Post-doctoral fellow in Computational Chemistry

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top 100 universities. The University has around 46 000 students and more than 8 000 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.

Subject description

Clay is an environmentally friendly, sustainable, and very old material. The purpose of this project is to study clay in solution and how its state diagram is affected by additions of different kinds of salts and the variation of the physicochemical properties of the solution. The focus will be on swelling, adsorption, desorption, and inter- and intramolecular interactions. We anticipate that our results will be of great interest to society, agriculture, and industry. To this end, we will combine experiments such as SAXS, NMR and osmotic stress with atomistic and coarse-grained molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations. At least 50% of the time is estimated to be spent on computer simulations. The project is suitable for a postdoc with experience of independent work and project management, who can work with several tasks in parallel. If it is promising and funding is available, the project can be extended to three years.

This recruitment is connected to the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE, wise-materials.org). WISE, funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, is the largest-ever investment in materials science in Sweden and will encompass major efforts at Sweden’s foremost universities over the course of 10 years. The vision is a sustainable future through materials science.

Read more: https://wise-materials.org

All early-stage researchers recruited into the WISE program will be a part of the WISE Graduate School, an ambitious nationwide program of seminars, courses, research visits, and other activities to promote a strong multi-disciplinary and international network between PhD students, postdocs, researchers, and industry.

Work duties

The main duties involved in a post-doctoral position is to conduct research. Teaching may also be included, but up to no more than 20% of working hours. The position shall include the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning.

Detailed description of the work duties, such as:

• Research within the subject area
• Teaching in the first, second and third cycles of studies
• Supervision of degree projects and doctoral students
• Actively seeking external research funding
• Collaboration with industry and wider society
• Administration related to the work duties listed above

Qualification requirements

Appointment to a post-doctoral position requires that the applicant has a PhD, or an international degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, within the subject of the position, completed no more than three years before the date of employment decision. Under special circumstances, the doctoral degree can have been completed earlier.

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.

Good knowledge of physical chemistry, surface and colloid chemistry, and biophysical chemistry. Experience of experimental work. Experience in the experimental techniques as SAXS and NMR. Very good experience about computer simulations on both the atomistic and coarse-grained level.

Assessment criteria and other qualifications

This is a career development position primarily focused on research. The position is intended as an initial step in a career, and the assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and potential as researchers.

Particular emphasis will be placed on research skills within the subject.

For appointments to a post-doctoral position, the following shall form the assessment criteria:

• A good ability to develop and conduct high quality research.
• Teaching skills.

Additional assessment criteria:

Consideration will also be given to

• good collaborative skills, drive, and independence
• how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department
• how the applicant stand to contribute to the departments future development.

Terms of employment

This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of two years, which may be extended with one year. The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement “Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor” (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral fellow”) between Lund University, SACO-S and OFR/S, dated 1st February 2022.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications shall be written in English and be compiled into a PDF-file containing:

• résumé/CV, including a list of publications,
• a general description of past research and future research interests max 3 pages
• contact information of at least two references,
• copy of the doctoral degree certificate, and other certificates/grades that you wish to be considered.

The Faculty of Science conducts research and education within Biology, Astronomy, Physics, Geosciences, Chemistry, Mathematics and Environmental Science. The Faculty is organized into nine departments, gathered in the northern campus area. The Faculty has approximately 1500 students, 330 PhD students and 700 employees.

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