Research
Vacancy Summary
This is an exciting, 24 month opportunity for an experienced Postdoctoral Researcher to work on, and influence, a research programme funded through a prestigious SFI Research Professorship award to Professor Mark Smales in the area of enhancing advanced biotherapeutic biological medicines design, manufacturing and activity at NIBRT. The role will help lead and deliver a work programme to generate a fundamental, transformative and conceptual mechanistic shift in our understanding of the cell expression systems and processes used to produce these advanced biotherapeutics, and apply modern engineering biology approaches to deliver more efficient, predictable, and affordable manufacturing approaches.
The postholder will be expected to (1) undertake the work and training programme outlined in the grant proposal ‘Enhancing Advanced Biotherapeutic Design, Manufacturing and Activity: Defining and Leveraging the Biological Rules that Underpin AAV Gene Therapy, IVTmRNA and Protein Biotherapeutic Modality Design and Production’ for PDR2, and (2) provide support and supervision of other members of Prof Smales team with him and when he is absent from NIBRT.
Position Available
Postdoctoral Researcher (PDR)/Research Scientist L2
Location
Dublin, Ireland
Department
Research
Hiring Manager
Prof Mark Smales
Contract Type
24 month Specific Purpose Contract
Application Date
October 2024
Interview Dates
November 2024
Salary & Benefits
Competitive salary and excellent suite of benefits including pension, private health insurance, income protection scheme, 25 days annual leave plus up to 3 additional company days off, generous training and career development supports, flexible working hours and work from home set up supported.
Role Purpose
In designing IVTmRNAs as vaccines and therapeutics we currently lack the understanding to fully optimise these with respect to (i) how exogenous and modified IVTmRNAs are delivered to, recognised by, and engage with the translational machinery, (ii) how they can be more efficiently translated or tuned in a cell specific manner, (iii) how sequence modifications impact their manufacturability, activity and stability, and (iv) ability to predict modes of action and antigenicity. The role will focus on the chemical modification of nucleotides for incorporation into IVTmRNAs and support the start of incorporating these modified nucleotides into the synthesis of IVTmRNAs.
Key Responsibilities
The key responsibilities of the job include:
* To devise, undertake appropriate experiments, interpret the findings and devise new approaches to achieve the goals and milestones as described in the Research Professorship SFI funded grant programme.
* To undertake the mandatory training, reporting, public engagement/outreach activities and any other requirements outlined under the funding agreement for the project.
* Be responsible for maintenance of laboratory records, health and safety records, and inventory around the project.
* To interact with other collaborators at NIBRT and externally, coordinating activity across the consortium.
* Regularly report to the supervisors and consortium, compile data acquired in a form to allow rapid transformation of documented research results into high quality research papers and/or patent applications.
* Attend and present at training activities and research summits and meetings as outlined in the wider programme.
* Provide training support and advice to graduate, postdoctoral scientists, technicians and other staff at NIBRT.
* Write up research findings for publication in leading peer-reviewed international journals.
* Be committed to your own personal career development.
* Other duties, commensurate with the grading of the job, as assigned from time to time.
Essential Criteria
* A PhD in biotechnology, chemical synthesis, biochemistry, biochemical engineering, genetics, molecular biology, gene therapy, engineering biology, synthetic biology, RNA sequencing or a relevant discipline.
* Training/experience of organic synthesis of modified nucleotides, particularly with regard to those for use in IVTmRNAs.
* Ability to design and execute experiments on an independent basis.
* Experience of writing publications for scientific journals and scientific reports.
* Experience of supervision and training of others and of working in collaborative teams.
* Experience of project management.
Desirable Criteria
* Experience of working with IVTmRNAs and the design and synthesis of these.
* Previous postdoctoral experience in areas and disciplines outlined in (1) above.
* Knowledge of the wider bioprocessing field, particularly the growing portfolio of advanced biotherapies.
* Knowledge and experience of working on mRNA translation and its control.
How To Apply?
To apply for this position please forward your CV and cover letter to careers@nibrt.ie
Please include your name and the position which you are applying for in the subject line.
Informal enquiries can be made in confidence by contacting careers@nibrt.ie
NIBRT is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
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