Looking for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships candidates - Integrative Biomedical Materials and Nanomedicine

Pilar Rivera Gil studied Pharmacy in Seville, obtained the PhD (2007) in Pharmacy at the Freie Universität Berlin (Germany) in 2007, did the postdoctoral research in  Biophotonic, Physics department of the University of Marburg (Germany) and obtained from the same university the German Habilitation (2013) in Pharmaceutical Technology. In 2014 she joined the Universitat Rovira I Virgili as a Ramon y Cajal researcher and since 2016 she is a Tenure track Professor at the Department of Medicine and Life Sciences from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Pilar is the head of the Laboratory for Integrative Biomedical Materials and Nanomedicine.
We, the Nanomedicine Lab, convert basic research findings on nanobiotechnology into new approaches addressing biomedical challenges. We fabricate multifunctional biomaterials by integrating selected building-blocks into one single system depending on the application's requirements and considering the biophysicochemical properties of the nanomaterial. We target independently two areas: diagnostics and therapeutics of diseases but also simultaneously by creating a theranostic tool towards a more personalized medicinal approach of diseases. We focus on understanding and engineering the nanomaterial-biological system interface. We use state of the art material and biological/molecular characterization methods to find predictive patterns of cellular outcomes after exposure to nanomaterials for translational medicine.
More specifically, our research lines are:
- NanoTarg, a nanotechnological targetable platform for cancer management: NanoTarg explore the possibilities of our targetable nanocapsules for tumor targeting, controlled drug release and photothermal activation
- SERS chemonanosensors: we are fabricating a tool of optical biosensors sensing disease biomarkers like NO, pH, ROS or Zinc. The nanosensors are plasmonic nanocapsules functionalized with a Raman probe for surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection. Our chemosensors are specific, have subcellular resolution, are non-invasive and can be monitored in real time. We aim at quantitatively correlating imbalances of these biomarkers with specific pathological conditions.

Keywords:  translational nanomedicine, targeted chemotherapy, theranosis, optical sensing

The Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships scheme (MSCA-PF) is a prestigious European funding programme that supports mobility, career development, and training within and beyond Europe. The scheme offers highly competitive salary and research costs. 

Eligibility criteria

MSCA-PF are for Postdoctoral Researchers of up to 8 years after the PhD. Applicants from any country may apply, but must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the submission deadline to the European Commission (11/09/2024). 

Selection process

Applicants should check that they fulfil all the eligibility criteria and then send an expression of interest consisting of a CV, a summary presentation of the research proposal (c. 2 pages) and the contact information of at least two referees.

Expressions of interest must be submitted by email by April 30^th. The title of the e-mail must be "MSCA application – Dr. Pilar Rivera – your name and surname". Proposals will be preselected on the basis of internal evaluation.

Support program

In addition to receiving multiple feedback from your supervisor, if chosen to submit the proposal to the European Commission, you will also receive advice from a dedicated research advisor at UPF's Research Service, who will provide you feedback three times (mid June, mid July, end August). Additionally, you will be invited to join an online internal Info session where you will get to know the do's and don'ts of these fellowships.