PhD position Ostaskills

Within the DBE Department, we work on the development of various intra-articular injection therapies for the management of osteoarthritis. More specifically our interest focusses on the use of injectable hydrogels that cross link in situ which could be used as fillers of focal cartilage defects inducing cartilage regeneration. These hydrogels are currently in clinical evaluation. But next to this application of these gels, our injectable systems could also be used for controlled and targeted delivery of candidate drugs such as short antibody fragments, DNA and/or RNA for gene therapy or viral vectors after formation of a drug depot inside the joint due to in situ crosslinking after an intra-articular injection. The topic of this PhD project focusses on exploring the use of our injectable hydrogel platforms for controlled and targeted release of drugs that have the potential  as disease modifying osteoarthritic drugs. These new applications will be tested in innovative joint-on-chip models which are also being developed in our laboratory. We have functional cartilage and synovial membrane-on-chip models which need to be combined to generate a joint-on-chip. In this project, these models will be further optimized and used for evaluation of the injectable hydrogel platforms for controlled delivery of disease modifying drugs.

• Hold a Master degree in Biomedical Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, or an equivalent field of research. A background in (molecular) cell biology is preferred, but not essential.
• Experience in cell culture, tissue engineering, or basic polymer chemistry. Experience in imaging will be considered as a benefit;
• Excellent analytical skills and an innate ability for solution oriented problem solving;
• Team player with great communication skills and willing to perform part of the PhD training at one of the participating academic and/or industry partners;
• Demonstrable leadership potential and experience in the supervision of bachelor and masterstudents;
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written.

• Full-time position for four years.
• Gross monthly salary from € 2443,-- in the first year to € 3122,- in the final year.
• Holiday allowance (8%) and an end of year bonus (8,3%).
• The University of Twente provides excellent campus facilities, and actively supports professional and personal development.
• We provide excellent mentorship and a stimulating, modern research environment with world-class research facilities.
• You will be embedded in a dynamic research group.
• Additionally, the UT is a green campus with excellent facilities and resources for professional and personal development.
• You will follow a high-quality personalized educational program in part co-designed with the Ostaskills consortium and the training opportunities offered in this program.
• Part of the PhD training will be performed by a secondment of approximately half a year to one of the other partners in the Ostaskills training network.
• The research will result in a PhD thesis at the end of the employment period.

The Faculty of Science & Technology (Technische Natuurwetenschappen, TNW) engages some 700 staff members and 2000 students in education and research on the cutting edge of chemical technology, applied physics and biomedical technology. Our fields of application include sustainable energy, process technology and materials science, nanotechnology and technical medicine. As part of a people-first tech university that aims to shape society, individuals and connections, our faculty works together intensively with industrial partners and researchers in the Netherlands and abroad, and conducts extensive research for external commissioning parties and funders. Our research has a high profile both in the Netherlands and internationally and is strengthened by the many young researchers working on innovative projects with as doctoral candidates and post-docs. It has been accommodated in three multidisciplinary UT research institutes: Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Centre and Digital Society Institute.

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