Jobbnorge ID: 123642

Four PhD positions are available at the NOBIPOL research group, Department of Biotechnology. The appointment has duration of 3 years with the possibility of until 1 year extension with 25% teaching duties in agreement with the department. (To undertake the teaching duties it is a requirement that the candidate speaks Norwegian or another Scandinavian language).

The positions are financed by NTNU strategy program (three) and Research Council of Norway (One). More details about the individual position are stated below.

Information about the department

The positions are hosted at Norwegian biopolymer laboratory - NOBIPOL, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology.

NOBIPOL is a multidisciplinary research group within NTNU devoted to the field Biopolymer Engineering, with main focus on the science and technologies of marine polysaccharides, in particular alginates and chitosans. On the basis of more than 60 years of continuous research in the field, NOBIPOL possesses unmatched competence and experience in science and technology of marine polysaccharides. The current activities of NOBIPOL take place within the Department of Biotechnology, in close collaboration with the Department of Physics, the Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, as well as SINTEF Materials and Chemistry.

Currently, there are 12 professors, 3 associate professors, 4 adjunct professors and about 30 PhD research fellows and postdoctoral positions appointed at the Department of Biotechnology where 6 seniors and 8 juniors are associated with NOBIPOL. Further information is available at: http://www.ntnu.edu/biotech

Job description and Qualifications

PhD position I:Biomaterials for tissue engineering allowing for cell migration and cell interconnectivity

(Financed by NTNU Biotechnology strategy program)

The PhD project aims for the tailoring of three-dimensional semi-synthetic analogues to the extracellular matrix relevant for the in vitro study of macrophage migration during infections as well as the formation of interconnecting networks of neurons. The project will focus on the development and characterization of novel materials based on alginate where biological, mechanical and rheological properties can be tailored separately. The project is expected to gain basic knowledge in physical and biological factors contributing to cell migration and network formation in 3D matrices.

The applicant must have an MSc (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Biotechnology or Biophysics/Nanotechnology. Experience in relevant fields associated to the project is considered an advantage, such as biopolymer chemistry, chemical modification of carbohydrates, rheology, high resolution microscopy and cell and tissue culture.

The successful candidate should be creative and ambitious, with a strong ability to work problem oriented. She/he should also enjoy interdisciplinary research and take keen interest in learning and working in teams.

PhD position II: Alginate based materials for cell therapy and tissue engineering

(Financed by NTNU strategy program)

The PhD project will focus on the chemical and enzymatic modification of alginates for making materials relevant for cell therapy and tissue engineering applications. Also, the chemoenzymatic modification for controlled positioning of crosslink in hydrogels is of interest. Relevant properties of the materials are stability, rheology and biological activity.

The applicant must have an MSc (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Biotechnology or Biophysics/nanotechnology. Experience in relevant fields associated to the project is considered an advantage, such as biopolymer chemistry, chemical or enzymatic modification of carbohydrates, rheology, confocal laser scanning microscopy and cell and tissue culture.

The successful candidate should be creative and ambitious, with a strong ability to work problem oriented. She/he should also enjoy interdisciplinary research and take keen interest in learning and working in teams.

PhD position III: Highlighting sugars to understand their interplay with proteins

(Financed by NTNU strategy program)

The PhD position will associate with an ongoing project on bacterial chitosan, where the PhD will build upon a new method for the production of bacterial chitosan, which will enable the highlighting of the carbohydrate with NMR active isotopes. This new product can be used to obtain structural information on the interaction complex between the carbohydrate and proteins with atomic level resolution. Furthermore, the highlighted carbohydrate can also be used to investigate catalytic turnover, thus providing quantitative and qualitative insights into the enzymatic mechanisms.

The applicant must have an MSc (or equivalent) in NMR spectroscopy with a background in Biotechnology or Chemistry. Experience in fields related to the project is considered an advantage, such as molecular genetics, production and purification of proteins and chemical modification of carbohydrates.

A successful applicant should be creative and ambitious person, with a strong ability to work problem oriented. She/he should also be flexible, enjoy interdisciplinary research, and take keen interest in learning and working in teams.



PhD position IV: Nature's Creation of non-Random Structures: Molecular Mechanisms for Processivity and Specificity of Polysaccharide Modifying Enzymes.

(Financed by The FriMedBio program at Research Council of Norway)

The PhD research aims at creating basic understanding of the structure and functions of enzymes acting on alginate and expands the knowledge on structural features that determine the extent of processivity and specificity for alginate C-5 epimerases. The project also has an applied perspective for targeted enzyme evolution using a computational approach. In addition, we expect that our research will facilitate the ultimate tailoring of the alginate biopolymer for novel industrial, medical and pharmaceutical applications, as well as improve existing applications.

The applicant must have an MSc (or equivalent) in Biotechnology or Biophysics/Nanotechnology. Experience in fields related to the project, such as biophysical characterization of protein-carbohydrate interactions (AFM, OT, ITC), carbohydrate chemistry, NMR spectroscopy, molecular genetics, production and purification of proteins, and chemoenzymatic modification of carbohydrates will be considered an advantage.

A successful applicant should be creative and ambitious person, with a strong ability to work problem oriented. She/he should also be flexible, enjoy interdisciplinary research, take keen interest in learning and been a team player.

Other Qualifications

The regulations for PhD programs at NTNU state that a Master degree or equivalent with at least 5 years of studies and an average grade of A or B within a scale of A-E for passing grades (A best) for the two last years of the MSc is required and C or higher of the BSc. Candidates from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a Diploma Supplement or a similar document, which describes in detail the study and grade system and the rights for further studies associated with the obtained degree:

http://ec.europa.eu/education/tools/diploma-supplement_en.htm

The position requires spoken and written fluency in the English language. Applicants from non-English-speaking countries outside Europe must document English skills by an approved test. Approved tests are TOEFL, IELTS and Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English(CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE).

Detailed information on our PhD programs is found at: http://www.ntnu.edu/nt/research/phd

Terms of employment

The appointment of the PhD fellows will be made according to Norwegian guidelines for universities and university colleges and to the general regulations regarding university employees. Applicants must agree to participate in organized doctoral study programs within the period of the appointment and have to be qualified for the PhD-study.

NTNU's personnel policy objective is that the staff must reflect the composition of the population to the greatest possible extent.

The position as PhD is remunerated according to the Norwegian State salary scale. There is a 2% deduction for superannuation contribution.

For further information can be obtained please contact.

PhD position I and II: Professor Berit L. Strand, e-mail: berit.l.strand@ntnu.no, Department of Biotechnology, NOBIPOL, NTNU.

PhD position III and IV: Professor Finn L. Aachmann, e-mail: finn.l.aachmann@ntnu.no, Department of Biotechnology, NOBIPOL, NTNU.

Further information about the Department can be found at http://www.ntnu.edu/biotech

The application

Applications with CV, certificates from both Bachelor and Master, possible publications and other scientific works, copies of transcripts, (copies of documentation on English language proficiency test) and reference letters should be submitted. Furthermore, with the application we request a one-page "Personal Motivation Letter" for the individual position.

Applications must be submitted electronically through this page.

Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered.

The reference number of the position is: NT- 34/16

Application deadline: 1st of May 2016

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