OPEN POSITION OF EARLY STAGE RESEARCHER (PhD)

Initial Training Network of the European Commission FP7-PEOPLE-2013-ITN-EID No 317052: Industrial Biological Biomaterials Doctorate

Location: INEB – Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Porto, Portugal

Category: Early Stage Researcher (PhD student) – 1 position

Duration: 31 months (contract) plus one year (scholarship)

Application Deadline: 14 June 2013, 12.00 GMT

Job Description
One Early Stage Researcher (ESR) position, financed by the European Community, is available within the Marie-Curie Initial Training Network European Industrial Doctorate: IB2 - Industrial Biological Biomaterials Doctorate.This is an elite doctorate program, designed to train PhD candidates at the highest academic level in combination with strong components in entrepreneurship, technology transfer and business development. Therefore, part of the research and training will be carried out in an industrial environment and using a problem solving approach. The position includes an 18-month stay at the Industrial Partner, Grifols (Barcelona, Spain), a major health care company.

The overall aim of this Network is to develop xeno-free sources of biomaterials and other biological products for the expansion of stem cells for regenerative medicine strategies.

The topic of the available position is “Effect of human Plasma Derived Biomaterials on the crosstalk between human Mesenchymal Stem Cells and inflammatory cells”

Only applicants fulfilling these criteria will be eligible to apply:

- Early-stage researchers as defined in III.1 of Annex III of the Marie Curie Initial Training Network.
(ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/docs/rea-annex3-mc-itn-multi_en.pdf)

- Qualifications and Experience The successful candidates should have a Masters Degree in Biological Sciences (including Cell Biology, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, Health Sciences) or a related field. The candidates must be fluent in English (oral and written). Knowledge in or willingness to learn Portuguese and/or Spanish languages is desirable. The IB2 Network is looking for exceptionally talented and motivated researchers, capable of working in both academic and industrial environments, with a positive, entrepreneurial attitude.

- Mobility
 Researchers are required to undertake trans-national mobility: at the time of recruitment by the host organization INEB, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of their host organization (Portugal) for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date, as defined in III.3.2 of Annex III of the Marie Curie Initial Training Network.
(ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/docs/rea-annex3-mc-itn-multi_en.pdf)

Selection Process
Applications will go through a preliminary screening based on their CVs and motivation letters, in order to shortlist candidates for a brief skype interview. The candidates selected after this stage will be invited for an interview at INEB, where they will present their previous work in a poster session to a Selection Committee. Their enthusiasm, scientific spirit, ability to communicate scientific results and interest in developing a career in industry will be under close scrutiny. The preliminary date for the interview at INEB will be the 25th of June.

Additional Information
IB2 upholds the principles of employment equity and gender balance policy, welcoming applications from women, ethnic and visible minorities and people with disabilities. Note that special visa requirements may apply to employees from non-EU countries working at IB2 in Portugal or Spain.(*)These appointments may be extended for an additional 12 months, through a scholarship.

How to Apply
If you meet all of the eligibility criteria, please submit your application to ib2applications@ineb.up.pt, with CV, letter of intent, and the names and contact of two references.