About Malmö University
Malmö University offers almost 100 education programmes and 500 courses. Most of our programmes are vocational and interdisciplinary, especially our multidisciplinary research programmes. We are committed to diversity in employment and take a critical approach to knowledge and the impact of globalisation. Malmö University has about 25 000 students.
About Faculty of Health and Society
The education and research activities in the Faculty of Health and Society aim at contributing to the knowledge base in order to preserve, support and promote people’s physical, psychological, and social health. Research is taking place in areas ranging from science, technology and medicine to social science. At the interfaces between them, exciting new areas for research are being generated. Post-graduate study is currently expanding rapidly. Growing numbers of post-graduates are being enrolled, more scientific tutors and tutors with research backgrounds are being recruited.
From 1 January, the Faculty will consist of five departments, among them the Department of Biomedical Science, and a Faculty Office.
Research environment
The major part of the research at the faculty takes place in the two research and educational profiles "Biological interfaces” and "Health and social conditions in a life cycle perspective”. The position will be active in Biological interfaces, which has focus on the interplay between materials, biomolecules and cells at molecular, nano, micro and macroscopic level. The research at the faculty is also linked to the research center Biofilms - Research Center for Biointerfaces (www.mah.se/biofilms) which combines research with medical, dental, food and environmental applications, at three faculties/schools, in close collaboration with regional industry.
Post-doc/Researcher position: Carbohydrate polymer - water interactions: sorption, porosity and rheology
The focus of the project is on understanding interactions of carbohydrate polymers with water and use of hydration phenomena as a tool for characterisation of biopolymers. The project will be performed in collaboration with two industrial partners: EKA Chemicals AB and Magle AB. The results obtained in the project will be used in development of new environmentally friendly packaging materials and drug delivery vehicles.
The main tasks of the post-doc will be the following:
1. Performing sorption calorimetric and DSC experiments for studying biopolymer-water interactions
2. Development of a new thermodynamic model of polymer-water interactions based on results obtained in calorimetric experiments
3. Development of an approach for characterisation of porosity based on water sorption data
4. Performing humidity – controlled QCM-D experiments to study effects of hydration on rheological and barrier properties of biopolymer films
Apart from carrying out research within these areas the applicant is expected to take responsibility for the maintenance of the instruments involved and to be active by supervising postgraduate students and fellow scientists in the techniques and participate in teaching at post graduate and graduate level. Teaching at undergraduate level may also to some extent be required.
In addition, the applicant should be responsible for contacts on operational level with involved industry partners and is also expected to take part in applications for external funding to support research activities.
Required Qualifications and Criteria for Assessment of Applicants
Candidates must have demonstrated scientific competence corresponding to a doctoral degree. General competence in surface chemistry, physical chemistry or polymer physics is mandatory. Experience in physical chemistry of biopolymers, hydration, rheology and porosity as well as previous hands-on experience in Calorimetry, Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D) and/or rheological techniques will be strong merits. Experience of collaboration with industry will be beneficial.
For more information contact
Vitaly Kocherbitov, Associate Professor, Physical Chemistry
Phone: +46 40 665 79 46, E-mail: vitaly.kocherbitov@mah.se
Form of employment and starting date
Temporary position, starting spring 2012.
Instructions to Applicants
Applications must be submitted to the Registrar, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, S-205 06 Malmö, Sweden, citing the reference number given above. The application should be signed and posted to the Registrar or sent by e-mail to lena.winslow@mah.se. To be considered, the application should have arrived before the application deadline.
An application should contain the following:
1. A brief summary of scientific, teaching and other qualifications relevant to the position
2. Attested copies of certificates
3. Signed list of qualifications (CV)
4. List of scientific publications and developed teaching materials
5. Copies of three of your most relevant scientific publications
6. At least two letters of reference
Last date for applications:
February 12th, 2012
Trade union representatives
SACO, Manora Nyström, tel. 040-665 77 65.
Lärarförbundet, Anne-Marie Wangel, tel. 040-665 74 55.
TCO/ST-ATF, Evelina Mildner Lindén.