PhD student within WWSC: enzyme discovery and characterization

Plants produce a range of defensive compounds to protect themselves from microbial attack, and some of these are major side products in forestry. In this project, we are interested in understanding how some microorganisms can detoxify these compounds and even use them as nutrients. Such fundamental understanding will enable use of the identified microbial enzymes in various settings. If you have a background and keen interest in microbes, enzymes, and curiosity-based research this could be the PhD position for you!

Information about the Wallenberg Wood Science Center
Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC) is a research center striving for scientific excellence with a focus on new materials from trees. The center creates knowledge and builds competence for an innovative and sustainable future value creation from forest raw materials. WWSC is a multidisciplinary collaboration between KTH, Chalmers, and Linköping University. The base is a donation from Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, and the forest industry is supporting WWSC via the national platform Treesearch.

In this WWSC project, our goal is to study microorganisms that are able to grow on toxic plant defense molecules. These are part of the so-called extractive compounds that differ from typical plant cell wall polymers such as cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin, and they are especially enriched in the bark of trees. Tree bark is an underutilized resource today, but by finding ways to sustainably modify/valorize its extractive compounds we can help make it a great source of valuable products to replace fossil-based ones. We have identified a new bacterial species able to grow on bark extractive compounds, and unraveling which enzymes this bacterium uses in the process will be a major part and starting point of the project.

The project involves molecular biology to clone and heterologously express genes of interest in either bacteria or yeast, protein production and purification, and detailed biochemical characterization of identified enzymes, including determination of substrate specificities and kinetics. The project may also involve various -omics techniques to identify new interesting enzymes to study. WWSC provides a network for collaboration with other researchers that are experts in analysis of biomass-derived molecules, and additional collaboration with structural biologists to enable structure-function studies of enzymes may also take part during the PhD studies.

Information about the division
The project will be carried out at the Division of Industrial Biotechnology (IndBio) with Associate Professor Johan Larsbrink as main supervisor. IndBio is an interdisciplinary and highly international group of researchers which currently consists of around 45 members. The research in the division revolves around microbiology and fermentation, enzymology, and molecular biology, with a general focus of using renewable raw materials for the sustainable production of fuels, chemicals and materials. A large variety of scientific instruments are available in our shared laboratory facilities, and in addition several core facilities are available at the university and its close vicinity. The Department of Biology and Biological Engineering (BIO) includes three additional research divisions with additional expertise and accessible infrastructure equipment.

Major responsibilities
As a PhD student, you will be responsible for the daily management of your research project, including planning, performing experiments and critically analyzing your results. The laboratory work includes cloning, protein production and purification, enzymology, analysis of reaction products. You will be expected to communicate your results in different settings, from meetings with supervisors and collaborators, to presentations at the research division and at international conferences. Additionally, you will be expected to develop your scientific writing skills by authoring articles for publication in scientific journals.

You will also be expected to teach on Chalmers’ undergraduate level courses or performing other departmental duties, up to 20% of working hours, and attend courses both in subjects directly related to your research and in general transferable skills such as project management, teaching, and scientific writing. At the Division level, you will take part in the general maintenance of instruments and will have the opportunity to supervise MSc and BSc students.

As a member of the Wallenberg Wood Science Center you will also have the opportunity to participate in the Wallenberg Wood Science Center Academy courses and activities, which take place at different locations in Sweden and the Nordic Countries.

Qualifications
To qualify as a PhD student, you must have a master’s level degree corresponding to at least 240 higher education credits in a relevant field (Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biomedical Sciences, or similar). Basic microbiological/biochemical laboratory experience and fluency in verbal and written English are mandatory.

Demonstrated skills in molecular biology, microbiology and microbiological cultivation techniques, protein production and purification, enzymology, and/or analytics are meritorious. We are looking for a creative person that can put new ideas into practice, both independently and together with a team.

The position requires sound verbal and written communication skills in English. If Swedish is not your native language, Chalmers offers Swedish courses.

Contract terms
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of 5 years.

We offer
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg .
Read more about working at Chalmers  and our benefits  for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence . Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20220544 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as PDF-files, as below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files.

CV:(Please name the document: CV, Family name, Ref. number)
• CV
• Other, for example previous employments or leadership qualifications and positions of trust.
• Two references that we can contact.

Personal letter:(Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name, Ref. number)
1-3 pages where you:
• Introduce yourself
• Describe your previous experience of relevance for the position (e.g. education, thesis work and, if applicable, any other research activities)
• Describe your future goals and future research focus

Other documents:
• Copies of bachelor and/or master’s thesis.
• Attested copies and transcripts of completed education, grades and other certificates, e.g. TOEFL test results.

Please use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form. 

Application deadline: November 15, 2022
We will conduct interviews on a continuous basis, please apply as soon as possible.

For questions, please contact:
Associate Professor Johan Larsbrink, Industrial Biotechnology
Email: johan.larsbrink@chalmers.se

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***

Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, technology-related mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society. The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our six Areas of Advance; Energy, Health Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Materials Science, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!
 

URL to this pagehttps://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/Working-at-Chalmers/Vacancies/Pages/default.aspx?rmpage=job&rmjob=11019&rmlang=UK