Umeå University - with its 29,000 students and over 4,000 employees – is an organisation in constant change and development. The university’s researchers carry out excellence within several areas of research, and many of them are among the world’s elite. 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.

Two PhD-positions open
in Chemistry at the interface between natural and artificial photosynthesis

The Department of Chemistry at Umeå University today has approximately 200 members and offers a stimulating environment with a commitment to excellence in teaching and research, and provides a valuable service to society. The department offers degrees at B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. levels, and our graduate- and postgraduate students are attractive for employment in both academic institutions and industry. The Department of Chemistry now announces.

Position 1 (Ref nr 313-203-09) is more oriented towards the biological system and will focus on determining how substrate water is bound to the water-splitting Mn4OxCa cluster in photosystem II. This work will involve a broad spectrum of biochemical and biophysical techniques such as mutagenesis, growing of photosynthetic material, isolating photosystem II preparations, oxygen measurements, membrane-inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS), EPR and NMR.

Position 2 (Ref nr 313-204-09) is geared towards the analysis of water binding at artificial metal complexes and to the characterization of their oxygen- or hydrogen-evolving capacities. The complexes involved will initially be obtained via established co-operations, but may also me synthesized by the candidate. This project will involve the employment of techniques such as electrochemistry, mass spectrometry, EPR, NMR and X-ray spectroscopy.

The water-splitting complex in photosystem II is the only catalyst that biology developed during evolution that is capable of splitting water into molecular oxygen, protons and metabolically bound electrons. Combining protons and electrons via a hydrogenase type reaction leads to the formation of molecular hydrogen – the potential energy carrier of the future. Photosynthetic water-splitting is thereby the model of choice for developing catalysts - made of earth-abundant elements - for the renewable production of hydrogen-equivalents (protons and electrons) from water and sunlight.

The recruitment procedure will follow the Higher Education Ordinance (Högskoleförordningen chapters 5 and 7). Prerequisites include either i) 240 ECTScredits (swe. högskolepoäng) of higher education studies of which 60 should be on an advanced level (Master level), or ii) 120 Swedish (old) credits (swe. poäng; corresponding to 180 ECTS-credits) of higher education studies if they were taken before July 1, 2007 or
equivalent competence.

Advanced course(s) or other experience in microbiology, biochemistry, electrochemistry, mass spectrometry, EPR, NMR and/or X-ray spectroscopy are of advantage, as well as evidence of proficiency in written and oral communication in English. It is furthermore important to be able to work independently and self-motivated, as well as in teams. Support for new techniques will be provided.

The application should contain a CV, including academic grades and relevant documentation, and a personal letter of one A4 sheet describing yourself and your reasons for applying to this position.

For more information, contact Prof. Johannes Messinger, phone +46-(0)90-786 59 33, e-mail: johannes.messinger@chem.umu.se.

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.

If you are applying for both positions, you need to send in one application for each position. Documents sent electronically should be in MS Word or PDF format.

Your complete application, marked with reference number, should be sent to jobb@umu.se or to the Registrar, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden to arrive March 27, 2009 at the latest.

We look forward receiving your application!