Join our team

Research fellowship at University of Coimbra, Portugal, (Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology – Advanced Therapies Group)

University of Coimbra opens a call for a research fellowship, in the framework of the project “Piezo4Spine”, financed by the European Commission in the following conditions:

Scientific orientation: Dr. Lino Ferreira.
Duration: Six (6) months.
Renewal: Eventually renewable, subject to compliance with Article 15 of the Research Grant Regulations of the Foundation for Science and Technology and the end date of the research Project.
Financial conditions: The amount of the fellowship is € 1199,64 corresponding to the monthly compensation stipulated in the FCT table, plus social security (Seguro Social Voluntário, first level contributions) and personal accidents insurance. The payment will be made by bank transfer. This amount will not be increased during the entire period of the fellowship duration.
Financial conditions: The amount of the fellowship is € 1199,64 corresponding to the monthly compensation stipulated in the FCT table, plus social security (Seguro Social Voluntário, first level contributions) and personal accidents insurance. The payment will be made by bank transfer. This amount will not be increased during the entire period of the fellowship duration.

Master’s degree in biotechnology, biomedical engineering, materials engineering, chemical engineering, pharmacy, biochemistry and similar areas enrolled in a doctoral program or a course not conferring an academic degree.

Candidates must demonstrate their skills in nanotechnology in general including nanoparticles (liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, lipid nanoparticles, etc…). Candidates must also demonstrate their skills in cell culture and characterization.

The project Piezo4Spine aims to develop a novel multifactorial therapy for spinal cord injury (SCI). Piezo4Spine will make use of the latest advances in Nanotechnology, Molecular Biology and Tissue Engineering to develop a bioprinted 3D mesh (3D-theramesh) containing nanocarriers that deliver diverse gene therapeutic agents to the lesion. The candidate will contribute to:

the synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles for the release of drugs;
the incorporation of the nanoparticles in a hydrogel;
on demand release of the nanoparticles from the hydrogel and
the demonstration of the activity of the nanoparticles after their release from the hydrogel in cellular models and organotypic cultures of spinal cord.

Applications must be formalized by sending:

Letter of Application/Motivation
Curriculum Vitae
Certificate of Qualifications
Proof of enrolment in a PhD program or in a Non-Conferring Course (only for contractualization) and other elements considered relevant

The following declaration to be completed in the appropriate form on the platform https://apply.uc.pt/ . Declaration on the honor of the candidate(s) with the indication of the fellowship(s) of the typology to which the contest was held and the respective duration(s).
Applicants with academic degrees obtained abroad will be required to present a Certificate of Recognition in accordance with applicable law. This document is mandatory only in the contractualization phase.

Submission deadline date: 26/09/2023.

Post-Doctoral Position in the Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials Group in Brussels, Belgium (UCLouvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute-LDRI)

UCLouvain is leading Work package 2, in the EU funded project Piezo4Spine. The candidate is expected to contribute to the leading of the WP (coordination, reporting, paper writing) in addition to the experimental work involved mostly in WP2 for the in vitro work and in WP4 for the in vivo work.

PhD in the field of Neuro/Medical Sciences or similar for less than 3 years
Trackable experience in Neurosciences such as neural cell cultures (primary and cell lines), spinal cord injury animal models, spinal cord imaging, behavioral analysis, etc.
Mastering of basic molecular biology and biochemistry techniques (i.e. gene expression analysis, cyto/immunochemistry, image acquisition and quantification, etc.)
Experience in animal work is mandatory
Experience in biomaterial cyto/biocompatibility testing is a plus
A good command of English (spoken and written), excellent communication skills and ability to work independently within a team

We are looking for a collaborator showing enthusiasm, creativity and excellent team spirit who will easily integrate in ADDB and Piezo4Spine teams, who will be an asset for the project and work well with the other partners. The candidate needs to be in international mobility, meaning that she/he has not resided, studied or worked in Belgium for more than 24 months over the last 3 years before the start of the present position.

The candidate will benefit from a 2-years full time contract. The contract will start in May or June (starting date can be discussed). Costs related to public transport pass are covered. She/he will join a multidisciplinary team within a well-established research group that is part of a dynamic research institute.

If you are excited about this project and you think that you could flourish in this environment and be an asset to the Piezo4Spine team and project, send you application (CV and motivation letter including at least 2 references)

PhD Student Position in the Force Tool Group in Madrid, Spain (CSIC-ICMM): Artificial intelligence, force microscopy and mechanobiology

The objective is to develop artificial intelligence methods to facilitate the measurement and processing of the nanomechanical properties of cells and tissues obtained from AFM images. Those codes will aim to reduce processing time while handling a large number of experimental data, and without losing the quantitative accuracy demanded by cell biology applications. The ultimate goal is to markers of disease based on nanomechanical phenotypes at single cell or tissue levels.

Degree in Physics, Biotechnology or Engineering (mechanical, electrical or biomedical).
Enrolled in a Master program from an EU university.