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- PhD student at ILL: studying Lipid Nanoparticles for Delivery of Antimicrobial Peptides
PhD student at ILL: studying Lipid Nanoparticles for Delivery of Antimicrobial Peptides
At a glance
- Job title: PhD student at ILL: studying Lipid Nanoparticles for Delivery of Antimicrobial Peptides
- Ref.: NS25-ILL34
- Contract type: Time-limited contract
- Salary range: 32.7K€
- Deadline for applications: 02/05/2025
- Publication start on Front Office : Site internet: 03/03/2025
- Contract duration: 3 years (1 year renewable 2 years)
Context & Job description
Thesis subject: Study of lipid Nanoparticles for Delivery of Antimicrobial Peptides
The aim of the PhD project is to systematically design and characterize lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) for targeted antimicrobial peptide (AMP) delivery. The project seeks to develop LNPs with high loading capacity and stability by considering factors such as polymer coating, lipid composition and targeting ligands. Advanced techniques will be employed to characterize the formation of these LNPs, stability reflected in e.g. lipid/peptide exchange and how these carriers interact with model membranes and bacterial cells. The goal is to optimize the delivery systems by mitigating challenges related to AMP stability and toxicity leveraging the transport capabilities of LNPs. Ultimately, the project aims to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of these LNPs and help enhance AMP applications in medical treatments against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). You will join the LSS group at the ILL where you will take advantage of the high flux and broad wavevector-range of small-angle neutron scattering instruments (SANS) to study the structure and kinetic processes in lipid vesicle systems for antibiotic delivery.
Further information may be obtained from: the ILL supervisors Dr. Sylvain Prevost (tel.: +33 (0)4 76 20 79 43, email:prevost@ill.fr) and Dr. Lionel Porcar (+33 (0)4 76 20 70 25, email: porcar@ill.fr) and from Prof. Reidar Lund (+47 22 85 55 08), email: reidar.lund@kjemi.uio.no
Expected profile
- Degree allowing enrolment for a PhD (such as MSc, Master 2 de Recherche, Laurea or equivalent) in chemistry or a closely related field like physics, pharmacy materials sciences, nanotechnology, etc. Degrees must have been granted by European universities or already recognised as equivalent.
- A background in soft matter, biophysical chemistry or related fields is desirable, and knowledge of experimental design and scattering techniques, as well as programming would be an advantage.
- Manual skills and rigorous attention to detail are essential in this work environment.
- Proficiency in English (A proof of upper-intermediate level must be included in the application. Applicants originating from native-English-speaking countries can apply without the need for proof of level. An official degree conducted in English will be also accepted as a proof). If the applicant is unable to provide proof, an English test (free of charge) will be requested.
- Compliance with the Marie Sklodowska-Curie mobility rule: candidates may not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the host institute’s country for more than twelve months in the three years immediately before the application deadline.
- All researchers recruited must be doctoral candidates, i.e. not already working towards or in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment.
- Candidates must satisfy the conditions for enrolment in the doctoral programme at the University of Oslo. Note conditions for grades. https://www.uio.no/english/research/phd/
Working conditions
The successful candidate will be enrolled in the doctoral school at University of Oslo (Norway) and based full-time at the ILL (Grenoble, France), other than at least 2 months (max 6) of secondment to the University of Oslo where mandatory courses of at least 30 ECST must be complied. Additional visits may be made to the University of Oslo when needed. Furthermore, a varied pedagogical training programme will be offered to the successful candidate throughout the 3-year PhD project.
Company description
NEXTSTEP will train 36 young and enthusiastic researchers to exploit the unique and transversal capabilities of analytical research infrastructures in tackling the challenges associated with sustainable development and industrial competitiveness in the areas of “Health”, “Digital, Industry & Space”, “Climate, Energy and Mobility” and “Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment”, which are at the heart of Horizon Europe. Host laboratories: ESRF and ILL (France), FZJ (Germany), AREA (Italy), NTNU (Norway).