Ph.D. Position in a BILAT project between Norway and Japan at NTNU `Vacancies in aluminum alloys in a context of trace elements and recycling`

We primary seek candidates with a Master in Materials Science or Solid State Physics, motivated for experimental activities in the fields of aluminum alloys according to a BILAT project between Norway and Japan. The purpose of the bilateral project, called `Norwegian-Japanese Al-Mg-Si Alloy Precipitation Project`, is as follows: `The primary objective is to identify impact of selected trace elements on precipitation and study vacancies in relation to trace elements in Al-Mg-Si alloys. This will be done in a bilateral Norwegian/Japanese research collaboration between Norway (Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) / SINTEF / Hydro Aluminum) and Japan (University of Toyama /Tokyo institute of Technology). Building up competence to understand these fundamental issues will be of general importance for the light metals community and can assist Hydro in increasing the quality and reduce the energy consumption in their future Aluminum products`.


The PhD project is called `Vacancies in aluminum alloys in a context of trace elements and recycling`. Here experiments and calculations will be used to focus on vacancies, how they bind with solute, their effects on diffusion, nucleation of precipitates, in special relation to the trace elements in 6xxx alloys. In this study we aim at detecting vacancies (indirectly or directly) preferably via solute-vacancy pairs. To study some features of the vacancies various advanced microscopy analytical techniques like scanning TEM (STEM), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) may be used. The more recent techniques Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy (PAS) / Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS) are probably most significant, because they are specially suited for the study of vacancies or pores in materials. Here one aim is to find the factors that make it possible to control the strength increase taking place at room temperature just after cooling from extrusion (prior to final ageing). This is believed to be driven solely by vacancies. Studying vacancies is a challenging task. However, with the use of several independent methods, the combination of the two projects, the previous experience in precipitation and precipitate structure for these alloys, and at last, the long industrial research with these materials, it is expected that new insights will be achieved.

Experience in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and other advanced characterization methods is useful. Depending on chosen topics and project needs, and the candidates` background and qualifications, the position will be allocated either to the Materials Science or the Physics department in NTNU.

We offer:
• State-of-the- art experimental equipment
• Active and highly motivated research groups
• Close contact with Norwegian aluminum industry
• Possibility up to 24 months stay outside Norway (for example in Japan), minimum 1 year in Norway according to project

PhD fellowships at NTNU are normally awarded for a total of 3 years with the possibility of until 1 year extension with 25% teaching duties in agreement with the department.

Further information about the position can be obtained from
Professor Randi Holmestad,
Department of Physics, NTNU,
phone 73593880,
e-mail: randi.holmestad@ntnu.no

Professor Knut Marthinsen,
Department of Materials Science and Engineering,
phone 73593473,
e-mail: knut.marthinsen@ntnu.no

More information about NTNU, Hydro and SINTEF can be found at these links:
http://www.ntnu.no/english
http://home.phys.ntnu.no/brukdef/prosjekter/gemini/
http://www.ntnu.no/fysikk/english
http://www.ntnu.no/research/materials
http://www.hydro.com/en/
http://www.sintef.no/Home/
http://www.sintef.no/Home/Materials-and-Chemistry/

The national labour force must reflect the composition of the population to the greatest possible extent. It is therefore a major political objective to achieve a balance of age and gender and to recruit persons with an immigrant background.

The start salary for the PhD fellow is set at level 45 in the national salary scheme, gross NOK 355.400 per year, of which 2 % is deducted for the State Pension scheme. The appointment will be made in accordance with current regulations with relevant parts of `Supplementary guidelines for employment as research fellow at NTNU`. Applicants must agree to participate in organized doctoral study programs within the period of the appointment and have to be qualified for the PhD-study. A contract will be drawn up regarding the period of appointment and work-related duties.

Publications and any other work which the applicant wishes to be taken into account should also be enclosed. Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to specify the input of the applicant in a joint work, a short summary should be attached outlining the applicant`s input. Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

Applications with CV, certified copies of testimonies and documents and other relevant documents should be submitted electronically through www.jobbnorge.no. Preferably we want the attachments in one file.

