Sweden – Chalmers University of Technology PhD Position in Physical Chemistry
Mechanisms for transport through cell membranes
Certain peptides are found to have the ability to assist uptake of other substances by the cell. It is important to assess the mechanisms in order to understand cellular uptake and how to design gene therepeutics and other drugs. Live cells as well as arificial model membranes are studied with microscopy and spectroscopic techniques.
Fundamental processes for solar energy conversion
The project focuses on construction and study of molecular systems for solar light-induced energy conversion to electricity or hydrogen. Ruthenium compounds with suitable eletron-transfer properties are attached to molecular “chips”, which may be self-assembled membranes or aligned DNA molecules, and are studied using photophysical and electrochemical methodology.
DNA interactions of importance for cancer therapy
How small molecules bind to DNA is important to understand in order to be able to develop substances that gene specifically may be used in cancer therapy. New molecules with suitable properties as to cellular uptake and binding to DNA are designed, synthesized and studied with respect to binding geometry, site recognition and reaction kinetics.
Physico-chemical methods for attenuating gene regulation
By packing DNA very densely in molecular complexes it is possible to prevent transcription from occurring. The project focuses on the development of novel methods to compact genetic material, on one hand for preserving DNA or for delivery (transfection) of DNA into cells, or use in cell-free protein reactors, on the other, for gene regulation by selective steric blocking of transcription.
Laser spectroscopic studies of molecular energy and electron transfer reactions
In order to develop methods for harvesting the sun light for energy applications and, furthermore, for the understanding of fundamental processes in future molecular scale electronics, porphyrin and metal complex based model systems are studied with femto second laser spectroscopy.
The positions are placed at the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology. Suitable background for candidates is a MSc. in either Chemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering with Engineering Physics, Biotechnology or equivalent. The research is defrayed by the Swedish Research Council (VR), the Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) and the Swedish Cancer Foundation.
For further information, please contact Associate Professor Per Lincoln, +46 31 722 30 55, lincoln@chembio.chalmers.se, Professor Bo Albinsson, +46 31 772 30 44, balb@chembio.chalmers or Professor Bengt Nordén, +46 31 772 30 41, norden@chembio.chalmers.se
The application, which you preferably should send by e-mail, must contain: CV, exam with grades, contact details of reference persons, MSc thesis paper and a short (max one page) description of your strengths relevant for this position.
Mark your application with reference number 120/2006. Last day for application is January 31, 2007. The applications should be sent to Registrator, e-mail: registrator@adm.chalmers.se or to the address:
Registrator
Chalmers University of Technology
SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden
Telephone: +46 31 772 10 00
Fax Registrar: +46 31 772 49 22
Union representatives
SACO: Jan Lindér, +46 31 772 12 12
SEKO: Ralf Berndtsson, +46 31 772 16 13
ST: Monika Orrbacke, +46 31 772 14 02
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