Post-doctoral Research Fellow, School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Applications are invited for a temporary post of a UCD Post-doctoral Research Fellow Level 1 (Musculoskeletal Bioengineering) within UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering .

Reference no - 016449

The School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at University College Dublin is looking to recruit 2 Post-doctoral Research Fellows Level 1 for 3-years each in Musculoskeletal Bioengineering.

The Lab:

The Regenerative, Modular and Developmental Engineering Laboratory (REMODEL) operates at the crossroads of engineering, chemistry, biology, medicine, entrepreneurship, humanities and social sciences, where education, research, innovation, social responsibility and clinical practice merge to improve human lives. REMODEL is a multidisciplinary and intersectoral hub that develops, derisks and commercialises transformative and disruptive end-user informed:

1. Biomaterial- and cell- based therapeutic, reparative and regenerative products for healthcare.
2. In vitro pathophysiology models for drug discovery.
3. Cellular agriculture and aquaculture meat products for food security.
4. Tools and technologies that enable effective and efficient ex vivo cell propagation for the cell culture sector.

The Project:

Direct cell injections were introduced in regenerative medicine as a means to restore lost tissue function, following disease or injury. Unfortunately, soon it became apparent that the mode of administration neither protects nor localises the injected cells at the implantation site. To overcome these limitations, the concept of tissue engineered in vitro organogenesis has been pioneered that allows for the production of tissue-like assemblies in vitro. Although such approaches have demonstrated safety and efficacy in preclinical and clinical settings, only a handful of products have been commercialised. This limited technology transfer has been attributed, among others, to the prolonged in vitro culture required to develop a barely three-dimensional implantable device. Further, these prolonged ex vivo cultures are associated with phenotypic losses and very high manufacturing costs. This project will utilise recent advancements in engineering (e.g. nano- and micro- scaffold fabrication technologies) and cell culture technologies (e.g. media supplements, mechanical loading / oxygen tension bioreactors) to accelerate the development of clinically and commercially relevant three-dimensional advanced therapy medicinal products for musculoskeletal bioengineering purposes. Extensive in vitro and in vivo analyses will be conducted in our state of the art facilities, housed at School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering; Charles Institute of Dermatology and Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research. Clinical indications of interest include: tendon, cartilage, enthesis.

This is a research focused role, where you will conduct a specified programme of research supported by research training and development under the supervision and direction of a Principal Investigator.

The primary purpose of the role is to further develop your research skills and competences, including the processes of publication in peer-reviewed academic publications, the development of funding proposals, the mentorship of graduate students along with the opportunity to develop your skills in research led teaching.

Include if relevant:

In addition to the Principal Duties and Responsibilities listed below, the successful candidate will also carry out the following duties specific to this project:

• Collaborating with other researchers both in UCD and externally.
• Outreach activities.

Salary: Salary: €42,033 - €48,427 per annum

Appointment on the above range will be dependent upon qualifications and experience.

Closing date: 17:00hrs (local Irish time) on 3rd of October 2023

Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time of 17:00hrs (Local Irish Time) on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system. UCD are unable to accept late applications.

UCD do not require assistance from Recruitment Agencies. Any CV's submitted by Recruitment Agencies will be returned.

The PD1 position is intended for early stage researchers, either just after completion of a PhD or for someone entering a new area for the first time. If you have already completed your PD1 stage in UCD or will soon complete a PD1, or you are an external applicant whose total Postdoctoral experience, inclusive of the duration of the advertised post, would exceed 4 years, you should not apply and should refer to PD2 posts instead.

Prior to application, further information (including application procedure) should be obtained from the Work at UCD website: https://www.ucd.ie/workatucd/jobs/