PhD candidate in co-tutelle - Novel Radiopharmaceuticals for Medical Applications| MAB NOMATEN

Competition opened on: 
23 Jan 2023 - 16:00
Application submission deadline: 
26 Feb 2023 - 23:45

NOMATEN Centre of Excellence (CoE) is formed through a scientific partnership between the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ, Poland), the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA, France) and the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT, Finland) with joint financial support from the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) and the European Commission. NOMATEN CoE focuses research on the development and assessment of innovative multifunctional materials for industrial and medical applications.

Currently, we are looking for a candidate on

a PhD student position

with a strong expertise in organic chemistry and already an excellent scientific background, highly motivated person who is passionate for organic chemistry and developing of novel diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. Topic of the doctorate thesis is related to the development of macrocyclic cage-molecules named bambusurils (BU[4,6]), a family of neutral cavitands with a jigger-like conformation that are prepared via a cheap and easy synthesis. BU[6] are 6-glycolurils membered rings able to strongly stabilize anions of various sizes (particularly iodides) in their cavity, that makes them the most efficient complexing agents currently known for iodides in organic solvent and in aqueous media. Such binding properties could be interesting for anion transport, diagnosis and treatment when using radioactive halides (125I, 124I, 131I, 211At).

PhD student will work on design, synthesis and characterization of new bambusurils to allow them to be selective and to form strong complex with halides, including mentioned above radioactive isotopes; these anionic complexes will be fully characterized and their stability will be studied particularly in biological media. Student will be in charge of the functionalization of bambusurils with various biomolecules (monoclonal antibodies and their fragments or peptides) to specifically interact with receptors on the cancerous cells and of initial preclinical evaluation of developed compounds at in vitro (assays on cancer cells) and in vivo (biodistribution in rodents) conditions in collaboration with biologists.

PhD thesis will be done in the frame of a dual-doctorate programme (ADI UPSaclay 2023, cotutelle programme): https://www.universite-paris-saclay.fr/en/universite-paris-saclay-international-joint-phd-program-cotutelle) between the two laboratories of the Frédéric Joliot Institute for Life Sciences (Medicines and healthcare technologies department, Molecular labeling and bio-organic chemistry unit CEA, Saclay, France) and the Radiopharmaceuticals Group at the NOMATEN CoE (NCBJ, Poland).

During their employment, PhD candidates are required to timely fulfil all the obligations connected with the process of obtaining the Doctoral degree in the chosen scientific discipline (such as evaluation, passing exams, participating in lectures and other activities).

Preferred background: chemistry, organic chemistry.

We offer: 

  • 3 years employment in the frame of dual-doctorate programme (ADI UPSaclay 2023, cotutelle programme): 24 months spend at the CEA (Saclay, France) and 12 months spend at the NOMATEN CoE (Otwock-Swierk, Poland) laboratories.
  • Work in the international network with research institutes and industrial companies.
  • Access to the research potential of NOMATEN’s three partners between NCBJ (Poland), CEA (France) and VTT (Finland).
  • Travel funds for participation in conferences and collaboration, attractive working conditions, atmosphere of teamwork, family-friendly environment with flexible working hours, support of an experienced local team in legal, financial and organisational issues as well as logistic support and advice related to working in France and Poland - enabling smooth relocation and equal opportunities.

Required documents:

  • cover letter that explains the motivating factors for considering the position (max. 1 pp),
  • CV with complete publication list,
  • brief description of important scientific achievements and scientific outlook,
  • a list of 2 reference persons including their positions and contact details (e-mail address),
  • MSc diploma copy/scan:

The recruitment is open to candidates who, at the time of submitting their applications, do not have a diploma confirming MSc, but who have a fixed date for obtaining this title before the planned date of employment. In this case, it is necessary to provide documents that prove that. Excellence of the candidate is expected within this competitive co-tutelle programme (ADI UPSaclay 2023).

Applications in electronic form should be submitted in English to: magdalena.jedrkiewicz@ncbj.gov.pl

As an attachment to your application please sign and enclose the following declarations:

I agree for my personal data included in the application documents to be processed by National Centre for Nuclear Research with its registered office in Otwock, 7 Andrzej Sołtan Street, 05-420 Otwock, for a period of 12 months from their submission, in order to carry out future recruitment processes.

Others information:
We reserve the right to contact only selected candidates and the right to inform about the decision to fill the post only to the selected candidate.

Information in accordance with Article 13 RODO on the processing of personal data:

  1. The Personal Data Controller of your personal data is the National Centre for Nuclear Research (hereinafter referred to as Controller or NCBJ) with its registered office in Otwock, 7 Andrzej Sołtan Street, 05-400 Otwock.
  2. Your personal data will be processed for recruitment purposes on the basis of applicable law, including the Labour Code. Data not required by law, provided by you in your documents, will be processed on the basis of your consent. Your consent is given by the transfer of this data.
  3. The full content of the information clause of Article 13 RODO is available at https://old.ncbj.gov.pl/en/information-clause-personal-data-processing

    The National Centre for Nuclear Research is awarded by “HR Excellence in Research”. Recruitment is based on OTM-R system (Open, Transparent and Merit-based recruitment practices in Research Performing Organisations).