Vacant job

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is consistently ranked among the world's leading universities. There are approximately 46,000 students and 8,500 employees in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We are united in our strive to understand, explain, and improve our world and the conditions of people.

The Department of Process and Environmental Engineering (PLE) at Lund University is located at Kemicentrum, one of the largest centers in the Nordics for education and research in the field of chemistry. PLE has approximately 150 employees, of whom about 65 are doctoral students. The department offers broad expertise in areas such as chemical engineering, food technology, biotechnology, and technical microbiology. Research and education at PLE span the entire field of chemistry and include both undergraduate and graduate education.

The Department of Process and Environmental Engineering (PLE) at Lund University actively works to ensure a good working environment through various initiatives and routines. PLE encourages open communication and collaboration between employees, students, and management to continuously improve the working environment. This includes regular meetings and dialogues to discuss working environment issues and find common solutions.

Workplace Description

The position is located at the Division of Biotechnology and Technical Microbiology (BAM), Department of Process and Environmental Engineering (PLE) at Kemicentrum in Lund. The division conducts research and education at the undergraduate and doctoral levels in various areas of biotechnology. One of the key areas is industrial biotechnology, which involves the development of biological catalysts and sustainable processes for bio-based chemicals, bioenergy, and food. The division is highly international and strives to maintain a balanced gender distribution.

What We Offer

Lund University is a government agency, which means you will receive special benefits, generous vacation time, and a favorable occupational pension. Read more on the university's website about Working with us.

Job Description

The position as Project Assistant involves participation in the research project STAR and includes active participation in biomass fractionation, development of biocatalysts, and a lab-scale bioprocess for the synthesis of building blocks for renewable and recyclable plastic, process optimization, as well as data collection for techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment.

The duties include:

• Laboratory work including
  • In silico modeling, gene cloning, and protein expression.
  • Protein engineering to analyze enzyme activity mechanisms.
  • Optimization of reaction conditions.
• Product and data analysis.
• Preparation of a manuscript for publication.
• Oral presentations to the research group and project partners.

Qualifications

Requirements for the position are:

• A Master's degree in biotechnology or another relevant field.
• Theoretical and practical competence in molecular biotechnology and bioprocess engineering, including understanding of enzymatic mechanisms and their application in biocatalysis.
• Practical experience with bacterial cultivation and analytical methods such as spectrophotometry and chromatographic techniques.
• Very good knowledge of English, both spoken and written.

Qualifications that are considered meritorious:

• Practical experience in biocatalysis with enzymes and whole cells, recycling of biocatalysts, in silico modeling, gene cloning, and protein expression.
• Experience in conducting risk assessments.
• Good teamwork skills, drive, and independence.
• Skill in planning, executing, and accurately documenting experimental workflows.
• Very good communication skills through oral presentations and written reports.
• Experience in writing scientific manuscripts.

Other Information

The employment is a fixed-term appointment for the period 2026-08-17 to 2027-03-16 with a workload of 100%.

How to Apply

The application should include a CV and a cover letter explaining why you are interested in the position and how the position matches your qualifications. We ask you to attach extracts from LADOK certifying your eligibility. The application should also include any other documents you wish to submit (copies of grades, contact details for references, recommendation letters, etc.).

We look forward to receiving your application!

LTH – Lund Institute of Technology – is part of Lund University. At LTH, we educate people, build knowledge for the future, and work hard to develop society. We create space for brilliant research and inspire the creative development of technology, architecture, and design. Nearly 12,000 students study here. Every year, our researchers – many of whom work in world-leading profile areas – publish around 100 dissertations and 2,000 scientific findings. A number of research results and student projects are refined into innovations. Together, we explore and create – for the benefit of the world.

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