Early Stage Researcher (PhD) in Stimuli Responsive Materials

The University of Bath is inviting applications for a Marie Curie-Sklodowska ITN Early Career Researcher position as part of the

European Union’s Horizon 2020 funded Stimulus project. The position will be of 3 years’ duration and will require that the successful candidate registers for a PhD programme at the University of Bath.  Ideally, the candidate will be available to start in July 2021 (1 September 2021 at the very latest).

Please check that you are eligible for this position before applying (see eligibility requirements below).

The research:

You will make, modify and test biologically responsive hydrogel films for potential applications in wound dressings. The films will signal the presence of specific bacteria by changing colour; they will contain multiple layers, including a peptide hydrogel that is susceptible to bacterial virulence factors. The idea is to make dressings that behave as ‘AND’ gates, giving clinicians detailed information about the type and virulence of the different bacteria present in a wound.

You will have a background in chemistry, material science, chemical engineering, or a related discipline. You will work as part of a small team in Bath, but you will also spend at least four months on placement, learning polymer synthesis and working with an industrial partner. You will learn how to design and create hydrogel multi-layers; you will also learn microbiology so that you can test the dressings by exposing them to bacteria in a controlled environment. 

Qualifications required:

Applicants must hold a Master's degree, or equivalent experience following a Bachelor's degree, in Chemistry, Natural Science, Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Materials Science or a related discipline with a classification of First Class or Upper Second Class (or equivalent).

There are strict eligibility requirements for this position:

Applicants may be from anywhere in the world; however, applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the United Kingdom for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the commencement of the position.

International applicants will be required to meet the University’s English language entry requirements.

In addition, applicants must:

• be in the first four years of their research careers at the time of appointment and have not been awarded a doctoral degree;
• comply with the EU definition of Early Stage Researchers (specifically, not having previously been awarded a doctoral degree).

Enquiries and applications:

Questions about the position should be addressed to Dr Petra Cameron (P.J.Cameron@bath.ac.uk).

To formally apply for the position you must submit TWO applications by the advertised application deadline:

1) A formal PhD application should be made via the University of Bath’s online application form for a PhD in Chemistry (full-time). You should ensure that you quote the supervisor’s name and project title in the ‘Your research interests’ section of the application form. More information about applying for a PhD at Bath may be found here.

AND

2) A job application (CV and cover letter) must be made IN ADDITION to the PhD application. See the associated job advertisement.