Post-Doctoral Researcher School of Pharmacy/College of Medicine and Health

The School of Pharmacy University College Cork is inviting applications for the position of Postdoctoral Researcher in intestinal delivery of therapeutic RNA – Pharmacodelivery Group. The position is part of GENEGUT, a Research & Innovation project funded by the European Union. https://genegut.eu/

We are looking for an exceptionally enthusiastic, creative, and driven Postdoctoral Researcher with a passion for interdisciplinary science and a desire to apply their unique talents to high-impact work aimed at improving human health, to join the dynamic drug delivery groups of Professor Caitriona O’Driscoll and Dr. Piotr Kowalski at the School of Pharmacy at UCC. Their research spans multiple disciplines which will allow candidates to develop skills in a variety of areas including; RNA delivery, formulation and characterization of targeted nano-delivery systems, and gene therapy. 

The project is part of the GENEGUT https://genegut.eu/ consortium funded by the European Commission as a Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (RIA), (HORIZON-HLTH-2021-TOOL-06). Genegut has 9 partners from 8 different European countries. The consortium includes 4 academic groups, 3 industrial partners and a patient organization. The aim of the project is to design a first in class oral medicine for local intestinal delivery of siRNA and mRNA to treat ileal Crohn’s disease. A range of novel biomaterials will be synthesized and used to complex RNA into nanoparticles enabling RNA stability and enhanced efficacy in the hostile gut environment. A range of innovative in vitro and in vivo models will be established to assess safety and efficacy of the prototype products. 

Successful candidates will work in a cross-disciplinary research team interacting with all the Genegut partners comprising of drug delivery scientists, RNA biologist, materials scientists, bioengineers, health economists and clinical scientists.

• Candidates with a Ph.D. degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, biopharmaceutical sciences, biomedical and chemical engineering or a related field are highly encouraged to apply.

• Experience in one or more of the following areas will be desirable:  design, formulation and characterization of nano drug delivery systems, biomaterials, oral drug delivery, biological barriers to nucleic acid delivery, cell culture and animal work.

• Evidence of peer-reviewed publications in international scientific journals

• Prior practical laboratory experience and the capability to work independently

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to contribute in a multidisciplinary team setting

• Excellent oral/written communication skills

• Availability to start in Summer 2025 will be an advantage

Project Title: GENEGUT - Oral delivery of encapsulated RNA nanotherapeutics for targeted treatment of ileal Crohn's disease