Introduction to the vacant position:
The Biomaterials for Neural Regeneration group is excited to announce a fully funded PhD position for a motivated and talented student to join our multidisciplinary research team. We are seeking a candidate to work on an innovative project focused on the development of inks and bioinks for testing in a microphysiological device that models traumatic injury to the CNS.
Project Overview:
This PhD project aims to address current limitations in models of traumatic injury to the CNS through the development and application of biomaterials and drug testing to injury and modeling. The research includes the development of a natural and synthetic biomaterial that mimics specific CNS properties, as well as the creation of a traumatic injury model in a microphysiological device using a co-culture in which different biomaterials and drugs will be tested.
Main tasks and responsibilities:
– Design and development: Create various biomaterials that serve as novel ECMs, including hydrogel-based matrices with proteins, to mimic the physiological conditions of the CNS environment.
Develop a microphysiological model of traumatic injury.
– Characterization and optimization: Perform biochemical and structural analysis of the developed biomaterials using techniques such as rheology, GPC, NMR, FTIR, compression test…
– Application in disease modeling: Use the microphysiological model to improve the fidelity of traumatic injury models, increase translation to the patient and reduce the number of animals used in experiments.
– In vivo testing: Correlation of in vitro model results with in vivo experiments to validate the model.
Requirements for candidates:
We are looking for a highly motivated PhD student who is interested in interdisciplinary research in the fields of biomaterials, tissue engineering and neuroscience. The ideal candidate will meet the following criteria
Essential:
- Educational Background: A bachelor’s degree in materials engineering and a master’s degree in biomedical engineering are required.
- Laboratory Experience and Technical Skills: Experience with biomaterials, primary cell culture, cultures in microfluidic devices, microfabrication techniques, 3D biofabrication techniques is required. In addition, experience with equipment such as rheometer, mechanical testing machine, FTIR machine and techniques such as GPC, NMR is required. Experience with advanced microscopy methods and molecular biology techniques for cell and tissue analysis would also be advantageous.
- Teamwork and Communication: We value candidates who enjoy working in a multidisciplinary team, have strong problem-solving skills, and can effectively communicate their research findings through oral and written presentations.
- Animal handling and in vivo studies: Experience with animal models is required.
We Offer:
- Number of positions available: 1
- Starting date: April 2025
- Gain hands-on experience with advanced biofabrication and biomaterials engineering techniques.
- Work in a cutting-edge research environment with access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.
- Collaborate with leading experts in the fields of stem cell biology, neuroscience, and biomedical engineering.
- Opportunity to contribute to high-impact research with potential applications in regenerative medicine and disease modeling.
- Support and guidance in publishing your work in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at international conferences.
Working Conditions:
- Full-time, 2-years Labor Contract.
- Work/life balance policies (including parental leave, flexible working hours, 23 working days of paid leave, 9 days of personal leave).
- IBEC ensures equal access to professional development opportunities regardless of employment status, length of service, or other factors. IBEC’s annual training catalog offers a wide range of training in technical and transferable skills, including mobility grants and a mentoring program for pre-doctoral and post-doctoral researchers.
- Stimulating interdisciplinary research and high quality international scientific environment.
- An induction program to facilitate integration into IBEC, and additional support for foreigners to obtain work visas and settle in Barcelona.
How to apply:
Until March 10th an online application form is available through IBEC dedicated site: https://careers.ibecbarcelona.eu/
Only those applications submitted before the deadline will be evaluated.
Reference: PHD-ZA.
If you have any further question regarding your application, please contact us at jobs@ibecbarcelona.eu
Principles of the selection process:
IBEC is committed to the principles of the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers of the European Commission and the Open, Transparent and Merit based Recruitment principles (OTM-R) https://ibecbarcelona.eu/careers-at-ibec/jobs/
IBEC´s Commitment on equal opportunity:
Our strength and excellence as an international transdisciplinary Research Institute are based on diversity. Being an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to diversity and inclusion, so that we support employees irrespective of their gender, nationality, religion, disabilities, age, sexual identity or cultural and socioeconomic background.”
IBEC actively looks for female candidates for Senior positions ensuring that at least 40% of shortlisted applicants invited to interview have to be women with comparable level of CVs as the male candidates. At the end of the evaluation process, in case of equal merit, priority will be given to female candidates.
For candidates with children that come from outside Barcelona, we offer babysitting services during the interview, so you don’t have to worry about anything else than doing a good interview. Contact us if you are interested in this service.
IBEC, as a signatory of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), will consider, especially for early-stage investigators, much more the scientific content of research outputs, than publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which it were published.
Protection of personal data:
IBEC guarantees that candidates’ personal data are processed in accordance with the requirements of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Law 3/2018 on Data Protection.
Personal data will be processed solely for the purposes of the selection process.
Who we are?
The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, IBEC is an interdisciplinary research center focused on Bioengineering and Nanomedicine based in Barcelona. IBEC is one of the top research institutions named as a Severo Ochoa Research Centre by the Ministry of Science, Universities and Innovation, which recognizes excellence at the highest international level in terms of research, training, human resources, outreach and technology transfer.
IBEC’s mission is to develop international high-quality interdisciplinary research that, while creating knowledge, contributes to making a better quality of life, improving health and creating wealth. A close link with key universities, reference hospitals and corporations, are assets that facilitate achieving the mission.
IBEC was established in 2005 by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Autonomous Government of Catalonia), the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC).
IBEC is located within the Barcelona Science Park and is managing 3.800 square meters facilities, with an annual budget of 22 Mio€; 4.150 square meters of facilities; 21 research groups and a team of researchers and support services of 400 people from 35 different countries. www.ibecbarcelona.eu
