The Protein Engineering and Proteomics (PEP) and Bioprocess Technology and Biorefining (BioRef) groups at the Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM), Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) have one post-doctoral researcher (3 years) and one PhD student position (3 years) available within the FunEPS project.

FunEPS aims to determine how exopolysaccharides (EPS) from food-related and pathogenic bacteria are degraded and metabolized. Knowledge of these processes will eventually allow us to use both enzymatic methods and organic synthesis to produce and tailor novel oligo- and polysaccharides for use in food and health applications.

We will also obtain a deeper fundamental understanding of the roles of EPS in biofilms and complex microbial communities (e.g. in the human gut).

The FunEPS project will run over five years, starting in 2022, and will employ two PhD students and three postdoctoral researchers. In this announcement we are looking for one PhD student and one postdoctoral researcher that will work on production, purification and characterization of EPS and EPS degrading/modifying enzymes from both food-related and pathogenic bacteria. Parts of the EPS production will be done in relatively large scale in the NMBU biorefinery, which is operated by the BioRef group.

Main tasks

The PhD student and postdoctoral researcher are expected to have complementary competence in microbiology, biochemistry or both, and will work tightly together to carry out the following tasks:

• Cultivate bacteria in packed bed and liquid culture in both analytical and preparative scale (up to 100 L)
• Extract and purify EPS from culture supernatants, bacterial pellets and biofilms (both analytical and preparative scale).
• Characterize EPS by chemical, chromatographic, mass spectrometric and NMR methods.
• Cultivate bacteria on purified EPS as carbon source and identify EPS-degrading enzymes by genomics and proteomics.
• Express, purify and characterize the most relevant enzyme candidates.
• Screen a large enzyme library (> 250 enzymes; supplied by a collaborator) for EPS depolymerizing or modifying activities.
• Write and publish scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals of high standard

For interested candidates it may be possible to participate in teaching activities in relevant courses at KBM, but this is not a prerequisite.

Competence

PhD student

Required academic qualifications and experience:

• MSc degree in microbiology/biochemistry.
• Grades that are sufficient to be admitted to NMBU’s PhD program (minimum B as average grade for the MSc studies). For detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description. It is the applicant’s duty to convincingly demonstrate that admission criteria are met.

Training and experience related to one or more of the following topics is desirable:

• Polysaccharides and related analytics, biofilms, bioreactor fermentations, protein purification & characterization

Post-doctoral researcher

Required academic qualifications and experience:

• A PhD degree in a field relevant to one or more of the main tasks.
• Training and research experience in two or more of the following topics:
• General microbiology
• Enzyme characterization, including relevant analytical methods, such as HPLC and /or LC-MS.
• Carbohydrate characterization using relevant analytical methods, such as HPLC and /or LC-MS.
• General knowledge and training in basic gene technology, protein expression and purification, basic enzymology.

One or more of the following additional experiences and skills are desirable

• Knowledge of and experience in using bioreactors
• Experience with biofilms and/or exopolysaccharides
• Experience with 2D-NMR techniques like HMBC and HSQC
• Experience in generating bacterial gene-deletion variants

Importantly, together, the PhD student and the post-doc need to cover most of the experience needed to work on the main tasks listed above. This will be taken into account when making the final recruitment decisions. Some deviation from the specifications for the individual positions may be acceptable for the recruitment committee if, together, the to-be recruited team members cover what needs to be covered.

The following is applicable for both positions

Personal qualities:

The ideal candidates will combine (and be able to document) the following personal qualities:

• Hard-working, ambitious and accurate.
• Genuinely interested in scientific research and its industrial applications.
• Good social and collaborative skills documented, e.g., by successful international collaboration.
• Good communicative skills, orally and written, in English (candidates will be required to give a research presentation in English as part of the recruitment process).

We expect that the candidates will publish research findings in high-impact peer reviewed scientific journals. Applicants must be proficient both written and spoken, in English, and, preferably, also in a Scandinavian language.

Remuneration and further information

Post-doctoral positions are placed in government pay scale position code 1352, wage framework 24 (salary grade 59-77) (NOK 534 400 – 752 800), or position code 1109 /1183 (wage framework 24 (salary grade 61-77) (NOK 553 500 – 752 800) / (salary grade 72-80; NOK 677 600 – 825 900), depending on qualifications. The PhD position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017. PhD fellows are placed in salary grade 54 (NOK 491 200) on the Norwegian Government salary scale upon employment and follow ordinary meriting regulations.

For further information, please contact the project leader, Prof. Gustav Vaaje-Kolstad (gustav.vaaje-kolstad@nmbu.no; PEP-group) or deputy project leader Assoc Prof. Bjørge Westereng (bjorge.westereng@nmbu.no; BioRef group).

Information for PhD applicants and general Information to applicants

Application

To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the ‘Apply for this job’ button above. This will route you to the University’s Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.

Application deadline: 28.04.22

Please indicate whether you are applying for the PhD position or the postdoctoral researcher position.

Applicants invited for an interview will be asked to present verified copies of diplomas and certificates.

To save time, we advise you to upload your complete CV as a pdf file rather than filling out CV-related details in the online application form.

Printed material which cannot be sent electronically should be sent by surface mail to Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM), P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, within 28.04.22. Please quote reference number 22/01450.

About The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science

The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM) employs about 160 people. Currently about 50 PhD students are enrolled into our PhD program. KBM represents a broad range of scientific fields encompassing basic natural sciences such as microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry as well as the application of these towards food chemistry, technology and safety, biotechnology, bioprocessing and environmental issues. The Faculty is responsible for education, research and information within our fields of expertise and also has state-of-the-art instrumentation to perform research within these fields. KBM collaborates in networks and research projects both nationally and internationally. 

Further information: https://www.nmbu.no/en/faculty/kbm 

The Norwegian University of Life Sciences

NMBU has a particular responsibility for research and education that secures the basis for the life of future generations. Sustainability is rooted in everything we do and we deliver knowledge for life. NMBU has 1,900 employees of which about 300 phd scholarships and 6,700 students. The university is divided into seven faculties.

NMBU believes that a good working environment is characterised by diversity.

We encourage qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender, functional ability, cultural background or whether you have been outside the labour market for a period. If necessary, workplace adaptations will be made for persons with disabilities. More information about NMBU is available at www.nmbu.no.


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