Stellenangebote

Organisation/Company: University of Saarland

Research field: Applied Chemistry / Biochemistry / Biomaterials Engineering / Biotechnology / Chemical Engineering / Chemical Technology / Chemistry / Industrial Technology / Inorganic Chemistry / Materials Engineering / Materials Technology / Nanotechnology / Natural Resources Management / Pharmaceutical Technology / Pharmacological Sciences / Pharmacy / Technology / Toxicology

Researcher profile: doctoral candidate (first stage researcher DC)

Country: Germany

Sector: Academic

Department: Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Marc Schneider

Number of offers available: 1

Application deadline: 15.10.2023 17:00 CEST

Type of contract: Temporary

Job status: full-time

Hours per week: 39.5

Offer starting date/Date of recruitment: 01.02.2024

EU research framework programme: HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN-01-01

Marie Curie Grant Agreement number: 101120061

Position Title

Spinning disc system-based approaches for green manufacturing of innovative drug delivery systems

Starting Date

01.02.2024

Job Description

The advertised doctoral position will be carried out at Saarland University over a period of 36 months. The recruited researcher will be supervised by Prof. Dr. Marc Schneider and work in the department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, led by Prof. Dr. Marc Schneider. The doctoral candidate will be registered for the PhD programme at Saarland University, Germany.

The project will focus on the optimisation and application of spinning disc system-based approaches for manufacturing innovative drug delivery systems both on lab and pilot scale. This technology not only enables the control over process parameters during manufacturing, but also potentially reduces the manufacturing time, number of manufacturing steps and use of organic solvents, thus is a greener alternative. The potential of this technology will be analysed by DoE and to be coupled with other microfluidic systems for post-production removal of organic solvent efficiently will be also pursued.

The main working tasks of the advertised position are:

(1) Established green drug delivery system manufacturing protocols by SDS

(2) Determination of interdependency of drug delivery system qualities and process parameters on particle size, drug load and drug release

(3) Evaluation results of spinning disc system for efficient organic solvent removal and recycling.

In the frame of the research project, short term (secondment) visits at other partners premises are envisioned. As per call requirements, candidate will spend at least half of the total contract time in a non-academic environment.

This doctoral position DC4 is fully funded by the Marie Skłodowska Curie Action Industrial Doctorate GreenX3 (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN-01-01). The monthly gross salary will comprise a living allowance, mobility allowance and if applicable a family allowance.

This is approximately rounded at € 48 000.00 (gross salary, including compulsory deductions under national law, such as employer and employee social security contributions and direct taxes) per annum (living and mobility allowance).  Family allowance will be implemented if the doctoral candidate has or acquires family obligations (i.e., marriage or relationship with equivalent status to a marriage recognised by the legislation of the country or region where this relationship was formalised or dependent children who are actually being maintained by the researcher) during the action duration.

The candidate will be employed by a single, three years employment contract offering social security, holiday rights, parental leave rights, pension provision, healthcare insurance and accident coverage at work. Researchers must be enrolled in a doctoral programme leading to the award of a doctoral degree in at least one EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.

For more info on MSCA-DN-ID visit the website marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/doctoral-networks.

The recruited candidate will work as part of an international, interdisciplinary and young team accounting for 10 doctoral candidates and 3 doctoral network students located at different universities and company in Germany, Spain, Italy, France and United Kingdom.

The recruited candidate will attend yearly summer school and international meetings and secondments whilst receiving training on research and transferrable skills. The recruited candidate is expected to finish the project with a PhD thesis and to disseminate the results through open access publications in peer-reviewed journals, patents (when applicable) and presentation and poster at national and international conferences.

Background Information

MSCA-DN-ID are industrial doctorate programmes funded by the European Union. Positions in the frame of these programmes are offered to European and non-European doctoral candidates to implement individual projects in a European country other than their own. All doctoral networks have the objective in promoting international, inter-sectoral and multidisciplinary collaboration in doctoral-level training in Europe. Additionally, industrial doctorate requires the mandatory involvement of the non-academic sector in the doctoral training and the candidate will spend 50% of working time in the non-academic sector.

The GreenX3 project will create an interdisciplinary and intersectoral network to train 10 doctoral candidates and 3 doctoral network students for a period of 36 months. Their training will be supported by 16 Parties comprising a network of 7 industries and 9 academic partners from Spain, Germany, United Kingdom, France and Italy, offering altogether a rich, multidisciplinary and intersectoral environment for the training of the successful candidates.

GreenX3 will focus on the study of greener materials and their environmental impact, the development of novel environment-friendly industrial processes, and key enabling technologies (KETs) designed to enhance resource management and product quality. The joint presence and intertwined connection among academic and non-academic partners with expertise comprising and not limited to materials/polymer chemistry, nanotechnology, pharmacy and pharmaceutical technology, entrepreneurship, sustainability and product development will provide an outstanding environment to train the next generation of researchers with strong focus on sustainable development, responsible production and waste reduction.

Requirements:

Qualifications / experience:

• Candidate at the early stage of her/his career. The candidate must not hold a PhD and must be in the first four year of her/his research career from the date of the degree obtainment.
• Degree in life science (included but not limited to chemistry, pharmacy, biotechnology, etc) or related field. M.Sc. preferred.
• Experience in at least one of the following areas: nanoparticle preparation, drug delivery
• Basic knowledge of formulation technologies, drug delivery, nanoparticle preparations, confocal microscopy techniques, scanning probe microscopy techniques colloidal sciences, polymer sciences…
• Practical experience in laboratory environment is a plus.
• Basic knowledge of data analysis and Microsoft Office.
• Good organisation and communication skills, willing to travel for short or longer period.
• Flexible and co-operative with a well-structured and autonomous working style
• Fluency in written and spoken English is a must. German knowledge is a plus.

Mobility:

The candidate must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies etc) in Germany for more than 12 months in the three years immediately before their date of recruitment. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account. For international European research organisations, international organisations, or entities created under Union law, recruited researchers must not have spent more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their date of recruitment in the same appointing organisation.

Further specific-national requirement: N/A

How to apply:

Interested candidates are strongly advised to carefully read the job description and eligibility criteria before applying. For inquiries, please contact Prof. Dr. Marc Schneider at marc.schneider(at)uni-saarland.de.

To apply please send a complete CV and a letter of motivation (up to 2 pages) stating the research experience and interest and name and contact information of at least two referees providing recommendation letter to Mrs Conrad (isabelle.conrad@uni-saarland.de). Please use the formula “GreenX3 – Application DC4” in the object of your correspondence. Additionally, copies of diplomas and list of courses taken, and grade obtained as well as proof of English level needs to be included in the application.

Any other information you deem relevant for application purpose may be included in the application (e.g., pdf of a recent scientific publication, extra curriculum activities, certificates).

Eligible applicants will undergo a pre-selection evaluation based on the CV, experience and skills. Short-listed applicants will be invited for an interview with the evaluation committee members.

Application for multiple position is possible.

Please find other available position at USAAR following the link: DC3.
For further information about Saarland University please visit www.uni-saarland.de
Interviews are planned for end of October/ beginning of November 2023.