Summer Worker – Protein Crystallization Lab Assistants

The European Spallation Source (ESS) in Lund, Sweden is a partnership of 13 European countries with the mission to design, construct and operate the world’s most powerful neutron source.

Working with us means being part of a challenging and exciting work environment, at a stunning, brand new workplace filled with innovative minds and brilliant people from across the globe.

About the position
We are now looking to appoint two summer workers for the Neutron Macromolecular Crystallography (NMX) team in the Large Scale Structures Division. The NMX team is responsible for building, installation, commissioning and scientific operations of the NMX beamline.

As a protein crystallization laboratory summer worker, your main tasks will be to support the NMX staff scientists in their daily work, with an emphasis on sample preparation and quality control.

The tasks include:

• Prepare buffers and stock solutions for protein purification and crystallization.
• Purify, concentrate, and perform buffer exchange of proteins from commercial or in-house sources, including assessment of protein purity and yield using SDS-PAGE and UV/Vis spectroscopy.
• Prepare protein crystallization plates using a range of setups and volumes (e.g. hanging-drop and sitting-drop vapour diffusion, batch, dialysis).
• Evaluate crystallization outcomes and, in collaboration with the supervisor, plan optimization route and experimental plans.

About you
A suitable background for this position would be:

• Studying towards a Masters degree in engineering with a focus on molecular biology, biochemistry, or biotechnology
• Practical experience working in a lab, including experiment design and execution, keeping laboratory notes, and training in safe laboratory work
• Completion of a university-level course in basic biochemistry and molecular biology laboratory techniques, including experience working with proteins, preparing buffers and stock solutions, SDS-PAGE, and liquid chromatography
• Work experience in a laboratory or clinical setting, with the ability to work in a clean and sterile way
• Can follow written protocols and procedures
• Good written English and fluency in oral communication skills in English
• Minimum age 18 years.

We believe that you enjoy communicating and collaborating with a variety of people in an international environment. You are good at following instructions but also capable of independent work if needed. You can tolerate repetitive tasks that require precision and patience. You are good at taking notes and documenting experimental outcomes. You are curious, eager to learn, and not afraid to ask questions.

Duration and location
Two positions are available over the same period.
The summer position spans a total of eight weeks and is divided into two parts: 1 June–10 July and 3–14 August.
Your workplace is on-site at ESS in Lund, Sweden.

How to apply
Please provide your CV in English . Please note that we only accept applications via the ESS website. The last day to apply is 15 April, 2026.

Certain roles at ESS require health and safety and/or security checks, which may be carried out during the recruitment process.

Contact persons
For further information regarding the position, please contact Recruiting Manager Zoë Fisher at zoe.fisher@ess.eu.

For trade union information, please contact Unionen representative Nerusha Naicker on Nerusha.Naicker@ess.eu or SACO/Swedish Association of Graduate Engineers representative Marc Kickulies at marc.kickulies@ess.eu

We look forward to receiving your application!

URL to this pagehttps://europeanspallationsource.se/careers/vacancies?rmpage=job&rmjob=1969&rmlang=UK