The position`s reference number is NT-12/10
Application deadline is 2010-04-12

Ph.D. POSITION, Plant Production Systems in "JARAK: the commoditization of an alternative biofuel crop in Indonesia"

Ph.D. POSITION, Plant Production Systems in "JARAK: the commoditization of an alternative biofuel crop in Indonesia" at the Plant Production Systems Group and Agrosystems Research Department of Plant Research International, part of Wageningen University and Research Centre, the Netherlands in cooperation with the Research Center for Natural Resources and Biotechnology (IPB), Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia.
Title PhD Project:
Growth, development and production of Jatropha curcas in Indonesia.


Description
Although heavily promoted for its many advantageous properties, there is little scientifically-sound information available on the growth, development and production of the Jatropha curcas under different environmental circumstances and in different production systems. As it is essentially a wild species lacking clearly distinguished varieties, the use of different jatropha accessions gives a wide variety of growth and development patterns, leading to unpredictable growth and yields, and sometimes unwanted situations. This is caused by the complex interactions between Genotype (G) x Environment (E) x Management (M), which must be unraveled to fully understand the production potentials in order to understand the true value and applicability of jatropha in different production systems. The different environmental and socio-economic settings determine the (design of) optimal production systems for jatropha, and govern the efficiency of resource use (radiation, water, soil fertility). The aims of this PhD research are the acquirement of those plant parameters that describe growth and development patterns of jatropha production systems in Indonesia and to optimize seed yield per unit of land and/or unit of labour in specific production systems.

Starting date: ASAP after recruitment latest 1st August 2010.

Background
This is a PhD position in the program "JARAK: the commoditization of an alternative biofuel crop in Indonesia". The program comprises research on policy, legislation, technical crop qualities and production possibilities, and socio-economic impact of Jatropha cultivation in Indonesia and is part of a broader research program funded by NWO and KNAW on “Agriculture beyond Food”. The program includes 6 projects carried out by four PhD researchers and two Post-Doc researchers from Indonesia and the Netherlands. JARAK is an interdisciplinary research program of 5 Dutch academic institutes with their Indonesian partner institutes. Three other PhD researchers in the JARAK program are based at Leiden University (Van Vollenhoven Institute, Law Faculty, and the Institute of Cultural Anthropology , Social Science Faculty) and at Universitas Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta.
Tasks
• To engage in supervised scientific research that will ultimately result in a doctoral thesis;
• To carry out a systematic literature analysis related to the relevant PhD;
• To conduct field research in Indonesia;
• To prepare and submit research output for publication in peer-reviewed international scientific journals;
• To participate in the C.T. de Wit Graduate school in Wageningen.

Requirements
• Master degree in plant sciences, with demonstrated interest in statistics, agro-climatics;
• Excellent writing and presentation skills in English (minimal score see below);
• Demonstrated research experience
• Ability and willingness to carry out field research for extended periods in Indonesia;
• Willingness to stay in the Netherlands for desk study and writing.
• Openness towards interdisciplinary research methods and approaches;
• Ability to work in a team.
• Full time availability for four years because the thesis should be finished and defended at the end of the cluster period December 2014.
• Indonesian nationality
Appointment
The successful applicant will be awarded a research fellowship under NUFFIC conditions for 4 years, with continuation dependent upon an evaluation after 12 months The fellowship consists of a 6 month period in Wageningen at the start of the project, followed by an extended period of field work and a final period to write papers and submit the thesis in Wageningen. Details of the stipend and terms of the fellowship can be obtained on demand.

Application and Selection procedure
Applicants should submit an application by April 20th 2010. Applications should be sent to jarakphd3@gmail.com addressed to Dr Maja Slingerland and Dr Sony Suharsono with the subject: “Application JARAK PhD position Indonesia”. Three selected candidates will be invited for interviews in April 2010. Final selection first week of May. Starting in the Netherlands: August 1st 2010.
In order to apply, the applicant must submit the following:
• An up-to-date curriculum vitae;
• the MA thesis or other major writing sample;
• an academic transcript;
• name and contact details of two referees;
• a short research proposal of up to three pages, including a letter of motivation.

