Marie Sklodowska-Curie Early-Stage Researcher in Single Entity Nanoelectrochemistry

Are you interested in a PhD training at the interface between chemistry, nanotechnology and biology?

Do you enjoy travelling?

You will join a recently funded European Training Network (ETN) SENTINEL (project ID 812398, call H2020-MSCA-ITN-2018). SENTINEL offers high-level doctoral training to a total of 15 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) of which 2 will be employed at the University of Leeds. You will develop a nanobiopsy platform based on nanopipettes to track the transcriptional reprogramming of single glioblastoma cells during standard treatment.Expected Results: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a fatal and incurable brain cancer: 100% of tumours recur, constituting a major unmet clinical need. We will develop, optimise and adapt a nanobiopsy platform that can be used to label and sequentially sample cytoplasmic RNA from specific cells for use in expression profiling by sequencing. 

Planned Secondments: 

Aarhus University - surface charge mapping of single-cells. This secondment will expose you to a recently developed technique capable of mapping surface charge density of living cells to understand neurological function. CEA - theoretical electrochemistry for sustainable energy materials. CEA (Alternative Energies & Atomic Energy Commission) will empower you with numerical simulation skills that will be applied to the study of nanoelectrochemical systems.

Indiana University - probe design for single-cell analysis. You will be exposed to a recently reported ion channel probe-SICM (ICP-SICM), which incorporates a chemical sensor in the form of an alpha-hemolysin (αHL) ion channel into a lipid membrane formed across a nanopipette tip.

Important eligibility rules for this position: There are no restrictions on the nationality, but applicants must, at the time of recruitment, have not yet been awarded a doctorate degree and be in the first 4 years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers. This is measured from the date that you obtained the degree which would entitle you to embark on a PhD. At the time of recruitment, applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc...) in the UK for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment under the SENTINEL project. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account. 

Salary: The Marie Sklodowska-Curie Early Stage Researcher living allowance is fixed at up to €65,057 per annum, including the mobility and family allowance which you may be entitled to. This figure is before employer's and employee's deductions for national insurance and taxes per year, which will be paid in Sterling using an appropriate conversion rate.

Interviews

It is anticipated that the interviews for this post will take place towards the end of March via skype. The role will be based at the University of Leeds in the UK.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact: Dr Paolo Actis, University Academic Fellow, School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds Tel: +44 (0) 113 343 4625 or email: p.actis@leeds.ac.uk or Dr Lucy Stead, University Academic Fellow, University of Leeds Tel: +44 (0) 113 343 4625 or email: l.f.stead@leeds.ac.uk