R1.06/2024 2 PHD POSITIONS. R1 RESEARCHERS (I-36)

R1.06/2024 - 2 PhD Positions (R1 Researchers I-36)

Nucleic acid-based therapies demonstrated their early success during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Nucleic acids are a valuable cargo that needs to be delivered, ideally, to a specific tissue or organ within the human body. However, there are several challenges to achieve this effectively, and the use of nanocarriers is necessary.

To work on these exciting challenges and receive interdisciplinary training in this area, we are hiring PhD candidates with a background in chemistry, biology, physics, genetics, and material science.

Available PhD Projects:

• DC12: The Vicent Group recently identified polypeptide-based vectors targeting mitochondria. This PhD thesis will focus on the design of bioresponsive, polypeptide-based polyplexes capable of targeting mitochondria and releasing selected cargoes through specific stimuli, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) or other endogenous triggers. The project will involve the development of hybrid polypeptide-polypeptoid copolymers and explore their safety and transfection efficiency in cancer models. The PhD student will be trained in polymer synthesis, bioconjugation techniques, and comprehensive physicochemical characterization, with a focus on bio-nano interfaces and biological evaluation in relevant preclinical models. The project will also include secondments at the University of Bordeaux and the Max Planck Institute for Biophysics.
• DC14: In collaboration with Prof. Perrier at the University of Warwick and Prof. van Hest at the Technical University of Eindhoven (TUE), the PhD candidate will develop a novel polymeric carrier capable of forming polyplexes and acting as a non-viral vector for gene transfection applications, seeking new therapeutic strategies against advanced solid tumors. The PhD student will synthesize the polymeric nanocarriers at the University of Warwick and subsequently develop the derived polyplexes at CIPF, validating them in in vitro and in vivo models of metastatic breast cancer. Full characterization of the newly developed polyplexes will be carried out at CIPF and during a secondment at the Technical University of Eindhoven (Prof. van Hest's lab).

NATPRIME is a European project funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 101168881. It is also co-funded by the UK Guarantee Scheme.

Application Instructions: The CV should remove all personal references: name, gender, age, marital status, nationality, and should not include a photograph.