PROJECT: EU Horizon 2020 Teaming Phase 2 project: "Baltic Biomaterials Centre of excellence - BBCE" grant agreement No. 857287.

ANNOUNCEMENT AND OUTLINE OF THE POSITIONS

The BBCE project, funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 programme (WIDESPREAD-01-2018-2019: Teaming Phase 2) calls for applications of 2 partly funded first stage researcher positions, with attractive complementary training activities and multidisciplinary and international scientific environment. The successful candidates will learn how to perform a full cycle of biomaterial development, how to write high-impact original research and review articles, on research metrics and ethics, quality system, experimental planning, entrepreneurship skills, intellectual property strategy development at early stage biomaterials research, on translational research and exploitation of the research results.

Location of the positions

Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Riga Technical University, Riga, Latvia.

International networking opportunities

The positions include participation in short-term (up to 14 days) and/or long-term (up to 6 months) training visits in world-leading research centers within the network - AO Research Institute Davos, Switzerland and Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany. Yearly meetings (summer schools and symposia) of the complete network are also foreseen.

Positions start

Starting date is negotiable but tentatively December 2024. Additional information: For additional information please contact Prof., Dr.sc.ing. Janis Locs (janis.locs@rtu.lv) and Assist. Prof., Dr.sc.ing. Arita Dubnika (arita.dubnika@rtu.lv) and visit https://bbcentre.eu and https://bbi.rtu.lv/?lang=en .

RECRUITING ORGANIZATION

BBCE coordinating institution - Riga Technical University (RTU) is one of the oldest institutions of higher technical education in Eastern Europe. RTU gathers more than 16000 students, staff of 611 people for research and 572 for teaching, currently is the top 1 University in Latvia in terms of scientific potential and it is ranked among the top 651–700 Universities worldwide. Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering of RTU (RTU IBB) is the biggest and the most modern biomaterial research centre in the Baltic States. RTU IBB research team consists of more than 50 scientists with background in chemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science. The main areas of RTU IBB research activities include training and research on synthesis of calcium phosphates, preparation of inorganic/organic composite materials, bone cements, and upscaling of chemical engineering processes for bone regeneration purposes. Additional research fields include drug/ion delivery systems and nanostructured implant composites with drug eluting properties. The biomaterials developed at RTU IBB have been tested in clinical practice for more than 15 years in more than 400 patient cases.

AVAILABLE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS

Within the scope of BBCE project currently, there are 2 partly funded first-stage researcher positions available in the development of biomaterials for bone regeneration, more specifically development of biodegradable, osteoconductive and osteoinductive materials as well as composites and drug delivery systems for bone regeneration, with the following envisaged research groups and topics:

1. Group 1 – Calcium phosphates and composites (calcium phosphate (CaP) nanoparticles, nanosuspensions, granules, bone cements, CaP/biodegradable polymer (e.g. PLA, PCL, hyaluronic acid) composites, gradient materials and hydrogels (CaP/polymer) for bone tissue regeneration.
2. Group 3 – Materials in vitro (cellular responses, fundamental mechanisms that govern cell-biomaterial and cell-cell interactions, novel materials for bone regeneration and their in vitro behaviour).

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS

DUTIES AND RESPONSABILITIES

1. Applicant should be able to explain the outcomes of the research and summarize them into the scientific publications.
2. The applicant will be encouraged to participate in BBCE organized training seminars, summer schools of high-impact scientific writing organized at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Germany and at least 1 international scientific conference.
3. The applicant will be encouraged to participate in at least one up to 6 months long training visit to Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Germany or AO-Forschungsinstitut Davos (ARI), Switzerland depending on the scientific topic.

DESIRABLE COMPETENCES

1. Ability to carry out research under supervision.
2. Applicant has the ambition to develop knowledge of research methodologies and discipline.
3. Applicant has demonstrated a good understanding in a field of study.
4. Applicant has demonstrated the ability to produce data under supervision.
5. Applicant is capable of critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas.
6. Applicant is able to explain the outcome of research and value thereof to research colleagues.

EMPLOYMENT TERMS AND BENEFITS:

For the first stage researchers’ part time contract will be offered. First stage researchers will undergo yearly performance assessment related to their research and study activities (criteria will include: e.g. exams successfully passed, participation in BBCE training programmes, papers published, co-supervising of students, assisting in teaching). Initially, up to a 2-year contract will be offered to the first stage researchers with a potential renewal for another 1 year. Contract involves a part-time job with 5-20 working hours per week with an annual gross salary in the range of €1330 – €9600. The annual gross salary will be subjected to all local taxes, social benefits and other deductions following national regulations. Health insurance must be covered by applicants themselves.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

1. First stage researchers up to the point of PhD.
2. Bachelor, Master or PhD program students enrolled in Bachelor, Master or PhD programs.
3. Excellent/good oral and written English language skills (at minimum B2 level).
4. Good skills in scientific writing and presentation of the results.
5. Experience of using laboratory equipment for biomaterials characterization.
6. Ability to carry out the research under the BBCE scope and to produce the data under supervision.

SELECTION PROCESS OF THE FIRST STAGE RESEARCHERS

Candidates are asked to apply on-line and the application must include the following:

1. CV in English (Europass format, max. 3 pages).

2. A motivation letter in English (max 1 page), indicating an envisaged research group.

All documents must be submitted to bbcentre@rtu.lv before October 27th, 2024 5.00 PM (CET).

For additional information please contact Prof., Dr.sc.ing. Janis Locs (janis.locs@rtu.lv) and Assis.Prof., Dr.sc.ing. Arita Dubnika (arita.dubnika@rtu.lv) and visit https://bbcentre.eu and https://vkti.rtu.lv/?lang=en. The selection procedure will be based on two steps: the first step will consist on the screening of all applications received and on the selection of a shortlist of candidates based on their CV and motivation letters; the second step will consist of an interview (held in person or Skype/ZOOM), at the end of which successful candidates will be recruited.

When applying for a competition, the candidate agrees to the processing of his personal data pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data and repealing Directive 95/95 / EC / 46 / EC /credits to the 1st picture https://clipart-library.com/