Ireland Job Openings

National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT)

Postdoctoral Researcher (January 2025 start)

Dublin

CONTRACT

September 9, 2024

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. There is a growing portfolio of advanced biotherapies, including modalities such as gene therapies, cell therapies and RNA therapeutics as vaccines and therapeutics, for which the manufacturing processes are often low yielding and inefficient. 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, IVTm RNA 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

NIBRT have access to a special work permit through Euraxess, where Non -EEA researchers who have obtained a research position in NIBRT ( which is an accredited research organisation) can use a fast-track work permit (Hosting Agreement) scheme to reside and work in Ireland. The scheme allows NIBRT to employ eligible personnel from outside EU without any additional Work Permit. This scheme allows the researcher’s immediate family to also reside in Ireland for the duration of the agreement and work.

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 IVTm RNAs as vaccines and therapeutics we currently lack the understanding to fully optimise these with respect to (i) how exogenous and modified IVTm RNAs 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. It is known that key elements of m RNAs determine their half-life, localisation, how efficiently they associate with the translational machinery and the efficiency by which they are translated into protein products. In particular the role will focus on the chemical modification of nucleotides for incorporation into IVTm RNAs and support the start of incorporating these modified nucleotides into the synthesis of IVTm RNAs.

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 “Enhancing Advanced Biotherapeutic Design, Manufacturing and Activity: Defining and Leveraging the Biological Rules that Underpin AAV Gene Therapy, IVTm RNA and Protein Biotherapeutic Modality Design and Production”, specifically those associated to the PDR3 position in WP2 around IVTm RNA design and manufacture.

To undertake the mandatory training, reporting, public engagement/outreach activities and any other requirements outlined under the funding agreement for the project. This includes drafting of reports required by the funder in a timely manner and attending scientific review meetings.

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, both within Ireland and internationally, coordinating activity across the consortium including the exchange of reagents and planning of joint experiments.

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, including at national/international conferences relevant to the research.

Provide training support and advice to graduate, postdoctoral scientists, technicians and other staff at NIBRT as out-lined by, and agreed with, the PI.

Write up research findings for publication in leading peer-reviewed international journals.

Be committed to your own personal career development, including continually updating knowledge and understanding in fields related to the research area.

Other duties, commensurate with the grading of the job, as assigned from time to time.

Essential Criteria

A Ph D 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 IVTm RNAs.

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 IVTm RNAs 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, including modalities such as gene therapies, cell therapies and RNA therapeutics as vaccines and therapeutics.

Knowledge and experience of working on m RNA 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. Please note that the successful candidate may be required to supply parchments of degrees/qualifications/work permits.
Informal enquiries can be made in confidence by contacting careers@nibrt.ie
NIBRT is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

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