MSCA PostDoc at CoSAXS (PA2025/2210)

THIS POSITION is based at the CoSAXS beamline, a SAXS/WAXS beamline at MAX IV, catering to a broad user community in Soft Matter and Life Science. . For information on the beamline, see: CoSAXS

Description of the AMBER project
This post-doctoral position is part of AMBER, Advanced Multiscale Biological imaging using European Research infrastructures, which will address scientific and sectoral gaps in biological imaging ranging from molecular, through cellular, to tissue, organ and organism levels of organisation, and is coordinated by LINXS Institute of advanced Neutron and X-ray Science.

AMBER is funded by the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) COFUND scheme. Around 20 postdocs will be recruited in the 4th call 2025. Each fellowship lasts 36 months. For more information, visit https://www.euraxess.se/jobs/341970

The interviews will start in November 2025. For more information about AMBER, application and evaluation process, visit: ambercofund.eu

Minimum Qualification requirements are:

• Maximum 8 years after a doctoral degree (PhD)
• At least 1 original publication in a peer-reviewed journal
• A background in the relevant methods
• Complete application package submitted through the AMBER portal (including CV and detailed research plan)
• Strict compliance with the MSCA mobility rule that the researcher must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the host organisation's country for more than twelve months in the three years immediately prior to the call deadline

Each project will have additional specific requirements candidates have to fulfill, check what these are before you apply.

Instructions on how to apply
For more information and documents/templates/europass link, visit https://www.ambercofund.eu/for-applicants . Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you are interested in applying for more positions (max. 3) you need to make a full application for each individual position. Applications shall be written in English and in PDF format.

1. A CV (europass format) exported to PDF to use in your application
2. A detailed research plan including secondments (candidates can suggest more than the mandated secondment), schools and conferences as well as a templated budget plan. The research plan should be concise, 3 pages, including 1/3 page of summary/abstract.

Additional texts to include in the PDF are:
3. Letter of Commitment from any additional secondment partners the candidate wishes to bring onboard
4. Evidence of English proficiency (minimum CEFR B22, also checked at interview)
5. A draft Individual Career Development Plan (ICDP)
6. Two reference letters
7. Any additional documents to support the application
8. Ethical questionnaire (HE ethics checklist + research ethics commitment)
9. A candidate can apply for up to 3 positions. A list with order of preference of positions should be sent to: amber@linxs.se

THIS PROJECT: Development of microfluidics on the CoSAXS beamline.
Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) combined with microfluidics has emerged as a powerful tool for studying biomolecular interactions, nanoparticle assembly, and other structural changes in real time. Microfluidic devices enable precise control over rapid mixing, optimised sample consumption, dilution, and nanoscale monitoring of molecular interactions, e.g. for protein folding studies, drug screening, and soft matter research. 

Work tasks
The main task is to conduct research and develop independence as a researcher. User support at CoSAXS is also included (max 33% of working hours). The position includes the opportunity for further training and courses in consultation with the PI. You will focus on the development of online microfluidic technology. The development will be driven by biomedical (protein aggregation & amyloid systems, lipid nanoparticle assembly), soft matter and industrial (polymer synthesis, emulsions, hydrogels, self assembly) applications. The successful applicant will be a highly motivated individual with a strong academic background in the physical sciences and will be expected to work closely with both beamline scientists and scientists from the user community whose projects require this unique technological combination.

Detailed description of the work tasks:

• Responsible for improving, designing, planning, and performing experiments, with participation of colleagues/collaborators
• Responsible for designing, planning, and performing SAXS/WAXS analysis
• The project is in collaboration with international partners, active interaction as a team member is expected
• Support of relevant user beamtime, i.e. collaborators
• Disseminate results at relevant meetings and through articles

Qualifications required for the project:

• PhD in a relevant science area
• Proven expertise in SAXS/WAXS
• Proven experience in the use and development of microfluidics measurements for synchrotron SAXS/WAXS experiments
• Documented expertise in data analysis using scripting (ideally python-based)
• Experience carrying out SAXS/WAXS experiments at large scale facilities
• Working experience with soft matter and/or protein systems including sample preparation for SAXS measurements
• Ability to work independently and take initiatives
• Strong social and communication skills
• Good command of written and spoken English

Qualifications of merit:

• Knowledge of time-resolved measurement and related data analysis
• Experience writing beamtime proposals
• Experience in Python programming