. Prof. Felix Roosen-Runge. The research group is working on biological soft matter, focusing on protein structure and dynamics, protein diffusion, phase behavior in protein solutions and assembly processes.

Subject description

Physical Chemistry includes research addressing molecular questions. The applied experimental and theoretical methods often have their origin in physics. Within physical chemistry at the Department of Chemistry, the focus lies on experimental and theoretical research within surface and colloid science, with a special focus on self-assembling systems. Lipids, polymers and biomolecules are examples of studied systems.

This PhD project studies food proteins from plant seeds employing a soft matter and biophysical perspective. A particular focus is on the question how plant proteins react to changes in temperature and chemical environment in terms of phase behavior and structural transitions. These seed proteins are promising candidates to replace animal-derived food proteins with a more sustainable, healthy and affordable protein source. However, plant proteins are very different from animal proteins regarding solubility, conformation and stability, which requires more fundamental understanding to then create opportunities for tunable food assembly in the future. The project combines physicochemical laboratory work with time-resolved monitoring of structure and dynamics during assembly processes using biophysical scattering techniques.

Work duties

Proteins from plant seeds are complex macromolecules with limited solubility and high structural stability under normal environmental conditions. The understanding of optimal physicochemical conditions for extraction and processing of these sustainable proteins is thus of high importance.

In this PhD project you will study plant proteins from a soft matter and biophysical perspective, by focusing on macromolecular interactions, phase behavior and structural transitions.

This project is part of a larger research program that aims to translate conceptual and methodological developments in soft matter and protein biophysics into food science. In this research program, we aim to apply modern scattering and microscopy techniques to study structure and mutual interactions in polydisperse solutions of food proteins from different extraction protocols from plant seeds, and explore subsequent assembly processes and resulting hydrogel properties. You will be integral part of the program and benefit from interactions with the other members to build a strong understanding of biological soft matter and protein science.

As specific tasks, you will combine scattering techniques, optical and fluorescence microscopy and optical spectroscopy on solutions of sustainable plant proteins. To complement your skill set, you will apply standard biochemical preparation and characterization techniques such as SDS-PAGE and size-exclusion chromatography. We will in particular also use state-of-the-art time-resolved scattering techniques, which will provide you with a good understanding on potential applications of large-scale facilities such as MAX IV and ESS in Lund within food and pharmaceutical research.

You will have the opportunity to learn and master a broad range of characterization techniques relevant for soft and biological matter, and protein science. The division of Physical Chemistry offers a well-equipped shared laboratory with a broad range of modern characterization techniques, including small-angle X-ray and light scattering instruments, rheology, calorimetry, AFM, NMR, optical spectroscopy, and fluorescence, confocal and optical microscopy. 

The research group has a deep expertise and a strong track record with large-scale facility research at synchrotron and neutron facilities, such as MAX IV and ESS in Lund. You will have the opportunity to experience these unique and world-leading scientific environments during experimental campaigns, and strengthen general soft skills by co-managing these team-based experimental campaigns and writing competitive proposals for measurement time. You will also develop expertise in data analysis and scientific computing as a key academic skill in the era of big data sets.

The work will be performed in a team of PhD and project students, postdocs and the supervisors. We aim for an interactive and team-based research program, in which each member is encouraged to actively contribute with ideas and competence to a common scientific progress. You will have the opportunity to participate in national and international workshops, summer schools and conferences – not only to present and disseminate the research, but also to strengthen the personal network with other researchers and collaborators.

We aim for you to become an active and independent researcher at the interdisciplinary boundary of soft matter, food and protein science.

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to research studies, which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties will also include teaching and other departmental duties (not more than 20%).

Admission requirements

As an ideal candidate for the PhD position, you have a master’s degree in physics, biophysics, physical chemistry or chemical engineering, or equivalent merits from another topically related study program.

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.

The requirements for specific entry requirements for Physical Chemistry are fulfilled by those who have: At least 120 credits of chemistry courses, of which at least 30 credits must be second-cycle thesis work in the chosen specialisation or closely related specialisations. The special qualification may also have been obtained through other equivalent education, which is assessed in each individual case.

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• Good knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the work duties.
• Ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.

Assessment criteria

We are looking for a person who is enthusiastic about interdisciplinary work between physics, chemistry and food science, and is interested in proteins as soft matter building blocks of biology and food.

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:

• Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the work duties.
• An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
• Written and oral communication skills
• Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience of biophysical studies of proteins.

Other assessment criteria:

• Documented research experience with protein solutions or soft matter science is a merit.
• Hands-on and theoretical knowledge of one or several of the following experimental methods are a strong merit:

1. light, neutron or X-ray scattering;
2. data analysis of larger data sets;
3. scientific scripting (e.g. python, matlab);
4. optical spectroscopy;
5. fluorescence or optical microscopy;
6. protein preparation and characterization (e.g. size-exclusion chromatography, SDS-PAGE)

• Motivation and ability to actively contribute to an interdisciplinary and international research environment at the boundary between soft matter science and food science are a merit.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

Terms of employment

Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies consist of full-time studies for 4 years. In the case of teaching and other institutional work, the employment is extended accordingly, but for a maximum of 5 years (i.e. max. 20%). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications shall be written in English and include a cover letter containing a research statement summarizing previous research accomplishments and the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).