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The University of Oxford is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Sonosensitive Nanoparticle Characterisation to join the Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the Department of Engineering Science (Headington, Oxford). The post is funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and is fixed-term for two years with the potential to extend for an additional six months.
Research topic: Centre of Excellence in Personalised Healthcare
Principal Investigator: Prof Lionel Tarassenko
Supervisor: Prof Constantin Coussios
Project website: www.ibme.ox.ac.uk/centre-of-excellence-in-personalised-healthcare
Funding partner: The funds supporting this research project are provided by Wellcome Trust and EPSRC
Description of the project
The project forms part of a large collaborative effort within the Institute of Biomedical Engineering aimed at developing improved, ultrasound-based drug delivery strategies that are capable of targeting both primary and metastatic liver tumours efficaciously over a single course of administration. The objective over the 5-year project timescale is to address the drug formulation, ultrasound-induced release, quantitative imaging aspects and anticancer activity of the project in parallel, with all researchers working in adjacent laboratories.
Overview of the roleRecent work carried out at the University of Oxford has yielded a new generation of solid sonosensitive nanoparticles of high surface roughness and hydrophobicity, capable of lowering the pressure amplitudes required for initiation of inertial cavitation and drug delivery. The specific role of the person appointed will be to understand, model and optimize the mechanism for nanoparticle-based cavitation nucleation and drug release, both computationally and experimentally. The researcher will also have the opportunity to contribute to the design and manufacture of existing and novel sonosensitive nanoparticle formulations.
Responsibilities/duties
1. Characterize the size, shape, surface roughness, hydrophobicity, and other relevant properties of existing sonosenstive nanoparticles using a variety of analytical and optical laboratory techniques.
2. Characterize existing sonosensitive nanoparticles experimentally, both in terms of their ultrasonic response and associated lowering of the cavitation threshold.
3. Model nucleation and cavitation processes at the nanoscale, starting with an existing crevasse model of cavitation inception.
4. Use the results of the modelling and experimental characterization to optimize particle formulation for drug release.
5. Characterize any novel sonosensitive nanoparticle formulations both acoustically and using analytical laboratory techniques.
6. Assist other post-doctoral researcher in carrying out in vivo experiments to assess the efficacy of ultrasound-enhanced drug delivery protocols using sonosensitive nanoparticles.
7. Attend conferences and presenting recent work and progress reports at meetings with industrial and academic collaborators.
8. Prepare papers for publication.
9. Help with the supervision of DPhil, MSc and MEng students where appropriate.
10. Contribute to the day-to-day running of an experimental laboratory.
Essential
1. PhD in chemical engineering, surface chemistry, fluid mechanics, physics of fluids, biomedical acoustics, medical physics or relevant area of biomedical or chemical engineering.
2. Competence in fluid mechanics and surface chemistry modelling.
3. Demonstrated ability to design and carry out laboratory studies using advanced analytical and experimental techniques for particle sizing and microscopy.
4. Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills.
5. Demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary team of engineers, biologists and clinicians.
6. Strong evidence of research achievement to date, as might be demonstrated by a good publication record and/or academic distinctions and conference prizes.
7. Willingness to co-supervise and train graduate and undergraduate students.
Desirable
1. Prior experience in modelling and experimentation in acoustic cavitation.
2. Prior experience in modelling gas/liquid interfaces at the nanoscale.
3. Prior experience with scanning electron microscopy and cryoelectron microscopy.
4. Ability to program and post-process experimental data in Matlab.
5. Prior experience of instrument interfacing and control, ideally with knowledge of Labview.
6. A general interest in therapeutic ultrasound applications, particularly ultrasound-enhanced drug delivery.
Please apply with your CV and cover letter by the 'apply' button below. Your contact person is Professor Coussios.
Only applications received before midday on 16 March 2012 will be considered. Applications for this vacancy are to be made online. You will be required to upload a covering letter, CV and the details of two referees as part of your application.
| Education Backgrounds: |
Biomedical Science Chemical Engineering Physics |
| Specialties: |
(Bio) Chemistry CFD Experimental Physics Research (R&D) |
| Education Level: |
Doctorate (PH.D) |
| Experience: |
10 - 15 years 5 - 10 Years > 15 years |
| Languages spoken: |
English |
| Job Location: | Oxford, England |
Type: Job
Deadline: 24th May 2012
Job reference (ID): 4232
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