VACANCIES

                  The Alice Perry Engineering Building. Image: NUI Galway

The following are job vacancies currently on offer for those interested in working with our team to further understand and carry out in-depth research into mechanobiology:

Postdoctoral Researchers(2) – Bone Mechanobiology Biomedical Engineering College of Engineering and Informatics NUI Galway Ref. No. NUIG 102-17

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for two full-time, fixed term positions as Postdoctoral Researcher in Bone Mechanobiology within the Mechanobiology and Medical Device Research Group (www.mechanobiology.ie), Biomedical Engineering at the College of Engineering and Informatics, National University of Ireland, Galway. These positions are funded by Science Foundation Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund and are available from July 2017 to the 31st August 2019.

Bone is an adaptive tissue that has the capacity to continuously renew and repair itself throughout life in response to the mechanical demands on the tissue. Osteoporosis can impair this process leading to severe bone fractures, pain and immobility. Mechanobiology is an emerging field at the interface of biology and engineering, which seeks to understand the mechanisms by which biological cells sense and respond to mechanical signals. Professor McNamara’s research group use multidisciplinary approaches to derive understanding of bone mechanobiology and how this process contributes to development, physiology and bone disease. Through these studies, it is becoming increasingly clear that mechanobiological processes are fundamental to normal bone physiology and may also play an important role in the aetiology of osteoporosis. However, mechanobiological responses have not been targeted as treatments for osteoporosis. This program of research will derive new information to inform the generation of novel therapeutic approaches for osteoporosis.

This research will be conducted using the equipment, technical expertise, office and research space within the College of Engineering and Informatics, the BioSciences Research Building (BRB) and the National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Sciences (NCBES) at NUI Galway. The new 14,000m2 Engineering building houses state-of-the-art Biomedical Engineering facilities including cell culture laboratories, biomechanical testing laboratories, micro-CT scanning, microscopy, research space and computer suites. The BioSciences Research Building incorporates 8,000m2 of high-end laboratory space for over 300 researchers from eminent NUI Galway research groups working in the areas of cancer research, regenerative medicine and cell and molecular biology. These complement facilities at the National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Sciences (NCBES).

Job Description:

The successful candidate will investigate the effect of modulating mechanoreceptors and key mechanotransduction proteins from normal and osteoporotic bone cells. This research will establish the effectiveness of modulating the mechanotransduction response in osteoporosis. The work involves in vitro cell culture, immunocytochemistry, molecular studies of gene and protein expression (RT-PCR, Western Blotting, ELISA), development of mechanobiology-based therapeutics, use of osteoporotic models and tissue histology. Prior research experience and strong experimental techniques in cell culture, tissue histology, gene and protein expression, tissue dissection and development of therapeutics are highly desired.

Duties:

  • In vitro cell culture studies
  • Bioreactor and Parallel plate flow studies
  • Development of Mechanobiology-based therapeutics
  • Studies of gene and protein expression
  • Tissue histology and immunohistochemistry
  • Laboratory management
  • Publication of research

 

Qualifications/Skills required:

The ideal candidate(s) should have a track record in a research and development environment and strong Cell and Molecular Biology (Mechanobiology), or Pharmaceutical Science experience is essential. Applicants must have a Ph.D. in the Biomedical Engineering/Biomedical Science or related sciences. The ideal candidate would have experience in cell biology, molecular biology, histology, immunohistochemistry and pharmaceutical development, as evidenced by a publication record.Candidates should have excellent communication and organizational skills; be highly motivated and passionate about research; and have strong documentation, oral and interpersonal skills.

Essential criteria:

  • PhD level in Biomedical Engineering/Biomedical Science or related disciplines
  • Evidence of strong publication record
  • Experience of in vitro cell culture
  • Experience of cell and molecular biology techniques (e.g. tissue histology, immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, western blotting, RT-PCR)
  • Experience of Epifluorescent and Confocal microscopy.

Desirable criteria: demonstrable experience in the following area;

  • Molecular techniques used to study and manipulate gene expression and function (e.g., siRNA, overexpression)
  • Bioengineering delivery platforms for DNA/RNA-based therapeutics
  • Use of bioreactors and parallel plate flow chambers
  • Cell culture laboratory management, purchasing
  • Tissue dissection and histology

Salary: €37,750 – €41,181 per annum      Start date: Positions are available from July 2017

Continuing Professional Development/Training:

Researchers at NUI Galway are encouraged to avail of a range of training and development opportunities designed to support their personal career development plans.

Further information on research and working at NUI Galway is available on Research at NUI Galway

For information on moving to Ireland please see www.euraxess.ie

Further information about our work is available at www.bmec.ie

(Informal enquiries concerning the post may be made to Professor Laoise McNamara, Laoise.McNamara@nuigalway.ie

 

To Apply: Applications to include a covering letter, CV, and the contact details of three referees should be sent, via e-mail (in word or PDF only) to Laoise.McNamara@nuigalway.ie

Please put reference number NUIG 102-17 in subject line of e-mail application.

 

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00 pm on Monday 26th June 2017.

 

All positions are recruited in line with Open, Transparent, Merit (OTM) and Competency based recruitment.

 

National University of Ireland, Galway is an equal opportunities employer.