Further information
More information on the the JARAK program can be obtained from Dr. Jacqueline Vel: J.A.C.Vel@law.leidenuniv.nl . More information about this specific PhD project can be obtained by maja.slingerland@xs4all.nl or sony.suharsono@yahoo.com .

Scores needed to prove Excellent English writing and presentation skills:
IELTS: 6.5 , with a minimum of 6.0 for each (academic) module.
TOEFL: 580 points for the written TOEFL, 237 points for the computer based TOEFL and 92-93 points for the Internet based TOEFL. All are to be supplemented by results of the Test of Written English (academic TWE). The minimum score required for this test is 5.0
Submitted test results must be dated within 24 months prior to an application to the PhD Programme.
More information PhD trajectories at Wageningen University: http://www.wageningenuniversity.nl/UK/informationfor/PhD+programmes/Application/

the call for papers for the Working Group On Global Warming Conference & Expo 10(WGGW Conference & Expo 10),21st-25th,May 2010 at Mayfair London Hotel

BackgroundThe financial, food, fuel and climate crises are individually serious issues, but in combination their impact could be catastrophic for the global economy. Perhaps we stand at a crossroads. Even as we move into a global economic downturn there are growing calls for an accelerated transformation towards low carbon and resource productive economies. To move forward will require new and more efficient solutions, technologies and products alongside behavioural change. Climate change is now universally recognised as a significant global environmental challenge and as a consequence, debate over the measures needed to tackle climate change has moved up to the top of the agenda amongst civil society, business and government. The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009 highlighted the major challenges and opportunities associated with climate change as we move towards post 2012 carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction targets.


In October 2008, the UK raised the bar by announcing a target of cutting CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050. Innovation will be a core part of the way forward. The Stern Review underlined that increased investment in R&D and innovation could significantly reduce CO2 emissions and we have seen more than $5 billion of venture capital invested in clean tech worldwide since January 2007 (Source: Ernst & Young).. However, we need to create much better international, national and regional structures and systems to adapt to climate change as well those to stimulate, nurture and progress new low carbon ideas through R&D to commercialisation and the marketplace. A new system is needed that fosters sustainable, low carbon and resource productive innovation - short, medium and long-term. Designers, innovators, investors, entrepreneurs, consumers and governments all have a role to play in the change that is needed.

Concept

WGGW Conference & Expo 10 themed “Impacts of the Global Recession on Sustainable Development, Climate Change Policy and Markets'' will provide a platform to discuss the future opportunities and challenges related to the design, development and commercialisation of low carbon innovation, technologies, products and services.WGGW Conference & Expo 10 will include invited and refereed papers from academics, consultants, entrepreneurs, investors, technology providers, designers, sustainability, environment and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) managers as well as other business functions. The event will be a unique learning experience, networking space and an opportunity to think. Delegates will come globally from companies, entrepreneurs, as well as academia, government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The conference is supported by an international Advisory Board.

Conference topics

WGGW Conference & Expo 10 welcomes conceptual and research-based papers covering sustainable innovation, technology, product and service design and development. Papers focused on low carbon solutions and sustainable innovation related to the following topics and among others, are particularly welcomed:
·Global Warming and Climate Change and the Oceans
·Sustainable Environment, Health and Development
·Remote Sensing and Global Surveillance
·Water Resources Management
·Carbon & GHG Management
·Extreme Events and Impacts Assessment
·Greenhouse Gas & Ecosystems
·Human Health In a Changing Climate
·Agricultural and Forestry Resources Management
·Clean Energy Technology
·Low GHG Transportation
·Education: Global Change & Sustainable Development
·Case studies Benefits
WGGW Conference & Expo 10 will provide a range of benefits to speakers and participating delegates:
·Sponsorship: All round air ticket, per diem,travel insurance and visa fees to be provided for all speakers and participating delegates
·Unique: Forum for new ideas and concepts
·Leading-edge: Presentations from key international researchers, practitioners and policy- makers
·Content: New research, results and thinking
·Networking: Opportunities to meet business, government and academia
·Track-record: Over 900 delegates from over 50 countries have attended previous conferences
·Established: 3rd international conference

Submission details
Conference papers: please email to don_jack@o2.co.uk , fax or email up to 500 words describing your proposed paper by deadline 7th May, 2010. The paper will then be sent to the Advisory Board for evaluation and authors will be given feedback on or before 14th May, 2010 the deadline for paper acceptance. Please only submit abstracts if you have registered for the conference. Registration is free of charge.

