UCD Post-doctoral Research Fellow Level 1

The ECM lab led by Associate Professor Seungkuk Ahn at University College Dublin in Ireland has an opening for a Postdoctoral Research position (PD level 1) to work on the ERC-funded "DESIGN-ECM" project to investigate the role of species and sex of extracellular matrix and cells for better designing 3D tissue models.

Human mimetic preclinical models imitate human organs, tissues, and diseases to enable safer, more accurate testing for new drugs and therapies. Such models are created by employing core biomaterials and cells existing in our tissues. These models have significant potential to enhance our understanding of human disease and the development of treatments. However, the majority of human preclinical models to date have neglected the species and sex of the extra cellular matrix and cells as biological variables, while species- and sex-dependent biomaterial and cell properties have been well acknowledged in animal and clinical studies.

Led by Dr Seungkuk Ahn, DESIGN-ECM will address this gap by investigating species-driven dimorphism in biomaterials and cell biology across various disciplines such as materials science, bioengineering, organoids, mechanobiology, nanobiotechnology. Success in this project will reshape the design of future preclinical models to seriously reckon with species and sex of biomaterials and cells, moving towards personalised tissue models in the long term.

Candidates will work together with 2 PhD students to establish the core methodologies and data sets for the first 36 months of the total 60-month ERC project. The main scientific works will 1) engineer and characterise 3D ECM scaffolds, 2) perform in vitro cell validations, and 3) develop 3D ovarian organoid models. The start date of this position is 01 May 2027.

Fixed Salary: €47,273 Per Annum

Closing date: 12:00 noon (local Irish time) on 05 November 2026.

Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time of 12:00 noon (Local Irish Time) on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system. UCD are unable to accept late applications.

UCD do not require assistance from Recruitment Agencies. Any CVs submitted by Recruitment Agencies will be returned.

The PD1 position is intended for early-stage researchers, either just after completion of a PhD or for someone entering a new area for the first time. If you have already completed your PD1 stage in UCD or will soon complete a PD1, or you are an external applicant whose total Postdoctoral experience, inclusive of the duration of the advertised post, would exceed 4 years, you should not apply and should refer to PD2 posts instead.

Prior to application, further information (including application procedure) should be obtained from the Work at UCD website: https://www.ucd.ie/workatucd/jobs/

Requirements

Research Field: Engineering

Education Level: PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications: Communication and interpersonal skills, Bioengineering, Tissue Engineering, Mechanobiology, Organoids, Extracellular matrix protein engineering

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria

Mandatory:

• PhD in Bioengineering, Tissue Engineering, Mechanobiology, or Organoids.
• Excellent technical laboratory skills in ECM engineering, Mechanobiology, and Organoids.
• A demonstrated commitment to research and publications.
• An understanding of the operational requirements for a successful research project.
• Evidence of research activity (publications, conference presentations, awards) and future scholarly output (working papers, research proposals, and ability to outline a research project.
• Excellent Communication Skills (Oral, Written, Presentation etc).
• Excellent Organisational and Administrative skills including a proven ability to work to deadlines.
• Candidates must demonstrate an awareness of equality, diversity and inclusion agenda.

The PD1 position is intended for early-stage researchers, either just after completion of a PhD or for someone entering a new area for the first time. If you have already completed your PD1 stage in UCD or will soon complete a PD1, or you are an external applicant whose total Postdoctoral experience, inclusive of the duration of the advertised post, would exceed 4 years, you should not apply and should refer to PD2 posts instead.

Desirable:

• Experience in extracellular matrix protein engineering
• Experience in human biology research
• Experience in integrin biology
• Experience in stem cell culture
• Experience in ovarian organoid
• Experience in setting own research agenda

Selection process: https://www.ucd.ie/workatucd/jobs/