Arbetsbeskrivning

What we eat shapes not only our health, but also the future of our planet. Do you want to contribute to exciting research in the area of diet–microbiota interactions and human health? Then this Research Engineer role might be the right one for you.

About us

https://www.chalmers.se/en/departments/life/ is aiming at bridging cutting edge life science research with biochemical engineering, in order to emerge as the leading innovation center in the region. The research has broad applications in areas of health and industrial production of e.g. fine chemicals, food and energy. The department offers highly qualified education for engineering students within the area of bioengineering. It is furthermore collaborating in broad, interdiciplinary national and international networks within academia and the industry.

https://www.chalmers.se/en/departments/life/research/food-and-nutrition-science/ is one of four research divisions at the Department of Life Sciences. Food and Nutrition Science is one of the leading units in the area in Sweden with particular strengths in nutritional and computational metabolomics, dietary biomarkers, micronutrient metal nutrition, nutritional immunology, marine food science, plant based foods, food biotechnology and nutrition as well as food by-product biorefining and protein technology.

The division has a wide range of modern analytical equipment for chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, an in vitro human cell laboratory, and a microbiology laboratory. The division focuses on nutritional solutions for health and disease prevention by studies on the molecular, cellular, and whole-body level. It also has a strong focus on sustainable use of food raw materials and on many different quality aspects of food.

About the research project

Diet plays an important role in human health. Effects are partly mediated by the thousands of small molecules present in foods, which are to some degree absorbed and/or metabolized by gut microbiota. Characterizing food- and microbiota-derived molecules and determining their levels in biological samples from humans is essential to study their health effects.

Short-chain fatty acids represent small molecules derived from gut fermentation of dietary fiber and proteins, which have physiological effects or relevance to health. They represent an analytical challenge since they are present in small concentrations in systemic circulation and because of their volatility, which can easily cause contamination.

We have developed a quantitative LC-MS/MS method for their analysis in different matrices. The method is further developed by including other fermentation-derived metabolites and is used for analysis of thousands of samples in different research projects in our laboratory.

Job description

In this position, you will be responsible for the method described above, develop it further, and analyze samples in close collaboration with our doctoral students, postdocs, and external collaborators.

Your tasks will include the following:

• Being responsible for the maintenance and development of a quantitative method for the analysis of SCFA in different sample matrices (plasma, faeces, saliva, breast milk etc.)
• Being responsible to conduct analyses with the method in collaboration with students, doctoral students and postdocs
• Drive quality assurance work and documentation and presenting data, results and method development internally and externally, both in written and oral presentations

Who we are looking for

The following requirements are mandatory for the role:

• MSc in bioanalytical analytical chemistry, bioscience or chemical engineering
• Documented experience from modern LC-MS method development and analysis

The following experience will strengthen your application:

• Experience from food or life-science mass spectrometric applications will be meritorious
• Experience from systematic quality assurance work is meritorious

Contract terms

The position is a temporary full-time employment for a maximum of 360 days.

What we offer

• Read more about https://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/work-with-us/ and our https://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/work-with-us/chalmers-as-an-employer/benefits-and-conditions/ for employees.
• A dynamic and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of https://www.goteborg.com/en.

Chalmers is dedicated to improving gender balance and actively works with equality projects, such as https://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/organisation-and-governance/equality/genie-gender-initiative-for-excellence/. We celebrate diversity and consider equality and inclusion as fundamental aspects of all our activities.

Application procedure

The application should be written in English be attached as PDF-files, as below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files.

CV

Personal letter

Other documents (optional):

• Copies of completed education, grades etc.

Use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form.

Please note: The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application is complete. Incomplete applications and applications sent by email will not be considered. Contact details to references will be requested after the interview.

We welcome your application no later than March 23rd, 2026.

For questions, please contact:

Professor Rikard Landberg, [email protected]