Contact
For more information on WGGW Conference & Expo 10 please contact:
Dr Don Jack
Conference Chair
27 Commercial Street London E1 6LP
London, United Kingdom.
Ph: +44 702 408 0821, +44 702 409 4596
Fax: +44 844 774 4651
Email: don_jack@o2.co.uk

PhD position: Magnetic Manipulation of Molecules in Living Cells

Research
The aim in this project is to develop an innovative biophysical approach based on the use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) that will allow us to exert forces on, and actively manipulate, individual receptor proteins on the surface of living cells using smart external magnetic fields. It is anticipated that active manipulation of these receptor proteins will provide a very powerful tool that will give new insights into biophysical processes in cells. Exploring the physics of this new technology is the primary objective. To demonstrate the power of this biophysical method, it will be applied to address key issues in cell signaling. By controlling the aggregation of membrane-associated receptor molecules, the state of immune system T cells can be actively switched from an `inactive` to an `active state`, thereby mimicking a process that is crucial in cell signaling.


The work will be carried out in the Biophysical Engineering Group, which has a long-standing experience in developing physical tools to study biology on the molecular and cellular scale. The group has a well equipped laboratory with a wide variety of both home-build and commercial setups such as AFM, optical tweezers, magnetic tweezers, FLIM, TIRF and CLSM. The current project builds on the vast experience of the group in the application of magnetic tweezers to cell biophysics (see e.g. a.h.b.deVries et al., 2007, Nano Letters 7:1424-1427). You can expect to be part of a team of enthusiastic and inspiring colleagues. The research group is part of the MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine and the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, and participates in the new Twente Graduate School. For the application of the method on living cells we will collaborate with prof. C.G. Figdor from the NCMLS at the Radboud University of Nijmegen.

Job description
You will design and fabricate a magnetic tweezers setup to generate appropriate external magnetic fields and integrate this with a state-of-the-art fluorescence microscope. You will perform Brownian dynamics simulations and develop an experimental model system based on artificial membranes in order to characterize the physical aspects of protein manipulation using MNPs. You will assess various techniques (optical and non-optical) to visualize the magnetically induced changes in protein/MNP distributions. Finally you will apply the method to study receptor aggregation dynamics in T-cells.

Location
University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.

Requirements
We are looking for an experimentalist with a background in experimental (bio-) physics, who is interested to work in the new and rapidly developing field of nanobiophysics.

Conditions of Employment
When fulfilling a PhD position at the FOM foundation, you will get the status of junior scientist.
You will have an employee status and can participate in all the employee benefits FOM offers. You will get a contract for 4 years. Your salary will be up to a maximum of 2,610 euro gross per month.
You are supposed to have a thesis finished at the end of your four year term with FOM.
A training programme is part of the agreement. You and your supervisor will make up a plan for the additional education and supervising that you specifically need. This plan also defines which teaching activities you will be responsible (up to a maximum of 10% of your time). The conditions of employment of the FOM-foundation are laid down in the Collective Labour Agreement for Research Centres (CAO-Onderzoekinstellingen), more exclusive information is available at this website under Personeelsinformatie (in Dutch) or under Personnel (in English).
General information about working at FOM can be found in the English part of this website under Personnel. The `FOM-sollicitatiecode` (in Dutch) applies to this position.

Contact
For more information please contact Hans Kanger tel.: +31 (0)53 489 37 26, or Prof. Vinod Subramaniam.

Website
http://www.universiteittwente.nl

Applications
Dr.ir. J. S. Kanger
Biophysical Engineering Group
University of Twente
PO Box 217
7500 AE Enschede
The Netherlands

or by email to:
BPE@tnw.utwente.nl
Incomplete or mass-mailed applications will not be considered. Applications should include a resume, list of grades, and a one-page motivation.

