The Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia is looking for candidates interested in research, to carry out with us the Doctoral Thesis being an active participant in our projects.



The main activities of the PhD candidate would be in agreement to the research line “Novel materials and devices for applications in food, environment and bioengineering” leaded by Prof. Camilo Zamora-Ledezma. Specifically, the main work will be focused on the synthesis of tailored organic/inorganic nanobiomaterials/biomaterials based on nanocarbon and nanoparticles (metal, magnetic) and bioactive molecules for potential applications in in Food, Environment and Bioengineering.

Therefore, the main tasks include, but are not limited to:

* Synthesis of tailored organic/inorganic for different techniques as: Electrospinning, 3D Printing, 3D Bioprinting, Drop Casting, Dip-Coating, Spin-Coating, Drop Casting.

* Physic - chemical characterizations: Optical Microscopy, SEM/TEM/AFM, TGA/DSC, TAC, RMN, FTIR, RAMAN, UV-Vis, HPLC, Gas chromatography (GC) , DRX, Mechanical Properties (Tensile tests)

* Study of the biological response of the biomaterials fabricated through in vitro/in vivo microbiological and cellular assays.

* The effect of biomaterials on the growth of different type of cell lines will be evaluated through in vitro assays using adult human mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow (ah-BM-MSCs), Fibroblast, Chondrocytes, Gingival Cells, studying their cytotoxicity (MTT), cell proliferation (Alamar Blue Assay), cell load capacity, cell adhesion (SEM), PCR, Flow Cytometry (cellular differentiation), ELISA, Electrophoresis, quantification of DNA. Also, biocompatibility through in vivo experimentation with animal models are envisaged.

* Bioactivity effect of biomaterials functionalized via the quantification of Hydroxyapatite formation. Followed by characterization via SEM+EDX

* Protein adhesion ability and calcium binding ability through staining techniques and its evaluation with optical microscopy and uv-vis spectroscopy

* Writing reports and scientific publications

* Participation in conferences/congress/Specialized courses

* Attend meetings/internships at national, European and international is envisaged



The research activities will be carried out in the Green and Innovative Technologies for Food, Environment and Bioengineering Research Group (FEnBeT), located at UCAM HiTech, Sport & Health Innovation Hub, Avda. Andres Hernandez Ros 1, Guadalupe de Maciascoque, 31107, Murcia, Spain.

The PhD student candidates must have:

- Completed Biomedical Engineering with a minimum of 300 ECTS.

- Completed a M.Sc. degree in Chemistry or Engineering Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, or related fields.

- Demonstrated experience in biomaterials fabrication and physic - chemical characterizations and bioactivity and biocompatibility. Attach publications and/or master's thesis related to the above experience.

- Advanced English level (B/6). Attach your English certification.

- Completed its Biomedical Engineering or M.Sc. degree within the last 5 years.

- High impact factor publications according to JCR (Q1) metrics are not compulsory but an asset, If the participation has been as first author, citation, corresponding author.

- Experience as assistant research for at least 1 year not compulsory but an asset

What we offer

- Pre-doctoral contract.

- Full-time