Postdoc in "in vivo" Evaluation of Nanomedicines – DTU Health Tech

Join DTU to evaluate red blood cell substitutes using murine models. This role focuses on pioneering research in nanomedicine, specifically exploring hemoglobin-loaded nanoparticles as potential artificial blood. Candidates must have expertise in drug delivery and animal handling (mice and/or rats).
The Biomimetics, Biocarriers, and Bioimplants Group (The 3Bs) at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) is seeking a highly motivated and ambitious postdoctoral researcher. We are looking for a candidate with a robust background in drug delivery and nanomedicine, with a specific focus on their evaluation using in vivo murine models. You will join a dynamic team of materials scientists, bioengineers, chemists, and cell biologists.

Led by Associate Professor Leticia Hosta-Rigau, the 3Bs is a multidisciplinary and positive research group within DTU's Department for Health Technology. Our research sits at the crossroads of materials science, organic/polymer chemistry, and molecular and cell biology. We focus on drug delivery, tissue engineering, and cell mimicry (especially for the development of synthetic red blood cells). For more information about our lab and research, please visit: www.healthtech.dtu.dk/3bs.

Project Overview
Blood is crucial for our survival and the only way to substitute for blood loss occurring during accidents or surgery is by using blood from donors. However, blood transfusions have some limitations and risks: before blood can be transfused, there is a need for typing and matching due to the different blood groups causing fatal delays in emergency situations. Also, blood has a short storage lifetime, which makes it impossible to create large blood supplies to be used in acute disasters such as earthquakes or plane accidents. Furthermore, blood transfusions can help spread new viral infections, like it happened with HIV in the 80s.

Thus, developing a new oxygen‐carrier solution for use when red blood cells (RBCs) are neither an option nor available persists as one of the foremost important challenges in biomedicine.

Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) stand out as promising RBCs substitutes in these contexts. These semi-synthetic systems utilize hemoglobin (Hb), the primary oxygen-carrying protein in RBCs, aiming to fulfill the primary objective of blood transfusions: rapid restoration of oxygen delivery to organs. Advantages of HBOCs over donor blood include availability (Hb can be extracted from bovine or outdated human RBCs), universal compatibility, sterility, stable storage, and ease of transportation.

In this project, which builds on extensive published and unpublished data from The 3Bs group, we will fabricate Hb-loaded nanoparticles and we will investigate their potential to be used as blood substitutes in murine models. For reference, please see our publications: Chem. Mater., 2022, 34, 9200; Biomater. Sci., 2021, 9, 1135; ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2020, 12, 50275; Biomater. Sci., 2020, 8, 5859; Adv. Colloid Interface Sci., 2018, 260, 65.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct biodistribution and clearance studies in mice
• Monitor biochemical indicators
• Examine tissue morphology through histology
• Assess the oxygen-transport capability of hemoglobin-loaded nanoparticles using a hemorrhagic shock rat model (see Transl. Res., 2023, 260, 83; J. Colloid Interface Sci., 2020, 571, 326 and ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2019, 11, 35604)
• Contribute to the documentation and communication of research findings

Qualifications

• PhD in Biology, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, or Pharmaceutical Sciences
• FELASA certification
• Extensive experience in handling experimental animals (mice and/or rats)

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong publication record
• Excellent writing skills
• Research experience in drug delivery
• Experience in co-supervising MSc and PhD students

Join us in pushing the boundaries of nanomedicine and contribute to pioneering research that addresses critical challenges in biomedicine. Apply now to be part of our innovative and supportive team.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and terms of employment
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union.

The period of employment is initially 2 years, and the position is available immediately.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Assoc. Prof. Leticia Hosta-Rigau (email: leri@dtu.dk).

You can read more about DTU Health Tech at www.healthtech.dtu.dk/english.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 4 September 2024 (23:59 Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• Application (cover letter)
• CV including date of birth, employment history, H-Index, citations and ORCID
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD – in English)
• List of publications indicating scientific highlights
• One-page summary of your PhD thesis
• FELASA certificate

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU Health Tech
With a vision to improve health and quality of life through technology, DTU Health Tech engages in research, education, and innovation based on technical and natural science. We educate tomorrow's health tech engineers and create the foundation for new and innovative services and technologies for the globally expanding healthcare sector with its demands for the most advanced technological solutions. DTU Health Tech's expertise can be described through five overall research areas: Diagnostic Imaging, Digital Health, Personalised Therapy, Precision Diagnostics, and Sensory and Neural Technology. Our technologies and solutions are developed with the aim of benefiting people and creating value for society. The department has a scientific staff of about 210 persons, 140 PhD Students, and a technical/administrative support staff of about 100 persons of which a large majority contributes to our research infrastructure and related commercial activities.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

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