Closing time
31 March 2010

70 PhD Positions Available in ICT at University of Trento, Italy

The Department of Information Engineering and Computer Science (DISI) at the University of Trento has 70 open PhD positions in the ICT area, almost all of them covered by scholarship.

Details on the DISI Department and on the PhD School as well as a link to the online application are provided at the bottom of this information.

The deadline for applications is April 20, 2010, before 12 noon, local time.

The Department of Information Engineering and Computer Science is one of the leading and faster-growing research institutions, characterized by a young and international faculty and by a large, international student population. Indicators for scientific production put the department among the very top in Europe.

The successful candidate will therefore have the opportunity to work in a dynamic and exciting environment.

Trento is a vibrant city with a beautifully preserved historic center, consistently ranked at the top for quality of life in Italy. It offers a variety of cultural and sports opportunities all year around, as well as excellent food and wine.

Links related to the programme:
1. DISI web site: http://disi.unitn.it
2. Research at DISI: http://disi.unitn.it/research
3. PhD School: http://ict.unitn.it/
4. Online application for PhD Positions: http://disi.unitn.it/edu/appform/login.xml

Contact:
ICT International Doctoral School,
Department of Information Engineering and Computer Science,
University of Trento
Phone: +39 0461 883989
Fax: +39 0461 883964
e-mail: infoict@disi.unitn.it

Website link:
http://ict.unitn.it/application

Sumber info : http://www.rumahbeasiswa.com/

Competitive Research Grant by Danone Institute

About Us
Indonesian Danone Institute Foundation was incorporated in May 2007 a an independent, non-profit organization, separated from the Danone business units. The Foundation is supported by eight Scientifice Members from various institutions in Indonesia.

Missions
Promote the advancement and sharing of knowledge in the areas of diet, nutrition and health, focusing to address current and prevent future major local nutritional and health issues such as double-burden nutrition problems (under nutrition and over nutrition) of low-income Indonesian populations (Social Economic Class CDE).

Promote scientific research findings fieldworks recognized by local and international scientific communities in the related disciplines to the above mission, especially those leading to the creation of the low-cost food and safe water solutions to address the major local nutritional and health issues.

The scientific community gathered under DII shall be:
1. A link between scientists, and nutrition, health & education professionals, who bring relevant scientific knowledge to the attention of the public.
2. A clearing house for information on nutrition and diet-related subjects.

Objectives
- To encourage the established research institutions pursuing new scientific findings/discoveries
- To reduce funding barrier for talented scholars in pursuing their doctorate thesis and encourage better quality researches
- To promote quality scientfic research of Indonesian scientists and bring stronger credibility of these findings & discoveries through the appearance in relevant international journals.

Our Programs
1. Competitive research Grant for Doctorate students through educational institutions.
2. Publication grant for publishing Indonesian research papers in international journals.
3. Competitive Research Grant for established research Institutions (educational institutions - universities, colleges, - reputable NGOs, and other research-related institutions).

Themes for the Competitive Scientific Research Grants

`CONTRIBUTING TO THE BETTERMENT OF THE FUTURE GENERATION`

PRIORITIZATION
Groups:
1. Pregnant & lactating women
2. Children under the age of 2 years
3. Female adolescence (age 10 - 18 / premarital age)
4. Women of reproductive age

Improve maternal and child nutrition of the poor, which include:
- Innovation in the development of nutritionally balance and affordable complementary feeding for children 6-24 months.
- New effective strategies in communication, education and information (KIE) to reinforce the role of breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding.
- Development of local food products to fulfill nutritional needs of women.

Research on molecular biology, which are related to the above sub-themes

Scope of Research
Nutrigenomic:
- Nutrition related genetic

Dietetic and Clinical Nutrition:
- Nutritional related degenerative diseases
- Nutritional related communicable diseases
- Community & Public Health Nutrition

Nutrition and health promotion:
- Life style / Behavior change
- Environmental health

Food Security and Policy:
- Food security and safety
- Poverty
- Food economics
- Food and nutrition policy

Deadline for Submission

COMPETITIVE RESEARCH GRANT
Apr 30, 2010 for research Jan - Dec 2011

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL PUBLICATION GRANT
All year around

Website link:
http://danonenutrindo.org