Student Research Assistant in Molecular Biophysics

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is consistently ranked as one of the world's leading universities. There are approximately 47,000 students and more than 8,800 employees in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We are united in our effort to understand, explain, and improve our world and the conditions of humanity.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Equality, equal opportunities, and diversity are fundamental principles for all parts of our operations.

Description of the Research Group

You will be based at the Faculty of Medicine in Lund.

The Molecular Biophysics group is located at the Biomedical Center (BMC) at Lund University and is led by Professor Trevor Forsyth.

The research in the group is organized around two main directions. The first focuses on the use of large-scale scientific facilities to elucidate the structure and biological function of endogenous biomolecules, such as amyloids, and their roles in diseases including neurodegeneration and Alzheimer's disease.

The second research direction is focused on the structural characterization of lipid nanoparticles, aiming to link nanoscale structure to biological function to further develop systems for vaccine delivery and anticancer immunotherapies.

In this project, you will work on nanoparticle research in close collaboration with Dr. Cindy Xiao, where you will analyze cryo-TEM and scattering data and integrate these results to draw scientifically robust conclusions about the samples.

Job Description

We are looking for a motivated candidate student for a part-time position as a student research assistant in our research group. The position is particularly suitable for students in their 2nd or 3rd year or recent graduates. The selected candidate will contribute to a collaborative project focusing on the structural analysis of mRNA vaccines and immunotherapy, and work with complex experimental datasets.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to data analysis within a joint research project on mRNA vaccines and immunotherapy
• Analyze, organize, and curate datasets generated with scattering techniques (e.g., SAXS/SANS) and microscopy (e.g., electron microscopy)
• Assist in data processing, visualization, and interpretation under the guidance of senior researchers
• Maintain clear and well-organized documentation of analysis workflows and results
• Communicate research results effectively in English within a multidisciplinary research team

Qualifications

Required

• Strong research interest and ambition to consider future doctoral studies
• Good proficiency in Microsoft Office and Excel
• Basic understanding of data analysis and scientific workflows
• Experience in image analysis
• Detail-oriented, structured, and independent, with a good ability to work both independently and in a team
• Good communication skills in spoken and written English

Meritorious

• Current candidate student (preferably in the 2nd or 3rd year) or recent graduate in biology, medicine, chemistry, physics, or related field
• Experience in quantitative data analysis

Employment Conditions

Employment type: Fixed-term employment, 3 months
Extent: 1–2 days per week (part-time)

Contact

For informal inquiries or preliminary questions, please feel free to contact:

Dr. Cindy Xiao
Postdoctoral Researcher
Email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Prof. Trevor Forsyth
Principal Investigator
Email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

How to Apply

The position is applied for via the university's recruitment system. The application should include a personal letter explaining why you are interested in the position and how the position matches your qualifications. The application should also include a CV, diploma or equivalent, and any other documents you wish to reference (copies of grades, references, recommendation letters, etc.)

More about the Faculty of Medicine

The Faculty of Medicine is an area of operation within Lund University, responsible for education and research in medicine, care, and health. Education is conducted in close collaboration with healthcare and is well anchored in the faculty's strong research tradition. The faculty's research spans a wide field within experimental basic research, patient-centered clinical research, and health sciences research. The Faculty of Medicine, with over 1,800 employees and 2,700 students in Lund, Malmö, and Helsingborg, is an intensive knowledge meeting place for students, teachers, and researchers from around the world.

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