Postdoctoral Fellow in Structural and functional characterisation of membraneprotein complexes in stealth nanocarriers using SEC-SANS

Reference number ESD-81029

The European Spallation Source (ESS) is a partnership organization of 13 European member countries located in the city of Lund, Sweden. The ESS is hiring motivated and inspiring people from across the globe to design, construct and operate the world’s most powerful neutron source. We seek collaborative, talented people in a range of fields who are excited about playing a part in the future of science in Europe. Our Division of Scientific Support is currently looking for a Post-doctoral fellow for developing an experimental pipeline for characterising membrane protein function in contrast-matched nano-carriers using Small Angle Neutron Scattering with in-situ size size-exclusion chromatography (SEC-SANS).

This role is part of the LINXS EU COFUND research project AMBER (), Advanced Multiscale Biological imaging using European Research infrastructures.

Description of the workplace
You will be based in the Scientific Support Division of the European Spallation Source led by Hanna Wacklin-Knecht, where you will mainly work with developing methods for the deuterium labeling, purification and characterisation of contrast-matched lipid nanodiscs, and reconstitution of functional membrane proteins for neutron scattering experiments. You will collaborate closely with the Loki SANS instrument team to set-up the experimental workflows for in-situ size exclusion chromatography to characterize well-defined nanodisc samples. The project is carried out in collaboration with Anne Martel at the Institut Laue Langevin in Grenoble, France, and includes training on the D22 instrument on the nanodisc, membrane protein reconstitution and SEC-SANS methodologies established there. For the protein expression, nanodisc purification and characterisation work, you will work at the Lund Protein Production Platform LP3 at Lund University where the ESS biological deuteration activities are co-hosted. You will also have access to a wide range of characterization techniques for nanodics samples at the Division of Physical Chemistry at Lund University, where Hanna Wacklin-Knecht holds an affiliation. In addition to carrying out some of the earliest experiments on the Loki SANS instrument at ESS, proposal-based access to European neutron and X-ray beam facilities will also be used in this project.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Structural and functional characterisation of membrane protein complexes in stealth nanocarriers using SEC-SANS
We seek a highly motivated postdoc with strong analytical and experimental skills for the development of biologically deuterated lipid nanodiscs and their application to studying the structure and function of membrane proteins using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) utilizing in-situ size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) to obtain high-quality samples.

Membrane proteins constitute up to 60% of all known drug targets, but elucidating their structure and function remains challenging because they are dependent on a lipid membrane environment. While great advances have been made in structural biology of proteins in recent years using high-resolution diffraction (X-ray, neutron, electron) methods and electron microscopy in particular, this has created an even greater demand for the development of in-situ experiments that can probe the structural basis of membrane protein function in the physiologically relevant solution environment. However, membrane proteins in solution need to be embedded in a lipid-like carrier, such as lipid nanodiscs, to stabilise their transmembrane domains and preserve function. Reconstituting a membrane protein into nanodiscs for SANS and other scattering techniques requires optimisation, pre-characterisation and either off-line or in-line size-exclusion (SEC) chromatography to obtain structurally homogeneous and monodisperse samples. A key part of the methodology for neutron scattering is deuteration for contrast matching the nanodisc to the solution enviroment, thus revealing only the membrane protein structure.

The methodologies for producing and using such stealth nanodiscs to determine membrane protein structures usind SANS are well-established, and in this project at ESS we aim to extend their applications by developing experiments to probe protein-protein interactions and complex formation relevant for membrane protein function in health and disease.

Duties and Responsibilities
The project will involve participating in establishing the full experimental pipeline for membrane-protein nanodisc studies at ESS, but with the main duties focusing on methodologies for protein deuteration and characterisation of the nanodiscs, as well as the expression and reconstitution of membrane proteins. The samples will be used for setting up and commissioning the SEC-SANS capability on the Loki SANS instrument in close collaboration with the instrument team, after initial training with Dr. Anne Martel at ILL where a similar experimental pipeline is already established for the D22 instrument.

The methodologies developed will be applied to probing complex formation by nanodisc-embedded membrane proteins, including the apoptosis-regulating Bcl-2 and Bax protein complex, as part of an established collaboration with Prof. Gerhard Gröbner’s group at Umeå University.

Neutron experiments will be carried primarily on the Loki instrument at ESS when available for early use, but also at international facilities, requiring the ability and availability to travel for beamtime.

Other duties will include:

• Research and collaboration within the subject area, as defined in the research work plan set up for the project
• Participation in the AMBER training programme and activities
• Participation in on-going activities relevant for the project at ESS, as well as the Lund protein production platform (LP3).
• Collaboration with ESS scientists and participation in group meetings and facility events
• Administration and laboratory maintenance related to the work duties listed above

Description of the AMBER project context
This post-doctoral position is part of the EU cofund research project AMBER, Advanced Multiscale Biological imaging using European Research infrastructures, 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 Sklodowska-Curie (MSCA) COFUND scheme.

Around 8 postdocs will be recruited in the Final call with each fellowship lasting 36 months.

