Postdoctoral position in Biological physics, Sweden

Living organisms contain a variety of naturally occurring lipid-based vesicles with distinct biochemical, structural and mechanical properties that allow them to fulfill well-defined biological functions in our body. Exosomes, for example, are small vesicles secreted from cells that can be isolated from body fluids such as blood and urine. Viruses are small pathogenic particles that highjack the cell to replicate and spread. Detailed characterization of biological nanoparticles is challenging because of their small size and their intrinsically heterogeneous nature with respect to for example size and composition. Moreover, biological samples are typically relatively dilute and can often only be obtained in small volumes, thereby requiring methodologies that can be scaled down to the low microliter regime.

The focus of this postdoc project is the development and implementation of a nanofluidic device for fluorescence-based analysis of small biological particles on a single particle level. The project will involve further development of a currently existing prototype but also its implementation in the analysis of extracellular vesicle samples. More specifically, we will in this project analyze chosen samples, characterize their physico-chemical properties of existing subpopulations and quantify the particles. The overall scope is to establish the relation between the properties of the vesicles and their biofunctionality for a given biological problem related to viruses and/or exosomes.

This postdoc project will be carried out as a collaboration between Asst. Prof. Marta Bally (division of Biological Physics, dept. of applied physics) and Assoc. Prof. Fredrik Westerlund (division of Chemical Biology, dept. of Biology and Biological Engineering). The young group of M. Bally focuses on the study of biological nanoparticles (viruses and exosomes), on their interaction with cellular membranes and on the relationship between their properties and their biological function.  The group of F Westerlund works on developing new nanofluidic-based tools with applications ranging from single molecule biophysics to clinical diagnostics. The project is also carried out in collaboration with Elin Esbjörner-Winters (division of Chemical Biology, dept. of Biology and Biological Engineering. We further collaborate with a number of medical researchers from the nearby Sahlgrenska University Hospital.

Major responsibilitiesThe Post Doc will work with the development of analytical procedures to quantify vesicles and characterize their physico-chemical properties using the nanofluidic device and two-channel fluorescence observation. Further developments of the nanofluidic device design is also envisioned.

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 summaryThe position is funded by a scholarship available to non-Swedish citizens with a PhD from a non-Swedish university (received not more than two years before the starting date of the scholarship), who wish to come to Sweden and conduct postdoctoral research. The scholarship is free of tax. Health care insurance will be provided. The position is limited to a maximum of two years (1+1).

QualificationsThe successful candidate should have a PhD in biosciences, biophysics, bioengineering, analytical chemistry, or related disciplines. Expertise in micro/nanofluidics, in working with lipid assemblies, in the design of bioanalytical assays or in single particle tracking/characterization using fluorescence microscopy would be a strong asset. Some basic knowledge in Matlab is also preferred.


Application procedure

The application should be marked with Ref 20150452 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as pdf-files, as below:
1. An application of a maximum of one A4 page containing your specific qualifications for the position2. Attested copies of education certificates, including grade reports and other documents3. Curriculum Vitae4. Letters of recommendation and name of at least 2 reference persons.
Please use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form. The files may be compressed (zipped).

Application deadline: 20 January 2016
For questions, please contact:Assistant professor Marta Bally
Biological Physics
E-mail: bally@chalmers.sePhone +46 31 772 32 66

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PhD student positions in parallel and distributed data streaming, Sweden

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering has about 70 faculty members and enrolls about 90 PhD students from more than 30 countries. The research spans the whole spectrum, from theoretical foundations to applied systems development. There is extensive national and international collaboration with academia and industry all around the world.

The Distributed Computing and Systems (DCS) research group (www.cse.chalmers.se/research/group/dcs/) in the Networks and Systems Division consists of approximately 20 international researchers and has been acknowledged as one of the leading research groups in practical multi-core synchronization and programming internationally (with results adopted in e.g. Java JDK, C++). The group has a strong background in data streaming and big data applications, coordination in networked systems, cyber-physical systems in energy and transportation, sensor networks and security. It has an extensive network of academic and industrial contacts and collaborations and has been supported by the major research organizations in Sweden and internationally.

Major responsibilities

The research will focus on parallel and distributed data streaming and their leveraging in future data-intensive applications (e.g. smart connected systems, such as autonomous and adaptive production systems,  smart energy systems, intelligent vehicular systems and networks). The core of the research will be the design and implementation of streaming processing algorithms that allow for data analysis which is (i) efficient and reliable (ii) high-throughput and low-latency and (iii) parallel, distributed and adaptive. The ultimate goal is to shape data streaming solutions that can be deployed in many-core and distributed architectures leveraging their underlying parallelism and the distributed nature of their data. The research will be funded by the Swedish Foundation of Strategic Research project titled "Future factories in the Cloud (FiC)" and will provide the possibilities for interactions with other top universities and industry in Sweden and Internationally.

Salary for the position is as specified in Chalmers' general agreement for PhD student positions. Currently the starting salary is 27,800SEK per month before tax. The positions are intended to start in winter/early-spring 2016, but a different starting date is also possible to arrange. Your major responsibility as a PhD student is to pursue your own doctoral studies. You are expected to develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing. The position generally also includes teaching on Chalmers' undergraduate level or performing other duties corresponding to 20 per cent of working hours.

Position summary

Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of five years.

Qualifications

To qualify as a PhD student, you must have a solid background in Computer Science and Engineering or in a related discipline, corresponding to a master's level degree of at least 240 higher education credits. As for all PhD studies, a genuine interest and curiosity in the subject matter and excellent analytical and communication skills, both oral and written, are needed.

The ideal candidate for the position has strong background in distributed computing and networked systems, with emphasis on and enthusiam for both algorithmic aspects and programming. Further experience with interdisciplinary projects or background in cyber-physical systems or data analysis is helpful. You may apply even if you have not completed your degree, but expect to do so before the position starts.  Knowledge of Swedish is not a prerequisite for applying since English is our working language for research. Both Swedish and English are used in undergraduate courses. Our researchers and PhD students at the department come from more than 30 different countries.

Application procedure

The application should be marked with Ref 20150555 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as pdf-files, as below:

1. Application: (Please name the document: APPLICATION, Family name, reference number)
   − CV
   − Other, for example previous employments or leadership qualifications and positions of trust.
   − Two-three letters of reference
2. Personal letter/Qualifications: (Please name the document as: QUALIFICATIONS, family name, ref. number)
   − 1-3 pages where you introduce yourself present your qualifications and describe your future research plans.
   − Previous research fields and main research results.
   − Future goals and research focus. Are there any specific projects and research issues you are primarily interested in?
3. Other:
   − Copies of bachelor and/or master’s thesis, project-reports and/or research-articles written.
   − Attested copies and transcripts of completed education, grades and other certificates, eg. TOEFL test results.

Please use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form. The files may be compressed (zipped).

Application deadline: 31 January 2016

For questions, please contact:Associate Professor Marina Papatriantafilou,
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Networks and Systems Division
Email: ptrianta@chalmers.se
Phone: +46-31-772 5413

Tomas Olovsson
Head of the Division Networks and Systems
Email: tomas.olovsson@chalmers.se
Phone: +46 31 772 1688

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