Postdoc in Active Food Packaging for Pollutant Removal

We are offering a two-year postdoctoral position to an ambitious researcher who is interested in working on development of new scavenging food packaging materials including both metal-based and flexible materials and their application in food packaging.

Information about the research/the project/the division
The Department of Biology and Biological Engineering is aiming at bridging cutting edge life science research with biochemical engineering, in order to emerge as the leading innovation center in the region. The research has broad applications in areas of health and industrial production of e.g. fine chemicals, food and energy. The department offers highly qualified education for engineering students within the area of bioengineering. It is furthermore collaborating in broad, interdiciplinary national and international networks within academia and the industry.

The division of Food and Nutrition Science is one of four research divisions at the Department of Biology and Biological Engineering. Food and Nutrition Science is one of the leading units in the area in Sweden with particular strengths in nutritional and computational metabolomics, dietary biomarkers, micronutrient metal nutrition, nutritional immunology, marine food science and nutrition as well as food by-product biorefining. The division has a wide range of modern analytical equipment for chromatography coupled with mass spectrometery, an in vitro human cell laboratory, and a microbiology laboratory. The division focuses on nutritional solutions for health and disease prevention by studies on the molecular, cellular, and whole-body level. It also has a strong focus on sustainable use of food raw materials and on many different quality aspects of food.

-The details of the departmental research activities may be found here.

The research and responsibilities
Toxic pollutants in the environment are a global concern posing serious threats to public health. Despite the protective measures taken, seafoods are still the predominant route of human exposure to some of those pollutant. This highly innovative project aims to develop a new food packaging technology enabling selective removal of environmental pollutants from seafood products, as a novel route for reducing exposure of seafood consumers to these toxicants. The postdoc position is part of this interdisciplinary Fromas funded project called DetoxPak with partners from Chalmers, SLU and food industry.

The successful candidate will produce new generation of functionalized nanosorbent materials with tuned size and structure for scavenging pollutants. Integration of the sorbents into packaging materials and exploring their efficiency in removing toxicants from seafood products and their quality will also be key components in the work. The post doctoral researcher will work at the division of Food and Nutrition Science and with close collaboration with the division of Applied Surface Chemistry.

Your major responsibilities
Carry out research within the DetoxPak-project with specific focus on development of scavenging active packaging materials and their characterization as well as their application in the removal of environmental pollutants from seafood products. The candidate would be responsible for experimental planning, practical works, sample collection, data handling, writing of publications and communications of results within the project.

For all postdocs at Chalmers
Your major responsibility as postdoc is to perform your own research in a research group. The position also includes teaching on undergraduate and master's levels as well as supervising master's and/or PhD students to a certain extent. Another important aspect involves collaboration within academia and with society at large. The position is meritorious for future research duties within academia as well as industry/the public sector.

Qualifications
To qualify for the position of postdoc, you must have a doctoral degree in a relevant field;surface chemistry, chemistry, food packaging, food engineering or similar. The degree should generally not be older than three years.
You are expected to be somewhat accustomed to teaching, and to demonstrate good potential within research and education.
The position requires sound verbal and written communication skills in English. Swedish is not a requirement but Chalmers offers Swedish courses.

You also have:
- Expertise in development and surface modification of sorbents and nanomaterials, their characterization and application in the removal of pollutants such as heavy metals and dioxins.
- Experience in development of flexible and metal active packaging materials, their characterization and application in food packaging.
- Analytical experience in measurement of environmental pollutants such as mercury and dioxins in food.
- Ability to work independently as well as in teams and take responsibility for progress and quality of the project.

Position summary
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of two years (1+1).

Chalmers continuously strives to be an attractive employer. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Our offer to you
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the dynamic city of Gothenburg. 
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Read more about the application procedure