DC13 – Development of hybrid nanoparticles for enhanced biopharmaceutical delivery

chemistry; Technology » Nanotechnology; Technology » Pharmaceutical technology Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions: PhD Positions Application Deadline: 30 Jan 2027 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid) Country: Spain Type of Contract: Temporary Job Status: Full-time Offer Starting Date: 1 Mar 2027 EU Research Framework Programme: Horizon Europe - MSCA Reference Number: IDEAS-DC13-UPC Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number: 101312168 Staff position within a Research Infrastructure: No Offer Description 3-year PhD position financed in the framework of the MSCA Doctoral Network IDEAS General job description manage and carry out the individual research project; participate in the joint IDEAS training and network activities; take PhD courses; write scientific articles and the PhD thesis; participate in national and international congresses and scientific meetings; research stay at external research laboratories or company sites; disseminate the research outcomes; participate in the undergraduate teaching of students. Research project description DC13 – Development of hybrid nanoparticles for enhanced biopharmaceutical delivery. Context: The efficient delivery of biopharmaceuticals—such as peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids—remains a major challenge due to their intrinsic instability, sensitivity to environmental conditions, and limited permeability across biological barriers. Nanoparticle-based drug carriers can protect labile biomolecules from degradation, while at the same time offering a large surface-to volume ratio to enable active control of drug release. However, their use in biopharmaceutical delivery requires improved control of surface chemistry, biocompatibility, and hybrid functionality to achieve both stabilization and targeted release. Objectives: This project aims to design, synthesise, and characterise two types of nanoparticle carriers, and the stability and release kinetics of loaded APIs: 1) hybrid mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), with tuneable pore size and large internal surface area of controlled chemical composition for API loading; 2) amorphous polymer microparticles (PMPs) encapsulating the API-loaded MSNs. In the first case, it is the porous silica structure alone that plays the function of encapsulating/stabilising and preventing the degradation of labile or sensitive biopharmaceuticals. In the second case, the polymer matrix provides a multistage delivery profile, where the PMPs protect the API-loaded MSNs, releasing the MSNs at the desired location, that in turn provide a controlled release of the API. These hybrid systems will exploit organic–inorganic inorganic-polymer interactions for optimal drug loading, protection, and controlled release, providing a platform for next-generation hierarchical nanoparticle-based delivery systems with enhanced efficacy and safety. Work location: The candidate will be enrolled his/her PhD at the EEBE-CDB campus of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC-BarcelonaTech), located in Barcelona, Spain, where he/she will work during 24 months in the Group of Characterization of Materials, under the supervision of prof. R. Macovez and prof. M. Romanini. These two years will include a 3-month secondment period at the company Linari Engineering, located in Pisa, Italy, to gain industrial experience on advanced electrospinning equipment for building polymeric nanostructured materials containing nanoparticles. During the remaining 12 months, roughly at the beginning of the project and corresponding to the academic year 2027-2028, the candidate will work at the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Universidade de Lisboa, located in Lisbon, Portugal, under the supervision of Prof. J. P. Farinha and Prof. C. Baleizão, to work on the preparation and quality assessment of hybrid mesoporous silica nanoparticles by TEM, DLS, NMR and Raman, and of hybrid polymer microparticles with encapsulated nanoparticles by SEM. Expected results: Novel hybrid nanoparticles with optimised interfacial chemistry for efficient stabilization and delivery of biopharmaceuticals; Release control as a function of sample architecture; Mechanistic understanding of how nanoparticle composition and structure affect drug encapsulation, release, and molecular stability; Validated hybrid platform technology adaptable for diverse therapeutic molecules and delivery routes; Enhanced biocompatibility and performance, enabling safer and more effective delivery of fragile biomolecules. Research Methodology: the doctoral candidate will integrate various methodologies: The candidate will synthesise hybrid nanoparticles of distinct types. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with tailored pore sizes (2–10 nm) and controlled surface chemistry will be synthesized by means of co-condensation and post-functionalization methods; organic modifiers can be introduced to tune hydrophilicity, charge, and biomolecular affinity. Amorphous polymer microparticles (PMPs) with encapsulated MSNs will be produced by electrospinning and electrospraying techniques, both with high scale-up potential. Comprehensive physicochemical characterisation will be performed using gas absorption (BET) surface analysis, TEM/SEM, FTIR, NMR, DSC, DLS and zeta potential measurements. Biopharmaceutical loading and release kinetics will be assessed using model proteins and peptides under biorelevant conditions. The candidate will also evaluate stability, aggregation resistance and bio-interactions, molecular and macromolecular mobility, and glass-like transitions under confinement, using DSC and bulk/thin-film broadband dielectric spectroscopy. Where to apply Website: https://ideas-msca.eu/open-positions/ Requirements Research Field / Education Level: Physics » Applied physics — Master Degree or equivalent Chemistry » Physical chemistry — Master Degree or equivalent Technology » Nanotechnology — Master Degree or equivalent Technology » Pharmaceutical technology — Master Degree or equivalent Skills/Qualifications Applicants must hold a Master's degree or equivalent in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Nanotechnology, Pharmaceutical Technology, or similar, providing