Funded PhD position

Job title

Doctoral Candidate (PhD student position) / DC5 - SHIELD Doctoral Network

Job offer description

DC5: Assessing the effect of anti-microbial peptides on biofilm formation on biopolymer coated medical implants

Join the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network SHIELD (Strategies for Healing Implant-associated infections and Enhancing Longevity in Devices) and contribute to cutting-edge research aimed at combating implant-associated infections.

Objectives: This PhD project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Antimicrobial peptides in biopolymer coatings in preventing biofilm formation on medical implants. Building on previous work in collaboration with Ashland technologies the candidate will use a variety of techniques to analyse the initial attachment and subsequent biofilm formation by key human pathogens to surfaces coated with PLLA-PEG and PDLA-PEG polymers with and without different antimicrobial peptides. Through a combination of microbiology, molecular biology, advanced imaging techniques, and translational research, the doctoral candidate will generate critical data to inform the design of biofilm-resistant materials and evaluate anti-infective strategies with direct relevance to clinical applications.

Research activities include:

• Evaluating the effect of antimicrobial peptides in polymer coated surfaces on biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
• Assessing whether incorporation of antimicrobial peptides into these polymers can alter the matrix composition of the biofilm and what effect this has on the resistance of the biofilm to antimicrobial agents.
• Using mutants to investigate the mechanistic action of the antimicrobial peptides on biofilm formation by different pathogens.
• Using Galleria mellonella as an in vivo model to confirm the effect of antimicrobial peptides in polymer coated devices.

Training and mobility:

• Research secondments at SHIELD partner institutions:

-          Ashland Tech. (Ireland)

-          Amicoat (Norway)

-          University Hospital Regensburg (Germany)

• Participation in specialised training workshops and international conferences.

Research field

Biological Sciences

Contract details

Type of contract: Temporary

Job status: Full-Time

Application deadline

Date: November 7^th 2025

Expected starting date

January 2025

City, Country

Dublin, Ireland

How to apply*

Interested candidates should send an application containing the following documents in English (and, when necessary, a certified translation of official documents) to (opens in a new window)Tadhg.OCroinin@ucd.ie :

·         Motivation Letter (describing research career goals, skills, experience, and highlighting the consistency between the candidate’s profile and the chosen DC position)

·         A complete Curriculum Vitae with references to past research and training experiences

·         Copies of Bachelor and Master’s certificates/diploma & academic transcripts

·         Two Reference Letters

·         Publications (if available)

Note: If you are applying for a different DC position within SHIELD Doctoral network, please follow the instructions provided by the hosting organization. These instructions can be found in the specific link associated with each DC position.

Hiring Organisation & Offer Posting Contact details

Organisation/Company: University College Dublin

Department: School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science

Country: Ireland

Organisation type: Higher Education Institution

E-mail address: Tadhg.OCroinin@ucd.ie

Website: https://www.ucd.ie/sbbs/research/

Work locations: Company/Institute: University College Dublin  Country: Ireland

Required Education Level

Research Field: Biological/Medical Science

Education Level: Master's or Undergraduate degree

Skills/Qualifications/Specific requirements:

·         Applicants must hold a Master's or Undergraduate degree or equivalent in Microbiology, Biotechnology or similar and should have experience with experimental research.

·         Applicants must have excellent proficiency in written and spoken English.

·         Strong motivation and ability to collaborate in an interdisciplinary and international team.

·         Desirable skills include previous experience with biofilm assays, confocal microscopy or other imaging techniques relevant to the study of biofilms.

Appointment & Benefits

The appointment will be on a temporary basis for a maximum period of 36 months (PhD student, regular full-time employment contract), with an attractive salary plus allowances package according to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie / Innovative Training Networks rules.

Eligibility criteria

·      Have not been awarded a doctoral degree. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.

·      Career Stage: Applicants must be within the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers at the date of recruitment. This is measured from the date they obtained the degree that formally entitles them to pursue a doctorate.

·      Mobility Rule: Candidates must not have resided or conducted their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the host organization's country (in this case the Republic of Ireland) for more than 12 months within the three years immediately preceding their recruitment.

·      Nationality: Researchers from any country are eligible, including those from non-European countries.

Additional information

·         For additional information about this DC position, please contact the scientist-in-charge/supervisor:

Assoc. Prof. Tadhg O Croinin, e-mail: (opens in a new window)Tadhg.OCroinin@ucd.ie

·         Project website: (opens in a new window)www.shield-dn.eu