Scientific Researcher III (CS III)

Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions: Postdoc Positions Application Deadline: 16 Nov 2026 - 15:00 (Europe/Bucharest) Country: Romania Type of Contract: Temporary Job Status: Part-time Hours Per Week: 20 Offer Starting Date: 1 Dec 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No Offer Description Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy (UMFCD), Bucharest, partner P2 in project 17CoEx/2026 “National Multidisciplinary Research Center of Excellence for Drug-Resistant Infections” (ARES), opens one part-time postdoctoral position as Scientific Researcher III (CS III), on a fixed-term contract for the period 1 December 2026 – 31 December 2030. The postdoctoral researcher designs and develops lipid and vesicular nanostructured systems for the targeted transport and release of antimicrobial compounds, including blood–brain barrier crossing, and optimises them through a QbD/DoE approach. Main duties: develop lipid formulations (liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles and NLC, nanoemulsions) and vesicular systems (extracellular vesicles, hybrid nanovesicles, cell membrane-coated nanoparticles) for antimicrobial compounds; design targeting and functionalisation strategies (blood–brain barrier, bacterial biofilms, intracellular transport); build DoE plans, define critical quality attributes and critical process parameters, analyse response models and establish the design space for high loading and controlled release; characterise the formulations (DLS/ELS, NTA, microscopy, DSC, FTIR, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release, stability) and interpret the results; write experimental protocols, standard operating procedures and technical reports; transfer formulations to the consortium partners for antimicrobial, antibiofilm and toxicological evaluation and integrate the biological results into formulation optimisation; provide methodological guidance to the PhD student and the laboratory technician; publish in Web of Science-indexed journals, present at conferences and contribute to patent applications. Where to apply Website: https://umfcd.ro/proiecte/proiecte-nationale/ares/concurs-pentru-ocuparea-a-3-posturi-in-cadrul-proiectului-17coex-2026-national-multidisciplinary-research-center-of-excellence-for-drug-resistant-infections-ares/ Requirements Research Field: Pharmacological sciences Education Level: PhD or equivalent Skills/Qualifications Specific conditions: Completed bachelor’s (licence) university studies in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology or related fields. PhD degree in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology or related fields, with a thesis in the formulation and characterisation of drug delivery systems or in a closely related field, obtained within the 5 years preceding the application deadline. Demonstrated experience in the formulation and physicochemical characterisation of nanostructured systems for the targeted transport and release of drugs (solid lipid nanoparticles/NLC, liposomes, nanoemulsions, vesicular or polymeric systems). Experience with characterisation techniques – DLS/ELS (size, polydispersity index, zeta potential), NTA, electron microscopy/AFM, DSC, FTIR, determination of encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release and stability studies – is an advantage. Experience in experimental design (Design of Experiments) and in applying Quality by Design principles to formulation development. Experience with extracellular vesicles, cell membrane-coated biomimetic nanoparticles, targeting strategies (blood–brain barrier, biofilms, intracellular transport) or the formulation of antimicrobial compounds is an advantage. Experience in the quantification of active substances in formulations by HPLC or LC-MS is an advantage. Scientific activity demonstrated by articles published in Web of Science-indexed journals in the field of the position and/or by participation in research projects. Advanced English, needed for scientific documentation, writing papers and collaboration within the project consortium; a language certificate (minimum B2) is an advantage. Ability to organise experimental work, to provide methodological guidance to junior team members and to work in multidisciplinary teams; availability for part-time work of maximum 84 hours/month. Specific Requirements Supporting documents for the specific conditions: PhD diploma or certificate confirming the doctoral title; list of scientific papers. Languages: ROMANIAN Level: Mother Tongue Languages: ENGLISH Level: Excellent Research Field: Pharmacological sciences » Other Years of Research Experience: 1 - 4 Additional Information Benefits Gross hourly rate: 85 RON/hour (part-time, maximum 84 hours/month). Fixed-term employment contract for the period 1 December 2026 – 31 December 2030, within the ARES National Multidisciplinary Research Center of Excellence for Drug-Resistant Infections. Eligibility criteria General conditions. Candidates must: hold Romanian citizenship or the citizenship of another Member State of the European Union, of a State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) or of the Swiss Confederation; know the Romanian language, written and spoken; have the capacity to work in accordance with Law no. 53/2003 – Labour Code, republished, as subsequently amended and supplemented; have a health condition appropriate to the position applied for, certified by a medical certificate issued by the family doctor or by authorised healthcare units; meet the specific education requirements of the position; not have been finally convicted of an offence against national security, against authority, against humanity, of corruption or malfeasance in office, of forgery or against the administration of justice, or of an intentional offence that would make the candidate incompatible with the contractual position applied for, unless rehabilitation has occurred; not be serving a complementary penalty prohibiting the right to hold the position, to practise the profession or trade or to carry out the activity used to commit the offence, and not be subject to the safety measure prohibiting the holding of a position or the practice of a profession; not have committed the offences provided for in art. 1(2) of Law no. 118/2019 on the National Automated Register of persons who have committed sexual offences, exploitation of persons or offences against minors, and for supplementing Law no. 76/2008 on the organisation and functioning of the National Judicial Genetic Data System, as subsequently amended. Selection process The competition has two stages, each scored out of 100 points, with a minimum of 50 points to pass: Application file evaluation – administrative check and assessment of the CV against the specific requirements. Interview – based on the interview plan and the topics and bibliography published for each position: communication skills, analysis and synthesis, theoretical knowledge and practical skills, motivation, behaviour in critical situations, and English (reading and discussion of a scientific text). The final score is the arithmetic mean of the two stages (minimum 50 points). Appeals may be lodged within 24 hours of each publication of results. Timeline (2026): applications 9–16 November, until 15:00 · file selection 17 November · results 18 November · appeals 19–20 November · interview 23 November, 14:00 · interview results 24 November · appeals 25 November · final results 26 November. Venue: UMFCD Rectorate, Council Room, 37 Dionisie Lupu Street, Sector 2, Bucharest. All results are published at the UMFCD headquarters and on www.umfcd.ro . Website for additional job details: https://umfcd.ro/proiecte/proiecte-nationale/ares/concurs-pentru-ocuparea-a-3-posturi-in-cadrul-proiectului-17coex-2026-national-multidisciplinary-research-center-of-excellence-for-drug-resistant-infections-ares/ Work Location(s) Number of offers available: 1 Company/Institute: Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy Country: Romania State/Province: Draft City: Bucharest Postal Code: 020021 Street: Dionisie Lupu 37 Contact State/Province: Bucharest City: Bucharest Website: https://umfcd.ro/ Street: Dionisie Lupu Street, no. 37, Sector 2 Postal Code: 020021 E-Mail: valentina.uivarosi@umfcd.ro Phone: +40213180734 Mobile Phone: +40721568789