access to PhD programs. They should have preferably experience with experimental methods and research, in chemical synthesis, and/or materials/nanoparticle characterization. General requirements for admission into IDEAS Applicants must be eligible (see eligibility criteria below) Applicants must hold a MSc or equivalent degree in a related subject area, as required by the specific research project (see below) . Applicants must have the necessary academic skills and background to make the success of a doctoral degree. The skills needed will depend on the project chosen. Applicants must be sufficiently proficient in written and spoken English (English CEFR at least B2, preferable C1 or higher. IELTS 6, preferably higher. Project-specific requirements apply). Applicants must be eligible to enrol in a PhD programme at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Furthermore, all doctoral candidates of IDEAS should demonstrate: A high willingness to travel. Independent problem-solving skills. High resilience and flexibility. Excellent communication skills. Integrity, team spirit, dedication to science and learning, dependability, punctuality, pro-activity. Interest to work in an intersectoral, interdisciplinary team and to learn new techniques, methods etc. also outside their comfort zone. A high competence level in scientific writing and public speaking as required by the discipline of the project. Proficiency with computers, office, web-based learning. Willingness to participate in outreach activities, conferences, extracurricular events etc. Specific Requirements MSc degree in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Nanotechnology, Pharmaceutical Technology, or a related subject. Experience with chemical synthesis is an advantage. Hands-on experience with nanoparticle and/or materials characterization techniques (structure and size determination, morphology, stability, dynamics, thermodynamics) is an advantage. Knowledge of polymer science and technology is a plus. Languages: ENGLISH — Level: Excellent Additional Information Benefits The Doctoral candidates will be hired with a three-years, full-time contract. The monthly salary will consist of: Living allowance (gross): 2805 € per month Mobility allowance (gross): 520 € per month (Family allowance, gross): 360 € per month* The annual gross salary of the Doctoral candidate will amount to 39.902,14 € + family allowance, if applicable.* The provided figure represents the gross annual salary without family allowance, and is subject to deductions of employee's contributions to income tax, national social security, etc. *The family allowance is given only for those with families defined as persons linked to the researcher by (i) marriage, or (ii) a relationship with equivalent legal status to a marriage, or (iii) with dependent children. Eligibility criteria The applicant must comply with the following criteria to be eligible for any project in IDEAS: Applicants must fulfil the mobility rule: Applicants 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 before the recruitment date. (Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status are not taken into account.) There are no restrictions regarding residence in Portugal. Applicants must not hold a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree. Applicants must not have a conflict-of-interest with their future supervisors (family, relationship, economic interest…). Selection process https://ideas-msca.eu/open-positions/ Applicants are requested to submit their application within IDEAS electronically (docx or pdf format). The application should contain (please adhere to the naming conventions for the documents as laid out in the application form): A completed application form (download from https://ideas-msca.eu/open-positions/ ), including an indication of which preferred laboratories/research projects the applicant would like to join within IDEAS (max. 3 PhD projects) Research Exposé: max. 2 pages on your previous research (e.g. BSc and/or Master’s thesis). Your current academic CV (max. 4 pages) Your graduation certificate (if available) and academic transcript incl. university grades. Foreign documents must be sent as certified English translations. These documents must show the grades attained in exam periods, when applicable, and evidence that the required degree will be obtained by the expected time of recruitment, if it has not already been awarded. Proof of English language proficiency (if available) Two letters of reference in support of your application + filled out referee form. Applicants will be responsible for ensuring that referees submit these letters to coordinator-ideas@univ-lille.fr in time. All documents must be sent to: coordinator-ideas@univ-lille.fr Only complete applications will be considered for the selection procedure. Selection procedure The IDEAS selection procedure for DCs will be open, transparent, merit-based and in line with the European Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers . The recruitment process consists of an initial written application (see above) . Eligible applications will be ranked by a selection committee based on: the quality of the applicant’s CV and academic record, the quality of the written exposé, the motivation of the applicant to join IDEAS and the selected project(s), the fulfilment of the required and desired criteria for the selected project(s) the applicant’s technical expertise for the selected project(s), the referee sheets and letters of recommendation. Those not selected will be informed. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interviews , preferably online, or where possible, in person. Interviewed candidates will be ranked and invited to join IDEAS in order of their ranking. Successful candidates will be informed as soon as possible after the interview. Additional comments Application deadline: 30.01.2027 We may accept applications also after this date, until the position is filled. Start date for doctoral candidates: Between 01.03.2027 and 01.09.2027 Website for additional job details: https://ideas-msca.eu/ Work Location(s) Number of offers available: 1 Company/Institute: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Country: Spain State/Province: Barcelona City: Barcelona Contact Website: https://ideas-msca.eu/ E-Mail: coordinator-ideas@univ-lille.fr