Enzyme-mimicking nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Description: A 3-year fully funded PhD position is available at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Karlsruhe (Germany) in an international and stimulating research environment. The scholarship is sponsored by the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie (FCI).

The PhD candidate will focus on the design of hybrid organic-inorganic nanomaterials with enzyme-like properties. In this context, the candidate will engage in the synthesis of porous nano-building blocks and their assembly into nanoparticles that mimic enzymes. The work will thus encompass design, synthesis, and characterization of nanoparticles. The long-term objective is their successful application in sensing, catalysis, and drug delivery.

PhD Supervisors: Dr. Pierre Picchetti together with Prof. Stefanie Dehnen

Requirements: The applicant must possess a Master's degree in Chemistry, along with fundamental knowledge and practical experience in organic synthesis. Applicants should have basic knowledge of characterization techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), mass spectrometry (MS), UV-Vis absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Applicants should have a strong interest in exploring new topics and synthesis techniques, e.g. sol-gel methods for nanoparticle synthesis, and proactively acquire new knowledge. We highly value enthusiasm and curiosity. Given the international composition of our institute, good spoken and written English is essential (level B2). Furthermore, the applicant must be willing to participate in teaching activities, e.g. 2 hours of coursework per week.

Duration: 3 years

Salary: 1850.00 EUR per month (plus 1000.00 EUR per year for participation in conferences, purchase of study material, etc.)

Application: Letter of motivation, letter of recommendation from at least one previous supervisor, and a short CV with details of laboratory experience. The application documents should be sent to Dr. Pierre Picchetti (pierre.picchetti@kit.edu).

Further links:

• Institutional homepage: https://www.int.kit.edu/
• Homepage of the FCI funding body: https://www.vci.de/fonds/der-fonds/foerderprogramm/seiten.jsp