PhD position in chemistry within Umeå University Industrial Doctoral School - Befattningen är under tillsättning eller redan tillsatt, och det är inte längre möjligt att lämna in en ansökan

Removal of pollutants by photosynthetic microorganisms and their biomass valorization for biofuel production

Umeå University Industrial Doctoral School and the Department of Chemistry are recruiting a doctoral student in chemistry within a collaboration project with the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA). Last day to apply is May 9th, 2018.

Project description
The project is based on a collaboration between Umeå University (UmU) and the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA). The successful Ph.D. student will work within an international consortium investigating sustainable energy resources. We address this problem by recycling CO2 for fuel- or chemical-production using photosynthetic microorganisms and analyse their potential in wastewater reclamation and biomass generation in Nordic climate. Research devoted to this area is of importance to replace fossil resources with renewables and is connected to the project NordAqua, a Nordic Center of Excellence (NCoE) financed by NordForsk. NordAqua has the aim to advance in the transition to a Bioeconomy model in the Scandinavian region (http://nordaqua.fi/). The work includes the selection of efficient aquatic photoautotrophs from the Nordic culture collection and NIVA, their potential in cleaning wastewater from contaminants, nitrogen and phosphorous, and the valorization of their biomass for biofuels.

Umeå University Industrial Doctoral School for research and innovation:
The Industrial Doctoral School (IDS) is a multidisciplinary research school where the projects are based on collaborations between Umeå University and external organizations. The PhD students in IDS form an interdisciplinary group that, in addition to each scientific specialization, is given a tailor-made course package providing a strong platform for future work within research and development. A PhD position in IDS also includes an internship at the external organizations for each doctoral student.

Terms for the employment
The employment is expected to result in a doctoral degree and the main assignment is thus to be part of the research education, which includes participation in the described research project but also to take relevant courses. Teaching and other departmental work can be assigned up to a maximum of 20%. The employment is limited to four years at full time or up to five years if 20% departmental work is assigned. The salary is fixed according to the established level for doctoral students. The PhD student will periodically stay at NIVA in Oslo, Norway.

Qualifications:
To be admitted for studies at third-cycle level you are required to have completed a second-cycle level degree, or completed course requirements of at least 240 ECTS credits, of which at least 60 ECTS credits are at second-cycle level or have an equivalent education from abroad, or equivalent qualifications.

To fulfil the specific entry requirements to be admitted for studies at third-cycle level in chemistry, you are required to have completed first-cycle courses of at least 90 ECTS credits within the field of chemistry or another subject considered to be directly relevant to the specialization in question. Of those 90 ECTS credits, at least 15 ECTS credits shall have been acquired at second-cycle level within the specialization or an equivalent subject.

The applicant should have a higher education in environmental chemistry, biochemistry or a comparable discipline and enthusiasm for the scientific topic described above. The successful candidate should be familiar with the analytical techniques and procedures employed for the determination of heavy metals, N and P inorganic species (NO3-, NH4+ and PO43-) as well as detecting and quantifying organic compounds by atomic absorption spectroscopy.

Experience with microalgae cultivation in lab- and pilot-scale is a merit. Knowledge of atomic absorption techniques, gas and liquid chromatography is highly desired. Experience in the preparation of scientific communications and manuscripts is desired. The applicant should have the capacity to take the initiative and to administer own progress with creativity and accuracy. Good communication skills and a good command of written and spoken English is required. Good knowledge of Swedish and/or Norwegian, both written and spoken, is a merit. It is important to have a good ability to work independently as well as in a group in a cross disciplinary Environment.

The PhD project has a high technological component and the researchers involved are willing to contribute overcoming the traditional gap existing in these areas.

Application:
A complete application consists of:

• a curriculum vitae,

• a cover letter motivating your application,

• transcripts of records (a list of courses and marks obtained in higher education),

• the names and contact details of at least two references.

The application must be submitted through our e-recruitment system. Log in and apply at the bottom of the page. Last day to apply is May 9th, 2018. The starting date is by agreement.

For further information please contact professor Christiane Funk. E-mail: Christiane.Funk@umu.se. Phone +46-(0)90 7867633.

About us
The Department of Chemistry is one of the largest departments within the Faculty of Science and Technology with approximately 200 employees, of which approximately 40 graduate students, and a strong and expanding research. www.chemistry.umu.se/english. Information about the postgraduate education can be found on the Faculty of Science and Technology website: http://www.teknat.umu.se/english/doctoral-studies/. For more information about working at Umeå University, https://www.umu.se/en/work-with-us/.