Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Wood Science

A PhD position is available in the Wood Physics Group (Prof. Dr. P. Niemz. More information about us: http://www.ifb.ethz.ch/wood; earliest starting date: October 1, 2009. Title of the project: „ Multiscale experimental characterization of wood under moisture and mechanical loading“.
PhD position in Wood Physics 2 (60%)

Research project
The investigations belong to a project with a total of five dissertations (see also http://www.ifb.ethz.ch/wood/jobs). Goal of the PhD project in the Wood Physics Group is to investigate the material behavior of spruce wood at different hierarchical levels under mechanical load and under moisture-induced stress. Therefore, swelling tests with free and hindered swelling and also cyclic mechanical loading tests have to be performed. The changes at the different structural levels (e.g., between earlywood and latewood) have to be analysed. Preliminary work (within the framework of students’ projects and two dissertations) has already been carried out in our working group.

The methodological approaches and the experimental techniques are different with regard to the structural scale. Besides standard testing procedures to determine swelling and stress at the macro level, neutron radiography, X-ray microtomography and diffractometry can be applied on the meso scale, and particularly electron and light microscopy at the micro scale. The experiments will provide a data basis for a multi scale modeling of the material behavior (which is no more the task of the doctoral student).

What we offer
The project offers the opportunity to work in a young and motivated team and the prospect of obtaining a PhD from ETH Zurich. The position is funded for three years. The gross annual salaries correspond to the guidelines of the Swiss National Science Foundation (currently about CHF 39‘600,-/€ 26‘200,- for the first year, CHF 42‘600,-/€ 28‘200,- for the second year, CHF 45‘600,-/€ 30‘200,- for the third year).
Your background
We are looking for a candidate holding a university degree at the MSc level (or equivalent) in a relevant field of expertise (wood science, wood technology, material science, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, or in a related field) with at least good grades and good English skills.
For further enquiries about the position contact Prof. Dr. P. Niemz (niemzp@ethz.ch)
Please apply online a www.jobs.ethz.ch
If you are interested, please submit your documents such as a letter of motivation, CV, copies of all relevant certificates/grades, a writing sample (e.g., a published article, a chapter from your MA/MSc thesis, a seminar paper) in a single pdf file. The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.

PhD Programme in Structural Biology in Vienna

The Medical University of Vienna (MUW), the University of Vienna (UNIVIE), the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) and the Institute for Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) announce the opening of an International PhD Program called “Structure and Interaction of Biological Macromolecules (SIBM)”.

All the participating institutions are located at the Vienna Biocenter (http://www.viennabiocenter.com), providing an intellectual and scientific environment with a stimulating atmosphere of discovery.

The program is funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna.

The PhD program aims at providing students with an in-depth, interdisciplinary training in applying structural methods to the study of biological interactions.

The research projects will be focused on:

Host pathogen interactions (Dieter Blaas, Tom Marlovits , Tim Skern)
Cell cycle control (Jan-Michael Peters)
Protein quality control (Tim Clausen, Robert Konrat)
Membrane proteins (Tom Marlovits, Peggy Stolt-Bergner)
Macromolecular assemblies (Dieter Blaas, Kristina Djinovic-Carugo, Jan-Michael Peters)
Posttranslational modifications (Andrea Pichler, Jan-Michael Peters)

The techniques include:
Protein Biochemistry
Macromolecular Crystallography
NMR Spectroscopy
Cryo-Electron Microscopy
Mass Spectrometry

Successful applicants will be enrolled in a three year program, expected to conclude with the presentation and public defense of a PhD thesis. Doctoral degrees will be awarded by the Medical University of Vienna or University of Vienna.

The program is open to all candidates holding a university MSc degree (or equivalent) in biochemistry, molecular biology, chemistry, biology, or related fields. The candidate selection is performed through an oral interview and presentation. The entire program is in English.

Application deadline: June 30th, 2009.

Selected candidates will be interviewed in Vienna from 6th to 8th September, 2009 and will be expected to join the program shortly afterwards.

Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme

TWAS-BIOTEC Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme

For young scientists from developing countries (other than Thailand) who wish to pursue advanced research in the biotechnology at the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Thailand. Deadline 15 September.


IMPORTANT:
The following is additional information concerning the TWAS-BIOTEC Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme

tenable in Thailand. It is an integral part of the information given here: TWAS Fellowships for Postdoctoral Research.

Applicants should be aware that they can apply for only one fellowship per year. With the exception of the fellowships "for research collaboration", all other fellowship programmes offered by TWAS and TWOWS are mutually exclusive.


Programme Details

  • TWAS-BIOTEC Postdoctoral Fellowships are tenable in BIOTEC and its affiliated research units for a period of twelve (12) to twenty-four (24) months and are awarded to young scientists from developing countries (other than Thailand) to enable them to pursue advanced research in the biotechnology.
  • BIOTEC will provide a standard monthly allowance which should be used to cover living costs, such as accommodation and food.
  • The language of instruction is English.

Eligibility

Applicants for these fellowships must meet the following criteria:

  • Be nationals of a developing country (other than Thailand).
  • Hold a PhD degree in any of the following fields: molecular biology, molecular genetics, microbiology, biochemistry, biotechnology and bioinformatics and related disciplines.
  • Apply for the fellowship within five years of having obtained a PhD degree in the fields indicated above.
  • Be regularly employed at a research and/or teaching institution in their home country where they must hold a research assignment.
  • Provide an official Acceptance Letter from BIOTEC. Requests for acceptance must be directed to BIOTEC Research Unit Coordination Division (e-mail rucd [at] biotec.or.th) who will facilitate assignment of a host supervisor.
  • Provide evidence of proficiency in English.

Submitting your application

  • The deadline for receipt of applications is 15 September of each year.
  • Applicants should submit the Acceptance Letter from to BIOTEC Research Unit Coordination Division to TWAS and BIOTEC when applying or by the deadline at the latest. Without preliminary acceptance, the application will not be considered for selection.
  • Reference letters: Referees must send signed letters as attachment via e-mail directly to TWAS and BIOTEC. The subject line must contain: TWAS-BIOTEC/PDoc/candidate's surname. Alternatively, letters should be sent by post in sealed envelopes.
  • Applicants for the TWAS-BIOTEC Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme should send their application to TWAS and BIOTEC.

Contact Details

TWAS Fellowships Office
ICTP Campus, Strada Costiera 11
34014 Trieste, Italy

Phone: +39 040 2240-314
Fax: +39 040 2240-689
E-mail: fellowships@twas.org

BIOTEC Research Unit Coordination Division
National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
113 Phahonyothin Road
Klong1, Klong Luang
Pathumthani 12120, Thailand

Tel: (66-2) 564 3700
Fax: (66-2) 564 6707
Email: rucd@biotec.or.th