PhD Position at the Department of Molecular Sciences

The PhD position is located at the Department of Molecular Sciences at SLU within the recently established center for plant-based protein for health and well-being - PAN Sweden, read more here (https://www.oru.se/english/strategic-initiatives/food-and-health/pan-sweden/).

The Department of Molecular Sciences at SLU, where the position is placed, currently consists of approximately 100 employees and provides a high-quality infrastructure comprising, among other things, plant cultivation facilities, advanced microscopy, molecular biology, X-ray, and NMR. The department provides the scientific community, the administrator, and the public with knowledge about chemical compounds and biological processes and their significance for society and its development. The department conducts research, teaching, and environmental monitoring in the fields of food science, inorganic, physical and organic chemistry, biochemistry, natural product chemistry, and microbiology. Visit us at our website (https://www.slu.se/institutions/molekylara-vetenskaper/).

Learn more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU at this link (https://www.slu.se/om-slu/jobba-pa-slu/).

Comparative Characterization of Structure, Digestibility of Plant-Based Proteins and Dietary Fibers in Relation to Processing

Content Description:

The work is conducted in collaboration with the highly interdisciplinary research center PAN Sweden, where our goal is to connect materials science with food and medical science to clarify the relationship between processing, food microstructure, bioavailability, digestion, and fermentation on both sensory properties and health. Our vision is that sustainably produced food with health benefits should be the first choice for consumers. We will achieve this vision through collaboration with Örebro University, SLU, Chalmers, Uppsala University, and RISE, along with partners in the food industry.

We are looking for a PhD candidate who is willing to conduct research on how the structural properties of food and biomaterials change and affect their properties, including nutritional composition, bioavailability, and digestibility. The candidate must have a genuine interest in interdisciplinary research that bridges the physical-chemical properties of proteins and fibers to their impact on nutrition and health in food. The candidate should also be willing to work in collaboration with PAN industrial partners.

The main purpose is to characterize different Nordic crops' proteins in combination with dietary fibers and other food ingredients concerning structure, bioavailability, digestion, fermentation, and storage conditions as well as in relation to various processing conditions.

This will enable the prediction of health benefits as well as sensory properties such as taste and texture attributes. The main goals of the PhD project are:

• To systematically characterize the effect of processing techniques on (micro)structure as well as the viscosity/texture of model products.
• To establish the relationship between these properties and the meal matrix's properties and the proteins' digestibility in vitro with or without a combination of dietary fibers and other food ingredients related to the bioavailability of micronutrients.

Qualifications:

The successful candidate for the PhD position should have a master's degree in food science, chemistry, physics, materials science, biotechnology, or equivalent. Knowledge of the structural properties of food and techniques to study such properties is central to this work. Experience in microscopy (light, confocal, electron) and rheology is advantageous. Personal qualities such as a sense of responsibility and the ability to independently perform tasks as part of a research group will be valued. Mandatory experiences and skills include experimental laboratory work, scientific writing, and the ability to work in interdisciplinary projects. It is advantageous if you have experience in the food industry. Excellent communication skills in both oral and written scientific English are required.

Location:

Uppsala

Employment Type:

Employment as a PhD student (4 years of education)

Start Date:

By agreement.

Application

Welcome to submit your application via the application button no later than 2025-04-17.

To be eligible for doctoral education, a completed degree at the advanced level or at least four years of full-time studies, of which at least one year at the advanced level, is required.

Selection among eligible applicants is based on: written application including CV; thesis work, copies of degree certificates and transcripts from previous studies at the undergraduate and advanced levels at a university or college, two personal references, English language skills. More information about the requirements for English language skills can be found on the following page:link (https://www.slu.se/utbildning/program-kurser/forskarutbildning/att-bli-doktorand/).

Please note that candidates invited for an interview must submit certified copies of degree certificates, or equivalent, and transcripts from previous studies at the undergraduate and advanced levels at a university or college, and that candidates with foreign citizenship must also submit a certified copy of the page in their passport containing their photo and personal information.

Learn more about SLU's doctoral education at this page (http://www.slu.se/utbildning/program-kurser/forskarutbildning/).

Union Contacts:

link (https://internt.slu.se/min-anstallning/facket/kontaktpersoner/)

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) plays a key role in the development of sustainable living, based on science and education. Through our focus on the interactions between humans, animals, and ecosystems and responsible use of natural resources, we contribute to sustainable societal development and good living conditions on our planet. Main locations are Alnarp, Umeå, and Uppsala, but activities are also conducted at research stations, experimental parks, and educational sites throughout the country.

SLU has over 3000 employees, 5000 students and doctoral candidates, and a turnover of over three billion SEK. The university invests in attractive environments on its campuses. We strive for an equal and inclusive work environment where open conversations between people with different experiences lay the foundation for scientific rigor, creativity, and development. We therefore welcome individuals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to apply for this position.