Scholarship opportunities
The Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials of the Faculty of Science and Engineering offers a PhD scholarship for the most talented and motivated national and international students, starting between 1 December 2018 and 1 May 2019. All PhD positions are part of larger research programmes, often spanning across different expertise groups and being strengthened by complementary PhD projects already in progress and in preparation.

Candidates are invited to write and develop their own research project within the scope of the proposed topic(s) listed below. Being part of a cutting-edge research programme, they will receive excellent training in the form of hands-on instruction, advanced courses and summer/winterschools, complemented by workshops on generic research and transferable skills as well as teaching training. As a PhD student, you are committed to conduct independent and original scientific research, to report on this research in international publications and conference presentations, and to describe the results of the research in a PhD dissertation, to be completed within four years.

Proposed topics for the available PhD Scholarship include:
• Structure-function studies of amyloidogenic self-assembling peptides in context of bio-inspired and/or biomimetic functional materials, using solid-state NMR spectroscopy.
• Structural and mechanistic studies of self-assembly, toxicity, and propagation of amyloid-forming proteins, in Huntington’s disease or beyond, using solid-state NMR and complementary tools.
• Method development for solid-state NMR studies of molecular structure and dynamics in self-assembling materials, protein assemblies and bio-membranes.

In all project topics, candidates can benefit from interactions with local and international collaborators, who offer complementary technical expertise as well as training opportunities.

Successful candidates will have completed a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in bio- or physical chemistry, (bio)physics or another field of science relevant for the position. They have good command of English (oral and written), are enthusiastic and have the ability to work in an interdisciplinary team, have a passion for science, are highly motivated to work in the field of advanced solid-state NMR spectroscopy, possess excellent communication skills and an affinity for writing scientific papers and delivering presentations. In addition to these general qualifications, specific research projects may require specific qualifications, to be discussed with the intended supervisors.

Fixed-term contract: 48 months.

The PhD student will be enrolled in the PhD Scholarship Programme and receive a scholarship of € 2,027 per month (gross) from the University of Groningen for a period of four years. Information about the terms and conditions of the PhD Scholarship Programme can be found via: https://www.rug.nl/education/phd-programmes/phd-scholarship-programme/
The Scholarship PhD student will participate in the Graduate School of Science and Engineering training programme for PhD students and will draw up a personal training and supervision plan together with his or her supervisor. The Graduate School also provides a progress monitoring scheme to ensure an efficient PhD trajectory resulting in a PhD thesis within four years. A Career Perspectives curriculum is part of the training, which aims to prepare students for their (academic or non-academic) careers after the PhD trajectory.

How to apply
You may upload your complete application in English as a single PDF-file until 31 October 23:59h / before 1 November 2018 Dutch local time. Please upload your entire application as "letter of motivation" by means of the application form (click on 'Apply' below on the advertisement on the university website).

The submission should contain the following:
1. A cover letter introducing yourself, describing your motivation and qualifications to conduct scientific research, your expectations of the PhD programme and your choice for the particular project.
2. A full CV demonstrating academic excellence, including publications and presentations (if applicable), and a copy of your passport.
3. A certified copy or scan of your MSc diploma (or equivalent; provide a certified University letter stating when your graduation will be if between the application deadline and start of the project) and academic records and a proof of sufficient competence in English.
4. Names and contact details of two academic references.
5. A research proposal of approximately 500-750 words that has been written in collaboration with the prospective supervisor(s).

After the initial selection, only top candidates for each position will be invited to independently write a research proposal of approximately 1500-2000 words in the context of the indicated research direction as listed above. The proposal should focus on the central research question, the proposed method of approaching and answering this question, as well as the project planning.

Timeline
Publication of the call: 11 October 2018
Deadline for application: 31 October 2018, 23:59 pm
Notification email on shortlist selection: Monday 5 November 2018
Writing assignment top candidates: Monday 19 November 2018
Interviews: 5-7 December 2018
Announcement of selected/rejected candidates: 14 December 2018

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Faculty of Science and Engineering

The University of Groningen has an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative institution of higher education, offering high-quality teaching and research. Balanced study and career paths in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 30,000 students and 5,500 employees to develop their own individual talents. The University of Groningen is proud to be among the global elite with a classification in the top 100 of the Shanghai ARWU, the World University Rankings, the U.S. News ‘Best Global Universities Ranking’, and the NTU Ranking. It marks the 24th place in the global ranking of Best Places to Work in Academia, scoring 3rd best in Europe and 5th non-US university. Joining forces with prestigious partner universities and networks, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.

The Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM) offers a collaborative and interdisciplinary scientific environment with interests in functional materials, biophysics and spectroscopy, among other research topics. Beyond the Zernike Institute, the University of Groningen has a strong interest in experimental and computational studies in the areas of materials science, biophysics, biochemistry, and structural biology. The University, along with the affiliated University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), has as one of its specific research focal points the study of healthy ageing and ageing-related diseases.