PhD student in Spatiotemporal Control of Nanocellulose Self-Assembly for Advanced Sustainable Materials - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Chemistry - Ångström conducts research and education in the chemistry field. The department has more than 270 employees and has a turnover of 300 million SEK. At the department's six programs, we conduct very successful research of a high international standard. We have a large number of externally funded research projects, often with international cooperation and we see continued good growth in our subject area. The department has education assignments in engineering programs and master's programs. More information is available on our website: (https://kemi.uu.se/angstrom/?languageId=1).

Project description
This project aims to establish an innovative method for the assembly of nanomaterials, particularly nanocellulose, with precise temporal and spatial control. The objective is to produce cutting-edge materials—such as membranes, hydrogels, and foams—with improved performance thanks to their anisotropic, tailored, and optimized structure. Their target applications are in critical technologies for sustainable development, such as water bioremediation and conversion of carbon dioxide into industrially relevant products. To achieve this, we will build on our expertise in nanocellulose self-assembly by designing and developing custom protocols, utilizing a library of nanocellulose building blocks, and exploring their co-assembly with biocompatible macromolecules and nanoparticles. This effort will also involve developing a multi-length-scale (nanometer, micrometer…) characterization protocol relying on the state-of-the-art research facility at Uppsala University, in collaboration with local experts and from other Swedish and international institutions, offering opportunities for short research visits.

Duties
The tasks within this research project involve investigating the structure-property relationships between the characteristics of nanocellulose and its self-assembly (and co-assembly) in materials, in terms of functional, physical, and chemical properties, including their optical, mechanical, and gas-fluid transport properties. Efforts will be made to enable the successful candidate to develop a research methodology that combines creativity and critical thinking as well as to mature their identity as a researcher. Additionally, the project requires working in an interdisciplinary context to:

• Design an ad-hoc setup for spatiotemporally controlled self-assembly
• Evaluate the self-assembly and co-assembly of nanocellulose, focusing on dynamics, colloidal interactions, and interfacial phenomena
• Investigate the functional properties of the resulting materials

The project also includes writing scientific articles for peer-reviewed journals and presenting at international conferences. Besides focusing on research, the candidate can dedicate no more than 20% of their time to teaching or other department duties.

Requirements

The candidate must have:

• been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or
• acquired essentially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.
• very good oral and written proficiency in English.

Significant emphasis will be placed on personal qualities, including the ability to work effectively as part of a team, a creative mindset, a proactive attitude, and the capacity to independently plan and execute experiments. The candidate should also possess a strong drive to learn new research topics. Consideration will also be given to how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.

Additional qualifications
The candidate should have a degree or equivalent in Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, Physics, Macromolecular Engineering or Polymer and Fibre Engineering. Experience and knowledge in one or more of the following areas are considered merits:

• Self-assembly and synthesis of nanomaterials (other than nanocellulose), such as metal nanoparticles and macromolecules
• Investigation of colloidal interactions and interfacial phenomena
• Preparation and chemical modification of nanocellulose
• Expertise in small-angle scattering techniques (SAXS and/or SANS)
• Working in interdisciplinary settings

Significant emphasis will be placed on personal qualities, including the ability to work effectively as part of a team, a creative mindset, a proactive attitude, and the capacity to independently plan and execute experiments. The candidate should also possess a strong drive to learn new research topics. Consideration will also be given to how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.

 About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date as soon as possible or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

For further information about the position, please contact: Valentina Guccini, valentina.guccini@kemi.uu.se

Please submit your application by 14th January 2025, UFV-PA 2024/4233. 

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