AdresseAre you interested in development of biobased surfactants and looking for a new job opportunity in the field? Would you like to do impactful research in the cutting edge of natural sciences with superb colleagues who are top experts in their field? Do you want to build a science career and work in a versatile role at the interface of academy and industry? VTT might be just the place for you.
VTT is one of the leading applied research organisations in Europe. What unites us are curiosity, a passion for learning, and a purpose: to solve the biggest challenges of our time and turn them into sustainable growth and well-being. Our cross-disciplinary community of over 2000 brilliant minds focuses on creating impact through science-based innovation. In recent years, we have created ground-breaking innovations such as the world's fastest and most accurate radiation detector, a cancer-sniffing sensor device for smartphones, and a headphone set entirely made of microbial materials. Get to know us further by exploring VTT's tech & infra.
We are now looking for a PhD student to join our Production host engineering team.
As a PhD student, you have an opportunity to focus on research towards PhD degree under the supervision of experienced professionals and to develop our lipid platform, which serves as a core technology for multiple industries from food to pharma and fuel. The main fields of research include yeast physiology, metabolic engineering, genetic engineering and synthetic biology. In this position, you will have the opportunity to learn about fungal metabolism and physiology especially in context of surfactant production. You will use up-to-date synthetic biology tools, analytical methods, and cultivation technologies. Computational biology, data management, and automation are incremental parts of the work.
As a Doctoral researcher at VTT, you are able to make an impact on our customers and society. Our researchers work closely together with industry, often in interdisciplinary research groups. VTT has excellent research infrastructure and internal services to support your research work. VTT has also started a Doctoral Programme to support goal-oriented PhD work within VTT’s strategic research choices. Once you have completed your PhD, we offer an exciting career opportunity with emphasis on applied research, working closely with our customers.
Our team, Production host engineering works on metabolic engineering of large number of known and non-conventional fungal hosts for production of various products e.g., lipids and derivatives, organic acids, colourants, or flavours and fragrances. We contribute to current and future production methods of food compounds and ingredients in cellular agriculture, chemicals and small molecules and materials.
Learn more about our research:
Microbial pigments
As a PhD student, you will:
- Conduct scientific project work in the fields of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology for generation of surfactants
• Actively participate in a multi-disciplinary research team to form research ideas and technical solutions to execute them
• Participate in discussions with industry to help solve their challenges
Who we are looking for:
- Completed MSc in relevant field such as biochemistry, genetics, or microbiology
- Excellent laboratory skills and experience in molecular biology techniques
- Experience working either with bacteria, yeast or filamentous fungi
- Strong spoken and written English skills
- It’s a benefit if you have experience with biochemistry, chemistry, and/or computational methods
As a person, we hope that you are:
- Motivated and willing to take initiative in getting projects accomplished with a “can do” attitude
- Able to work both independently and as a member of a team
- Curious towards cross-disciplinary approaches and technological challenges
- Willing to conduct part of the project in a collaborator’s laboratory in Sweden
- You are target-driven both with your decision-making and in learning new things and growing professionally
With VTT, you’ll enjoy:
- Natural sciences with an impact. VTT works on the cutting-edge of natural sciences, and we've invested in building state-of-the-art research facilities for natural sciences, such as the Bioruukki pilot infrastructure for bio- and circular economy. Our research agenda is dedicated to solving systemic and technological challenges, such as reaching carbon neutrality and unleashing the power of synthetic biology. That means that at VTT, your expertise in natural sciences will go towards creating a real impact. Read more about our strategy – the path of exponential hope.
- Superb colleagues and community. With VTT, you'll join a community of over 2000 multidisciplinary experts who foster a culture of trust, openness, and sharing of knowledge. We work across disciplines and house all the cutting-edge sciences, from quantum computing to synthetic biology, under one roof. Collaborating with superb colleagues is a source of learning, inspiration, and fun. Read more about our organisational culture as the builder of the world's most meaningful place to work.
- Excellent career in research. At VTT, excellence in research is a strategic priority. We offer long-term positions and stable career paths in top-level research. People tend to stay with us for over ten years since there are always new roles and responsibilities to grow into. A combination of cutting-edge academic research and applied customer projects keeps your career path interesting.
- Support for your well-being. Our people are our main asset, so we take good care of them. We aim to nurture excellent team spirit and leadership and offer versatile well-being services to enable a good work-life balance. On top of 6 weeks of paid holidays, we offer exercise and culture benefits, hobby clubs, and voluntary well-being services such as meditation and cognitive ergonomics training.
Apply now and join our community of brilliant minds!
Please send your CV and answer to the preliminary screening questions with your salary request via our recruitment system as soon as possible but at the latest by 18th of January 2024. We will make our first screening anonymously based on the answers you have provided to the open questions and we will process applications as they come in and fill the position as soon as we find the right candidate. A security clearance procedure may be conducted during the recruitment process.
Interested and want to know more?
For further information, please contact Principal scientist Peter Richard, peter.richard@vtt.fi, +358405186027 or Research Team Leader Mervi Toivari, mervi.toivari@vtt.fi, +358407081039 on 12th or15th of January at 1-3 pm.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Apply between 22 December 2023 and 18 January 2024 23:59 (Europe/Helsinki)
Employment type: Full-time, Permanent
VTT
VTT is a visionary research, development and innovation partner. We drive sustainable growth and tackle the biggest global challenges of our time and turn them into growth opportunities. We go beyond the obvious to help the society and companies to grow through technological innovations. We have 80 years of experience of top-level research and science-based results. VTT is at the sweet spot where innovation and business come together.
VTT – beyond the obvious.
