Job Information
- Organisation/Company
- University of Salzburg
- Department
- Chemistry and Physics of Materials
- Research Field
- Biological sciences » BiodiversityPhysics » BiophysicsEngineering » Materials engineering
- Researcher Profile
- First Stage Researcher (R1)
- Country
- Austria
- Application Deadline
- Type of Contract
- Temporary
- Job Status
- Full-time
- Hours Per Week
- 35
- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
- Not funded by an EU programme
- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
- No
Offer Description
We are currently looking for 2 PhD Candidates to work on a project funded by the VW Foundation to explore the properties of seed coats of plants found in extreme environments.
There is an increasing need for recyclable coatings and packaging that are both economically efficient and sustainable. Recycling of current solutions/materials is often impeded by difficult or even impossible separation into their original components. In nature, however, solutions for efficient and sustainable coatings and packaging are omnipresent: Plant seed coats (testa or fruit walls) are biodegradable, pack and protect embryos – even under extreme conditions such as heat, frost, radiation, chemical and microbial attack. However, surprisingly little is known about these incredibly thin, natural packaging/protecting solutions and the physical properties of such “natural functional barriers”. Closing this knowledge gap is equally important for bioinspired developments of sustainable packaging materials made from plant-based raw materials as well as for natural and artificial seed storage to biodiversity conservation.
The project is collaborative between the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Department of Biomaterials in Potsdam and the Paris Lodron University Salzburg, Department of Chemistry and Physics of Materials and the Department of Environment and Biodiversity. To achieve the goals of the proposed project we are currently looking for 2 Phd candidates at the University of Salzburg. The duration of employment will be 4 years for each candidate.
The first PhD student should hold a Masters degree in Biology (with a focus on Botany, Ecology or similar) with a strong focus on ecology. The person will be working also in the field (including high alpine regions) to set up and follow the development of seeds in different alpine regions. Lab work will comprise seed characterization (germination experiments but also seed coat characterization – in close interaction with project partners in Potsdam). Willingness to travel and spend some time for experiments in Potsdam is highly appreciated
The second PhD student should hold a Masters degree in Physics, Biophysics, or Materials Science and will work on understanding how structural and chemical characteristics allow seed-coats to act as natural functional barrier materials. Of particular interest is the role of geometrical effects of seed coats and their tessellations on transport. This project will consist of a combination of theoretical and experimental analysis. The work will be done, in close interaction with the other project members and the project leaders/supervisors Michaela Eder, John Dunlop and Andreas Tribsch. Again, we would appreciate the willingness to travel to Potsdam for experiments.
If you are interested in these positions please send you application, consisting of a motivation letter and your curriculum vitae to john.dunlop@plus.ac.at .
For further questions related to the project or working conditions please contact
John Dunlop, john.dunlop@plus.ac.at, Salzburg, Department of Chemistry and Physics of Materials
Andreas Tribsch, andreas.tribsch@plus.ac.at, Salzburg, Department of Environment and Biodiversity
Michaela Eder, Michaela.eder@mpikg.mpg.de, Potsdam, Department of Biomaterials, MPI-CI
Requirements
- Research Field
- Biological sciences » Biodiversity
- Education Level
- Master Degree or equivalent
- Research Field
- Physics » Biophysics
- Education Level
- Master Degree or equivalent
- Languages
- ENGLISH
- Level
- Excellent
Additional Information
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available
- 2
- Company/Institute
- Paris Lodron University of Salzburg
- Country
- Austria
- State/Province
- Salzburg
- City
- Salzburg
- Postal Code
- 5020
- Geofield
Where to apply
- john.dunlop@plus.ac.at
Contact
- State/Province
- Salzburg
- City
- Salzburg
- Website
- Street
- Jakob-Haringer-Straße 2
- Postal Code
- 5200