Uppsala University is an international research university focused on the development of science and education. Our most important assets are all the individuals who with their curiosity and their dedication makes Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting work places. Uppsala University has 41.000 students, 6,500 employees and a turnover of SEK 5,900 million.

Full time position during one year with the possibility to extend to a second year. Starting date as soon as possible.

The Division of Nanotechnology and Functional Materials at the Department of Engineering Sciences focuses on the development and investigation of nanostructured materials for use in diverse applications ranging from medical devices to energy storage. The multidisciplinary research profile of the group makes it possible to cover a wide range of nanomaterial science aspects from synthesis and characterization of novel materials to biocompatibility and toxicity studies.

One of the research areas of the division deals with the safety aspects of nanomaterials. Our national and international projects aim at evaluating the human health toxicological hazard of nanomaterials as well as to develop new classes of nanomaterials with nanosafety as a fundamental part of the development process.

Project and work description: There is unanimous opinion that the full potential of nanotechnology requires attention to safety issues. There is an urgent need to address the current uncertainties on the safety of nanomaterials and nano-enabled products in order to avoid that consumer skepticism and the lack of confidence and acceptance of nanotechnology by the industry hinder the benefits of nanotechnology.

Within this context, the European commission funds the FP7-project GUIDEnano. The project aims at developing innovative methodologies to evaluate and manage human and environmental health risks of nano-enabled products, considering the whole product life cycle. The final goal is to incorporate those developments into an interactive web-based Guidance Tool, which will guide the nano-enabled product developers (mainly industry) into the design and application of the most appropriate risk assessment & mitigation strategy for a specific product.

We search for an experienced researcher for nanosafety research in the frame of the GUIDEnano project. Our role in the collaborative project is in the assessment of human health toxicological hazard. The main focus will be on in vitro studies with transformed cell lines, evaluating cytotoxicity, cytokine secretion and reactive oxygen species production.

The successful candidate is expected to lead the experimental work of the GUIDEnano project and also to contribute to the development of predictive hazard models. The selected person will work in close collaboration with individuals from other disciplines including ecotoxicology, risk assessment, material science and is expected to have a continuous dialogue with industrial partners.

Qualifications: We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a PhD degree in toxicology related sciences: nanoscience, chemistry, biology, immunology or materials science. A strong interest and well-documented experience in nanotoxicology is required.

Further requisites are:

• Experience with the following techniques: isolation and maintenance of primary cell cultures and cell lines, enzyme linked immunoassays, confocal and light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and flow cytometry.
• Basic knowledge of techniques for nanomaterial physicochemical characterization
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work independently and in collaboration with individuals from very diverse disciplines
• Very good knowledge in English, written and spoken 

The application should include a description of research interests and previous research experience, CV, publication list, copies of diploma or other relevant documents. We encourage you to include details of references and/or attach letters of recommendation.

For further information about the position, please contact Assistant Professor Natalia Ferraz (natalia.ferraz@angstrom.uu.se ,  +46-18-4713073). Information about the Division can be found at www.teknik.uu.se/nfm/

You are welcome to submit your application no later than June 20th, 2014, UFV-PA 2013/1543.