Postdoctoral position in Condensed Matter Physics

Department of Physics at Chalmers - home of the Graphene Flagship
Stimulated by major needs and challenges in science and a sustainable society, the ambition of the department of Physics is to foster a creative environment for academic research, learning and outreach. We provide a competitive advantage by linking our top-level international and interdisciplinary academic performance in the areas of material science, nanotechnology and energy research with world-leading industrial R&D&I projects. We address a wide array of experimental, computational, methodological and theoretical challenges, from fundamental physics research, through the development of new materials such as graphene to direct industrial projects generating new inventions. We have a strong learning commitment on all levels from undergraduate to PhD studies where physics meet engineering.

The department is the major part of Gothenburg Physics Centre – a collaboration between four departments at Chalmers and Gothenburg University.

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Information about the research
The aim of this research project is to understand the conformational dynamics of proteins and protein networks, such as microtubules in the cytoskeleton of cells. Such motions make proteins active, and therefore they are of central importance for a wide range of biological functions. Thus, to understand the mechanisms behind protein functions it is essential to determine the conformational fluctuations of the proteins. To obtain full understanding of such motions we need to determine the structural changes associated with the fluctuations, which we aim to obtain by performing X-ray diffraction measurements simultaneously as the conformational fluctuations are excited by an external ac-field. The measurements will be performed at large-scale facilities in both Europe and USA.

Major responsibilities
The successful candidate will work on this research topic in a relatively large research team, and the main responsibility of the candidate will depend on his/her qualifications. Likely, the successful candidate will be responsible for either the fabrication of sample cells for X-ray diffraction measurements, where a high voltage ac-fields in the MHz range is applied on the sample cell, the actual X-ray diffraction measurements or computational modeling of the experimental data.

Your major responsibility as postdoc is to perform your own research in a research group. The position also includes 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.

Position summary
Full-time temporary employment. The position is for 1 + 1 year (the extension to 2 years is decided in the end of the first year) and it is funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg (KAW) foundation. The exact salary depends on the qualifications of the successful candidate, but can be expected to be around 450 000 SEK/year.

Qualifications

To qualify for the position of postdoc, a doctoral degree in physics, chemistry or related fields as well as excellent language skills in English are required. The degree should generally not be older than three years.

Specific qualifications of particular importance for the project are:

(a) Engineering skills of relevance for the design of safe sample cells with high voltage ac-fields in the MHz range.
(b) Previous experience of using different X-ray diffraction techniques and analysing the resulting data.
(c) Previous experience of computational modelling of structure and dynamics, by e.g. Monte Carlo or molecular dynamics based simulations.

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

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20160430 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically via Chalmers webpage.


Application deadline: 15 December 2016

For questions, please contact:
Jan Swenson,
jan.swenson@chalmers.se,
+46 730-794217

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***