Post Doctoral Researcher - Chemie (27930)

→  Apply before 04/11/2024 (DD/MM/YYYY) 23:59 (Brussels Time)
→  Faculty of Sciences
→  Department: WE06 - Chemie
→  Occupancy rate:100%
→  Number of positions: 1
→  Type of employment: Contract of limited duration
→  Term of assignment: 12 months
→  Wage scale: PD1 to PD4 (doctoral degree)
→  Required diploma:PhD

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 8,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With its 11 faculties and more than 80 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

This post-doc position will be carried out in the NanoSensing group lead by Prof. Anna Kaczmarek. The NanoSensing group (https://nanosensing.ugent.be) is a research group at the Department of Chemistry of Ghent University, which focuses on studying the use of nano-sized inorganic and hybrid materials for nanothermometry and theranostics. The group currently consists of the PI, 1 post-doc researcher and 6 PhD students. This project will be partially funded by an ERC grant.

Temperature measurements in the field of biomedicine are extremely important as temperature plays an essential role in biological systems. Although it is possible to detect temperature employing robust and already commercially available techniques (e.g. infrared cameras), optical thermometry at the nanoscale allows studying phenomena otherwise inaccessible to so-called traditional thermometers. Theranostics is a recently emerging field, which integrates diagnostics with therapy. It is a very interesting concept to combine nanothermometry for diagnostics with therapy e.g. drug delivery. However, the currently proposed nanothermometer materials leave little room to expand towards the topic of theranostics. Also a current problem remains their toxicity to human cells and lack of degradability. 

In this project you will carry out research in the field of nanothermometry based on degradable hybrid nanomaterials operating in the physiological range. Your research work will involve materials synthesis, spectroscopy measurements at varying temperature and thermometry calculations, as well as model experiments concerning combining the developed hybrid nanothermometers with doxorubicin drug release. 

YOUR TASKS

-    To conduct international top-research in the field of degradable hybrid nanomaterials for physiological thermometry and develop degradable materials combining nanothermometry and drug delivery
-    To assist in the directing of the NanoSensing research group: actively participating in the drafting of new research proposals and guiding master thesis students and PhD students.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

-    You hold a PhD degree in Sciences: chemistry, or a PhD degree in engineering sciences: materials science, or a PhD degree in engineering sciences: chemical technology or equivalent, (the PhD degree must have been awarded before the date of appointment to the position)
-    Excellent communication skills in English (oral and written)
-    You have prior experience in luminescence spectroscopy, luminescence thermometry, luminescence of dye compounds, nanomaterials synthesis, hybrid materials synthesis, (organo)silica materials synthesis, drug delivery (please have expertise in at least 2 of these categories)
-    You have experience in characterization techniques, such as powder XRD, UV-Vis, FT-IR
-    Previous experience in electron microscopy (TEM, SEM) is an added value
-    Experience or interest in transferring knowledge from academia to industry and in the exploitation of results in patents
-    You have proven to publish high-impact scientific publications in international peer-reviewed academic journals that are widely disseminated.
-    You have contributed to communications or oral presentations at scientific meetings and congresses.
-    You are able to guide master and PhD students as well as write/correct papers and conference contributions.
-    Willingness to work at interdisciplinary boundaries, in close collaboration with the other group members.
-    Team player with a strong sense of autonomy and responsibility.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

-    We offer you a contract of definite duration for the period of 1 year with some possibilities for further extensions (either by obtaining personal funding or from funding within the group)
-    Your contract will start on 1/12/2024 (some delays in contract start date possible)
-    Your remuneration will be determined by salary scale WM1 to WM4 (if you hold a Master’s degree) or salary scale PD1 to PD4 (if you hold a doctorate).  Click here for more information about our salary scales.
-    All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits.

INTERESTED?

Your application must include the following documents:

-    CV: your detailed CV including information about academic achievements and study results (merged into one pdf file)
-    Cover letter: your application motivation letter describing why you should be considered for this position (in pdf format)
-    Diploma: a transcript of the required degree (if already in your possession). If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French or German) or English, please add a translation in one of the mentioned languages.
-    Other documents: 1) Name and contact details of three references who are willing to provide a letter of recommendation; 2) Your PhD thesis in pdf format (unless it was a confidential PhD, then please clearly indicate so in your cover letter or email). 

Incomplete applications which are missing documents will not be considered. As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.

Please submit a copy of your application by email to Prof. Anna Kaczmarek: anna.kaczmarek@ugent.be.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Anna Kaczmarek: anna.kaczmarek@ugent.be.

Do you have a question regarding the online application process? Please read the FAQ or contact us via selecties@ugent.be or +32 9 264 34 36