Thesis project: Microwave for pharmaceutical applications

Job description
Master project in microwave for pharmaceutical applications

If you’re inspired by the possibilities of science to make a difference and ready to discover what you can do – join us!

Thesis type: 30/60 credits
Project start: August/September 2022
Student location: On Site, Gothenburg Sweden
Contact persons AstraZeneca: Gustaf Hulthe and Mats Josefson  

By measuring microwave interactions with materials, a fast and non-destructive chemical analysis can be done. Today specialized equipment exists for water content or density measurements. We want to broaden the scope into measurements of other solvents, grain size, crystal form and also polymer properties. The measured permittivity has both a real value, affecting the capacitance, and an imaginary component, controlling the LC-loss in the system (Q-factor), both varying with frequency.  The imaginary component depend on sample molecules speed of reorientation in the oscillating electric field, which tells a lot about chemistry and molecular environment.


A different, but related task is medical devices: It can be very challenging to direct large drug molecules into cells.  In this perspective, a tempting application for pharma is to let microwaves temporarily open small pores in cell membranes to very briefly and highly localized facilitate the uptake of a given drug. 

Responsibilities
The Master thesis project aims to explore both these areas by designing microwave antenna systems by computational electromagnetics (CEM). The project will also involve experiments with practical antenna building for both applications and verifications with Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) measurements. You will work together with analytical chemists. Use the VNA for measurement of the frequency dependent complex permittivity and model chemical dependencies by machine learning.


In the cell transfection application you will work together with cell biologists to design and test your microwave systems, get insight in cell experiments and advanced microscopy and take part of optimizing pulses, power, frequency, cavity design and other parameters of importance to optimize cell uptake of drug molecules, while minimizing cell damage.

Qualifications
As can be seen from all above, room for own ideas to drive these project is large, scope is broad, offering creative learning and a large contact network within AstraZeneca among chemists, biologists and AI beside the core work on microwave design. You should have interest and knowledge in high frequency design, be creative and acquainted to lab-work.

Requirements:
Background from Electro or Physics or some adjacent area. 
Great networking skills
Previous experience of lab-work


Application
Deadline: 2022-04-03, selection and interviews will be ongoing. The position may be filled before the last day of application, therefore, apply as soon as possible.

For more information:
Please contact Veronika Knudsen veronika.knudsen@randstad.se

About the company
With more than 2,400 employees from 50 countries, the vibrant Gothenburg site helps to support the entire life-cycle of AstraZeneca medicines, from drug discovery and clinical trials, to global commercialisation and product maintenance. Gothenburg is one of AstraZeneca’s three strategic, global R&D centres, alongside Cambridge and Gaithersburg, and plays a central role in our mission to deliver life-changing medicines to patients.

At AstraZeneca we are guided in our work by a strong set of values, and we’re resetting expectations of what a bio-pharmaceutical company can be. By truly following the science, we pioneer new methods, new thinking and bring unexpected teams together. From scientists to sales, lab techs to legal, we’re on a mission to turn ideas into life-changing medicines that transform lives. We need great people who share our passion for science and have the drive and determination to meet the unmet needs of patients around the world. If you’re swift to action, confident to lead, willing to collaborate, and curious about what science can do, then you’re our kind of person.