PhDStudent-Pretreatment of wood biopolymers

Wallenberg Wood Science Center is seeking a PhD student to study pretreatment and enzymatic processing of wood biopolymers with placement at KTH, Stockholm, Sweden Wallenberg Wood Science Center is a joint research center established with KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden and Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden, as participants.The annual budget exceeds 40 MSEK and at least 50 people will participate.The objective is underpinning materials research for utilization of our forests in new products, such as "green" polymers and biocomposite materials.The tree is viewed as a source of chemicals, monomers, biopolymers and fibers.Recent advances in nanotechnology, polymer science, biotechnology and mechanics are being combined with established forest products technologies in a new multidisciplinary research center located in Stockholm and in Gothenburg.Research project The new Wallenberg Center is seeking a PhD student to join the Department of Fiber and Polymer Technology at KTH.The student will work accordingly to the following work plan during the first three years: 1) Testing of different pretreatment methods, with a goal to develop a pretreatment that allowing enzymes to access the polysaccharides in wood 2) Testing different enzymatic treatments that enhance selective extractions of different wood polymers 3) Optimizing different process stages and testing different sequences of treatments.Your responsibilities will include developing methods that enhance the separation of different wood biopolymers by party or fully dissolving the lignin polysaccharide networks.You will also be participating in international conferences and at meetings at Chalmers in Gothenburg, which means some travelling and working together with chemists and graduate students from other disciplines.You will be working in the laboratory and creating your own schedule. Qualifications MSc degree with a focus on wood and pulp technology or related areas (chemical engineering, polymers).Practical experience such as a summer job in the laboratory or similar is preferred.Fluency in English, both written and verbal, is a must.We are looking for candidates with co-operational and problem-solving analysis skills, high quality-consciousness, the ability to work autonomously and the ability to work hard and put time, energy and commitment into your work.Excellent skills in both oral and written presentation are required. Employment Form of employment: Time limited position Starting date: Immediately Application This recruitment is performed by Academic Work Recruitment, but you will be employed by Wallenberg Wood Science Center.Specify ref JJ35643 and K-2009-0169 in the subject line.The application shall include curriculum vitae, final grades, a short description of future professional goals and interests, and names of 2 references.