Umeå University - with its 33,000 students and over 4,000 employees - is an organisation in constant change and development. Umeå University conducts groundbreaking research within several areas - several in which we are among the best in the world - within others regarded as the leaders in Sweden. We are one of Sweden’s largest providers of education and offer a broad and attractive range of courses and programmes. Our campus constitutes an inspiring environment for everyone that studies and works here. We wish to co-operate with companies and organisations throughout the Umeå region and all over the world.

A PhD student position in the BioImprove programme:
Bioprocessing properties of Populus wood

Department of Chemistry at Umeå University conducts research in the areas of biological chemistry, environmental biogeochemistry and technical chemistry. The department has a strong focus on interdisciplinary work and has good access to modern analytical instrumentation and facilities.

The project is a part of the FORMAS-funded research programme BioImprove (www.bioimprove.se), which is launched in the beginning of the year 2010. Nine PhD students will be hired within the programme. PhD training will be provided within the BioImprove programme and the graduate training of Umeå Plant Science Centre (www.upsc.se) and the Chemical Biological Centre (www.kbc.umu.se) of Umeå University (www.umu.se).

The PhD student position is linked to prof. Leif J. Jönsson’s group at the Department of Chemistry (www.chemistry.umu.se) and the research is a part of the activities in Technical Chemistry (www.chemistry.umu.se/english/research/technical-chemistry). Research is carried out in laboratories in Umeå and in Örnsköldsvik and involves collaboration with biorefinery-oriented industry in the region. Read more about biorefinery activities in the region at <www.processum.se> and <www.bioraffinaderi.se>.

In this project within the BioImprove programme, selected hybrid aspen lines will be evaluated with regard to chemical properties and processability. Wood samples will be pretreated and the susceptibility of the pretreated lignocellulose to enzymatic hydrolysis will be investigated. The chemical composition and the fermentability of the resulting hydrolysate will be studied as well as the properties of the lignin-rich residue obtained after enzymatic hydrolysis. Factors that govern the recalcitrance of lignocellulose to pretreatment and enzymatic conversion processes will be investigated. The evaluation process will offer information about conversion of the feedstock not only for the production of cellulosic ethanol, but also for other biofuels and chemicals.

The duration of a PhD education is 4 years (48 months). Applicants should have a university education in chemistry, chemical engineering, or biotechnology, and be strongly motivated for research on enzymes, lignocellulose chemistry, and biotechnology for the production of fuels and chemicals from renewable resources. Good social skills, ability to work independently as well as in collaboration with others, and good skills in English language are valued.

General requirements include: (i) 240 ECTS credit points (Swe. högskolepoäng) of higher education studies of which 60 should be on an advanced level (Master level), (ii) equivalent educational merits gained in Sweden or abroad, or (iii) 120 Swedish (old) credit points (Swe. poäng) (corresponding to 180 ECTS credit points) of higher education studies if they were taken before July 1, 2007. In addition to these general requirements, 120 ECTS credit points need to be in chemistry or a comparable subject. The requirements mentioned need to be met at the time of acceptance to doctoral studies, not at the time when your application is submitted.

For further information, please contact prof. Leif J. Jönsson. E-mail leif.jonsson@chem.umu.se. Phone +46-(0)90-786 68 11.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with the reference number 313-1075-09. The application should include: (i) a cover letter summarizing your qualifications and motives for applying, (ii) a curriculum vitae, (iii) transcripts of records, and (iv) the names and contacts of 1 to 3 references.

Union information is available from SACO, +46-(0)90-786 53 65, SEKO, +46-(0)90-786 52 96 and ST, +46-(0)90-786 54 31.

Applications will be discarded or, if the applicant so wishes, returned two years after the position has been filled. Documents sent electronically should be in MS Word or PDF format.

Your complete application, marked with reference number 313-1075-09, should be sent to jobb@umu.se or to the Registrar, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden to arrive January 15, 2010 at the latest.

We look forward to receiving your application!