AMBER has six core partners: Lund University/MAX IV, Sweden, the European Spallation Source (ESS), Sweden, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), France, the International Institute of Molecular Mechanisms and Machines, (IMOL), Poland, and the Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, United Kingdom.

Your work may include clinical and biomedical projects. It may also include technique development work aimed at combining imaging techniques and data analysis to provide a more integrated picture of life processes in the context of health and disease. To be a postdoc fellow at the AMBER programme you will get unprecedented medical, biological, and methodological capabilities, with a profound potential impact for Europe’s next generation of research and researchers. When you have completed the AMBER programme you will be extraordinarily well equipped to further your career in academia, at infrastructures, in the health and MedTech sectors, and beyond.

For more information about the total announced post-doctoral positions within in the AMBER co-fund project please visit

The interviews will start in October/November 2026. It's important that you visit ambercofund.eu to learn about the application, timeline and evaluation process.

Qualifications required
Minimum requirements are:

• candidate needs to have a maximum 8 years after a doctoral degree (PhD), as required by the project Grant Agreement signed with the European Commission,
• at least one original publication in a peer-reviewed journal,
• a background in the relevant methods,
• a complete application package submitted through the AMBER portal and ESS careerpage (including CV and detailed research plan), and finally,
• 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.

Essential specific requirements for this project are:

• Undergraduate and doctoral degrees in a relevant area of biological or chemical science giving good competence in the analytical and experimental work involved in this project.
• Experience of protein purification and analysis methods.
• Experience in growing cell cultures for protein production.
• Experience in using light, X-ray or neutron scattering methods to determine solution structures.
• Experience of working with lipids or detergents.
• Very good oral and written proficiency in English
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally
• Experience of international collaboration and working in an international environment
• Experience in and willingness to contribute to laboratory housekeeping, safety, as well as equipment maintenance

Additional specific requirements for this project that constitute a merit:

• Experience of small angle neutron scattering experiments, data analysis and contrast variation
• Experience of formulating and characterising lipid nanodiscs or other lipid nanoparticles.
• Experience of membrane-protein expression, reconstitution or characterization.
• Experience of in-line size-exclusion chromatography for structure determination.
• Experience of static and/or dynamic light scattering, or other analysis techniques for lipid nanoparticles.

Assessment criteria and other qualifications
This is a career development position primarily focused on research. The position is intended as an initial step in a career, and the assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and potential as researchers:

• A good ability to develop and conduct high quality research.
• Independent thinking and ability to drive own research
• The ability to work independently as well as to support and work with others
• The ability to write to reports and publications on methods developed and results obtained

Particular emphasis will be placed on research skills and essential requirements for the project.

Consideration will also be given to how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the division and the AMBER programme and the project partner laboratories and how they stand to contribute to future developments.

Instructions on how to apply
For more information and documents/templates/europass link, please visit .

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure that you upload all the required documents specified below i-ix.

Applications shall be written in English and all documents shall be combined in a single pdf file.

• i) A Curriculum Vitae (europass format). Your CV shall be exported to a PDF file that you use in your application.
• ii) A detailed research plan including any foreseen secondments (candidates can suggest more than the mandated one, they can also suggest their own secondments), schools and conferences as well as a templated budget plan. The research plan should be as concise as possible, 3 pages, including one-third page of summary/abstract.
• iv) Evidence of English proficiency (minimum CEFR B22, also checked at interview).
• v) A draft Individual Career Development Plan (ICDP).
• vi) Two reference letters.
• ix) Any candidate can apply for maximum of 3 positions. You must apply for each individual position. A list with order of preference of positions should be sent to the AMBER management at Se e-mailadresse på studerendeonline.dk .

Additional texts to include in the PDF are:
iii) Letter of Commitment from any additional secondment partners the candidate wishes to bring onboard. vii) Any additional documents to support the application.

viii) Ethical questionnaire (HE ethics checklist + research ethics commitment)

In addition, the application will require:

In addition to the AMBER portal submission, the applicant is asked to submit their application on the ESS application portal.

Terms of employment

This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of a maximum of 3 years based in Lund.

Application & Contact
Please submit your application in English by clicking on “apply”. Last day to apply is Se telefonnummer på studerendeonline.dk.

By submitting your application for this position, you acknowledge and consent that your application and personal information provided may be shared with our collaboration partner, for the purposes of recruitment and evaluation. Your information will be processed in accordance with applicable legislation. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time; however, this mean that we will not be able to proceed with your application.

For further information regarding the position, please contact the Line Manager, Hanna Wacklin-Knecht, Head of the Scientific Support Division, Se e-mailadresse på studerendeonline.dk .

For further information regarding the recruitment process, please contact Recruitment Partner, Sofie Berg Se e-mailadresse på studerendeonline.dk .

For more information regarding the ESS recruitment process in general, please follow this link: Careers | ESS

For trade union information, please contact Unionen representative Nerusha Naicker on Se e-mailadresse på studerendeonline.dk or SACO/Swedish Association of Graduate Engineers representative Marc Kickulies at Se e-mailadresse på studerendeonline.dk

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