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PhD Candidate in Experimental Soft Matter Science Related to Food Applications

Employer
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - NTNU
Location
Trondheim, Norway
Closing date
11 Dec 2021

About the position

It is well known that small particles can get trapped at the interface between two fluids. This effect can be used to coat droplets with micro or nano-scale particles, and thereby stabilize emulsions without the use of surfactant molecules, known as Pickering emulsions.

Would you like to start your career in a European training network of leading research universities and professionals from the industry? Then you might be interested in this PhD position, which will enable you to join the PICKFOOD project. PICKFOOD is a top-level interdisciplinary training and research programme involving 15 PhD positions across physics, physical chemistry and food science. PICKFOOD aims to create at European level a network of next generation young scientists trained in novel methodologies within Pickering emulsions research enabling the development of safe, healthy and functional foods and at the same time minimizing food waste due to lipid oxidation.

This network is detailed on the site www.pickfood.eu

In the PICKFOOD project NTNU has three PhD vacancies working in the area of experimental soft matter science in the Soft and Complex Matter Lab located at the Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology – NTNU in Trondheim Norway. The 13 other Pickfood positions are advertised through the EURAXESS portal.

About Pickfood position #2 located at NTNU:

Title: Soft matter science of edible oil-in-oil Pickering emulsions

This PhD project will explore Pickering emulsions based on food-grade oils and edible nanoparticles. The emulsion formation and stability will be investigated under imposed flow and applied electric-fields.The NTNU workplace of the PhD candidate will be in the Soft and Complex Matter Lab (http://www.softcomlab.com) in certain cases supported by the NTNU Nanolab (https://www.ntnu.edu/nano).

Experimental methods that may be utilized in the project are microscopy (optical, atomic force - AFM, electron (SEM, TEM)) and microfluidic methods. Custom made experiments, such as special purpose sample cells, acoustic levitation etc. will be designed and built with the help of the laboratory’s technical staff, the NTNU mechanical workshop or by own 3D printing. The project team will perform X-ray scattering characterization (wide- or small-angle, i.e., WAXS or SAXS) either in the Soft and Complex Matter Lab at NTNU or at international synchrotron X-ray facilities. Neutron scattering experiments (SANS or spectroscopy) may be performed by the team at international neutron facilities, such as ISIS UK.

The position has a duration of 3 years.

Staring date for employment in the position is January 1 2022.

You will report to Head of Department of Physics Professor Erik Wahlstrøm.

Professor Jon Otto Fossum from the Department of Physics will be the main supervisor of the PhD candidate, and Professor Paul Dommersnes (Department of Physics) and Researcher Matti Knaapila (Department of Physics) will be co-supervisors at NTNU. Co-supervisors at UNICAMP will be Professor Lucimara Gaziola de la Torre (Department of Materials and Bioprocess Engineering), and Professor Rosiane Lopes da Cunha (School of Food Engineering).

Duties of the position

Up to 10 months of the employment period will be spent on secondments at partner institutions UNICAMP (Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil) to evaluate different food-grade oils and nanoparticles to produce Pickering emulsions and the company partner Nestlé Quality Assurance Center (Araras, Sao Paulo, Brazil) for exploring the development of microfluidic processes to form Pickering emulsions under flow convection and electric-field.

Some sample preparation that involves physical chemistry for nano-/micro-particle functionalization will be supervised by and partly performed by the experienced laboratory staff at NTNU and at UNICAMP.

This PhD project will explore Pickering emulsions based on food-grade oils and edible nanoparticles. The emulsion formation and stability will be investigated under imposed flow and applied electric-fields.

The NTNU workplace of the PhD candidate will be in the Soft and Complex Matter Lab (http://www.softcomlab.com) in certain cases supported by the NTNU Nanolab (https://www.ntnu.edu/nano).

Information about eligibility

The applicant shall, at the time of recruitment by NTNU, be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and not yet have been awarded a doctoral degree. Full-time equivalent research experience is measured from the date when a researcher obtained the degree which would formally entitle him or her to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited.

 The applicant is required to undertake transnational mobility (i.e. move from one country to another) when taking up his/her appointment. At the time of recruitment by NTNU, the applicant must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date. Note that the mobility rule applies to Norway, where the researcher is recruited, and not to co-hosting research groups to which the researcher is sent or seconded.

Required selection criteria

  • The PhD candidate position's main objective is to qualify for work in research positions. The qualification requirement is that you at the start of your appointment have completed a master’s degree or second degree (equivalent to 120 credits) with a strong academic background in physics, nanotechnology, materials science, or another relevant field with sufficient physics contents or equivalent education with a grade of B or better in terms of NTNU’s grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you are unable to meet these criteria you may be considered only if you can document that you are particularly suitable for education leading to a PhD degree.
  • You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's doctoral program (https://www.ntnu.no/fysikk/phd)

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) and Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant  

Preferred selection criteria

  • The position requires a strong interest in developing experimental skills.
  • Experience with, or courses in soft or condensed matter experimental physics, such as in using some of the methods listed above, may be considered an advantage.
  • It may be considered an advantage if the applicant has data-analysis skills in e.g. Matlab or Python.
  • Good written and oral English.

Personal characteristics

  • Creative, with a strong ability to work goal-oriented.
  • Good skills to deliver oral and written presentations of research results.
  • He/she should also enjoy interdisciplinary research and take keen interest in learning and working in teams, which is of particular importance in this collaborative project.

We offer

Salary and conditions

PhD candidates are remunerated in code 1017, and are normally remunerated at gross from NOK 491 200 per annum before tax.From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 3 years. There is a possibility for an extension with 8 months employment if the PhD candidate is qualified for and selected for teaching duty work at the Department of Physics NTNU .

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in physics(https://www.ntnu.edu/physics/phd) within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis, with the exception of the time periods for planned research missions to the collaborating laboratories described above.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above. 

The application must include:

  • An application letter that shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the specific criteria and general research approach which are set out above, as well as your motivation.
  • CV, certificates and diplomas.
  • Academic works - published or unpublished - that you would like to be considered in the assessment.
  • Name and address of three referees

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both bachelor's and master's education, in addition to other higher education. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well.

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. 

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.

General information

Working at NTNU

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

In accordance with The Public Information Act (Offentleglova), your name, age, position and municipality may be made public even if you have requested not to have your name entered on the list of applicants.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Jon Otto Fossum, email jon.fossum@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Head of Department of Physics Professor Erik Wahlstrøm, e-mail: erik.wahlstrom@ntnu.no.

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Diploma Supplement is required to attach for European Master Diplomas outside Norway. Chinese applicants are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from China Credentials Verification (CHSI).

If you are invited for interview you must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters. Please refer to the application number NV 113/21 when applying.

Application deadline: 11.12.21

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Physics

Our research and teaching are both experimental and theoretical, covering a wide range of disciplines. Our activities contribute to development of new medical technology and to finding solutions for the next generation’s communication technology, energy utilization and development of materials. The Department of Physics is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

Deadline 11th December 2021
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Fixed Term
Place of service

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