Uppsala University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering

At the Division of Microsystems technology, research and teaching concern miniaturized systems with integrated sensors and actuators, where the size effects, the smallness, is utilized to create technology of the future. You can find more information about us here: https://www.materialvetenskap.uu.se

The project will be carried out within AddLife, which is a VINNOVA Competence Centre that gathers more than 20 partners in academia, industry and the public sector to support competence development in additive manufacturing for the life sciences. The centre is led by the department of Materials Science and is funded by academia, industry and VINNOVA in equal parts, with a total budget of approx. 100 MSEK and will run for 5 years in a first instance, between 2020-2024, and engage experts within academia and industry with a passion for 3D-printing with the ultimate goal of developing new technologies to improve people’s lives.

Project description: Membrane technology for separation and chromatography applications is important across all life science areas. Due to limitations in the way membranes are produced today, membrane microstructures are presently not ideal and the material palette used is often quite restricted.

Additive manufacturing technologies are now unlocking these limitations and enabling unique new approaches to membrane development, and thereby the potential to offer breakthrough technologies for functional membranes. The PhD project will explore these new opportunities to improve membrane functions specifically for chromatography applications in biomolecule purification. One specific topic of interest is purification technologies for the emerging area of cell and gene therapy, for which biopharmaceutical industries have yet to establish efficient manufacturing processes. Another prioritized topic is the use of sustainable materials and processes for the membrane chromatography application. Research on membranes for purification applications will require an understanding for the fundamentals of how biomolecules interact at the solid-liquid interfaces and the dynamics of membrane separation processes. The PhD project will therefore become cross-disciplinary in its approach involving research within areas as material chemistry, engineering, and biotechnology.

Work duties: The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

The work within the research project described above concerns the development of new additive manufacturing technology for the production of chromatography components, especially functional membranes. Different types of additive manufacturing processes should be compared and studied with respect to, for instance, opportunities to create arbitrary 3D microstructures and properties in a chromatography application.

The research studies will be carried out within the AddLife Competence Center and in collaboration between the company Cytiva and Uppsala University. Cytiva is today the world-leading supplier of purification technology for biomolecules in the manufacture of drugs.

Qualification requirements: Master’s degree (MSc) in Chemical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Materials Engineering or an equivalent degree.

We require very good oral and written profiency in English.

Personal qualities, such as the ability to manage and run scientific projects and to simultaneously interact with other researchers are very important. The applicant needs to be determined, structured and able to work efficiently both individually and in groups.

Admission requirements: A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programs if he or she:

-  has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or

-  has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or

-  has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

Rules governing PhD student candidates are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala university's rules and guidelines http://regler.uu.se

Instructions for Application: Applications should include a cover letter, including a brief description of experience relevant to the position and the candidate criteria stated above, a CV, copies of diplomas and certificates, preferably a master thesis (or a draft thereof) and other relevant documents.

The candidates are encouraged to provide letter(s) of recommendation and should provide contact information to at least two reference persons. 

Salary: According to local agreement for PhD students.

Starting date: 2020-09-01, or as otherwise agreed.

Type of employment: Temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 §7.

Scope of employment: 100%

For further information about the position please contact: Stefan.johansson@angstrom.uu.se, telephone +46 (0) 18 4713086

You are welcome to submit your application no later than 1 June 2020, UFV-PA 2020/1534.

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? If so, you will find a lot of information about working and living in Sweden at www.uu.se/joinus. You are also welcome to contact International Faculty and Staff Services at ifss@uadm.uu.se.

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Full time
First day of employment 2020-09-01
Salary Fixed salary
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100 %
City Uppsala
County Uppsala län
Country Sweden
Reference number UFV-PA 2020/1534
Union representative
  • ST/TCO, tco@fackorg.uu.se
  • Seko Universitetsklubben, seko@uadm.uu.se
  • Saco-rådet, saco@uadm.uu.se
Published 11.Jun.2020
Last application date 23.Jun.2020 11:59 PM CEST

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