PhD student in Biochemistry

The Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics is mainly located with the other Departments of Chemistry and Life Sciences in the Arrhenius Laboratories for Natural Sciences, which are situated in the northern part of the University Campus at Frescati. Some 270 people of which about 60 are PhD students work at the Department, engaged in internationally highly recognised research covering a broad range of subjects. More information about us, please visit: the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.

Project description

Your studies in Biochemistry will be in the project "Mechanistic Studies of Bioenergetic Protein Complexes".

We search for outstanding PhD candidates (1-3) to join our ERC-Advanced Grant Project ‘bioEnergetic’, with a focus on mechanistic studies of bioenergetic protein complexes catalyzing biological energy conversion. The project is focused on how membrane-bound enzymes in respiratory chains capture redox energy, and catalyze long-range proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions across biological membranes. The project has a special emphasis on electrical field effects in protein function, and how these effects are linked to the structure and dynamics of the protein complexes. The systems are explored by integrative methods, including, but not limited to biochemical, biophysical and structural experiments (cryo-EM, spectroscopy, proteoliposome experiments, site-directed mutagenesis) and/or multiscale molecular simulations (QM/MM and atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, free energy methods, and machine learning). Candidates with either an experimental and/or computational training are encouraged to apply. The PhD candidate will closely work with other PhD students, postdocs and senior scientists in an interdisciplinary team within a large collaborative project.

Selection

The selection among the eligible candidates will be based on their capacity to successfully complete the program. Important criteria when assessing this capacity are; documented knowledge and skill in the field of the thesis project, written and oral proficiency in English, the capacity for analytical thinking, the ability to collaborate, as well as creativity, initiative, and independence. The assessment will be based on previous experience and grades, the quality of the degree project, references, relevant experience, interviews and the candidate’s written motivation for seeking the position.

We seek outstanding and highly motivated PhD candidates, with ambitions to develop into a future field leader to join our lab. The candidate should have prior training in either experimental biochemical methods or computational methods applied to proteins/biological membranes.

Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies at Stockholm University.

About the employment

We offer a fixed-term employment as a doctoral student according to Chapter 5 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100). The period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for four years. As a doctoral student, you should primarily devote yourself to your own doctoral education, but the employment may include work with education, research and administration to a limited extent (maximum 20 %).

A new employment as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, the employment is then renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

For more information, please contact Professor Ville Kaila, ville.kaila@dbb.su.se.

General information about the PhD programs can be given by the Director of Doctoral Studies, Andreas Barth, andreas.barth@dbb.su.se.

Application

Apply for the PhD student position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. Attach a personal letter and CV as well as the attachments requested in the application form. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.

• ST/OFR ST/OFR, 08162000, st@st.su.se
• Saco-S Saco-S, 08162000, saco@saco.su.se
• Seko Seko, 0770457900, sekodirekt@seko.se

Qualification requirements

In order to be admitted to postgraduate education, the applicant must have the general and specific entry requirements. The qualification requirements must be met by the time the applicant is admitted to the PhD program at the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.

You meet general entry requirements if you have completed a second-cycle degree, or completed courses equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle, or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

Specific entry requirements – for acceptance in the Biochemistry program the applicant must have passed courses within the first and second cycles of at least 120 credits in Biochemistry/Life Science, including at least 15 credits Biochemistry at the second cycle level and a Degree Project (thesis) also in Biochemistry of 30 credits.