Doctoral Candidate Position (m/f/d) in Überherrn

CDMO Experts in Nanomedicine

Doctoral Candidate Position (m/w/d)

Location: 66802 Überherrn, Germany | Employment type: Full-time | Start date: 01.04.2027

About the project

IDEAS - Improving drug efficacy with next-generation amorphous materials and trained experts.

The Marie‑Skłodowska Curie Doctoral Network (MSCA DN): “Improving drug efficacy with nextgeneration amorphous materials and trained experts”, (IDEAS) funded by the European Community is recruiting 15 young researchers.

The doctoral candidates (DCs) will be trained not only to perform original and independent research on an internationally competitive level, but also in developing creative, critical and entrepreneurial mindsets, to be prepared for a wide spectrum of career opportunities.

The IDEAS Doctoral Network is designed to empower a new generation of young scientists in the field of amorphous pharmaceutical systems, strengthening Europe’s biotech/pharma industry and academic innovation capacity. This effort demands a unified project bringing together the cross-disciplinary expertise of academic research groups in materials science, physics, chemistry, and pharmacy, alongside industry partners. The network comprises a consortium of 7 universities (University of Lille, University of Pisa, University of Silesia in Katowice, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Université Catholique de Louvain, Trinity College Dublin, NOVA University of Lisbon), 2 large companies (Janssen Pharmaceutica, Zentiva) and 1 SME (MyBiotech). Through this programme, the fellows will collaborate to develop eco-friendly manufacturing technologies for amorphous materials, establish science-based control over material properties, and explore a wide range of materials to achieve efficient production of high-quality amorphous formulations. This advanced research-driven training will be further enriched with dedicated training events (e.g., online and in-person workshops, summer schools) and intersectoral and interdisciplinary mobility through secondments. After having completed their studies and the IDEAS programme, this innovative and multidisciplinary training will qualify this new generation of scientists not only for an academic career, but also for working in industry and beyond.

See also https://ideas-msca.eu/ for more details.

Note that all of projects have their individual job advertisement. Candidates can apply for a maximum of THREE projects. The DCs will be employed by the host institution of the selected project and enrolled in the host organisation’s or affiliated university’s PhD programme.

General job description

• manage and carry out the individual research project;
• participate in the IDEAS training and network activities;
• take PhD courses;
• write scientific articles and the PhD thesis;
• participate in national and international congresses and scientific meetings;
• research stay at external research laboratories or company sites;
• disseminate the research outcomes;
• participate in the undergraduate teaching of students.

DC 15 at MyB (Germany) – Design of polymeric drug delivery systems for biopharmaceuticals using green microfluidic manufacturing technologies.

Context

Biopharmaceuticals—such as proteins, peptides, and biologics—are revolutionizing modern medicine but remain challenging to formulate and deliver due to their structural fragility, instability, and susceptibility to degradation. Polymeric nanoparticle-based delivery systems offer a promising strategy to enhance stability, control release kinetics, and improve bioavailability. However, their production through conventional batch methods often suffers from poor reproducibility, limited scalability, and significant solvent and energy consumption.

Objectives

This project aims to develop protein-loaded polymeric nanoparticles using green and continuous microfluidic reactor technologies. These systems will enable precise control over particle size, morphology, and release behaviour while minimizing solvent waste and energy usage. The resulting delivery platforms will provide tuneable, stable, and sustainable carriers for a wide range of therapeutic biomolecules.

Expected results

Protein-loaded polymeric nanoparticles with tuneable size, morphology, and release kinetics, produced by green continuous microfluidic technology; Establishment of process–structure–property relationships for predictive design of nanoparticle-based biopharmaceutical formulations; Environmentally sustainable and scalable manufacturing protocols, reducing solvent use, waste generation, and energy consumption; Improved encapsulation efficiency and stability of therapeutic proteins and peptides, enhancing bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. Industrial translation of the developments obtained.

Research Methodology

The doctoral candidate will employ microfluidic reactor systems as a‑efficient, continuous manufacturing tools for the production of protein-loaded polymeric nanoparticles. Microreactor platforms provide precise control over mixing, residence time, and solvent exchange, leading to nanoparticles with narrow size distribution and high reproducibility. Key materials will include biocompatible and biodegradable polymers such as PLGA, PEG, and chitosan derivatives. Process conditions will be optimized for high encapsulation efficiency and protein stability. The influence of microreactor design and operational parameters (channel geometry, flow ratio, solvent polarity) on particle size and drug release will be systematically studied. Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF) may be integrated as a downstream purification step to remove non-incorporated materials and concentrate the formulation. Comprehensive characterisation will be performed using DLS, TEM, DSC, FTIR, and UV–Vis spectroscopy, along with in vitro release and stability assays under physiologically relevant conditions.

Planned secondments

• University of Pisa (Italy): Advanced physicochemical characterisation.

Conditions and Remuneration

Extent of employment: Full time

Duration of employment: Limited to 36 months

IDEAS will cover three years of full-time research.

This doctoral position DC15 is fully funded by the Marie Skłodowska Curie Action Industrial Doctorate IDEAS (HORIZON – MSCA – 2025 – DN-01-01). The monthly gross salary will comprise a living allowance (€4010/month corrected with the country factor of the recruiting institution (before taxes and including employer contribution), mobility allowance (€710/month) and if applicable a family allowance (€660/month). The family allowance will be implemented if the doctoral candidate has or acquires family obligations (i.e. marriage or relationship with equivalent status to a marriage recognised by the legislation of the country or region where this relationship was formalised or dependent children who are actually being maintained by the researcher) during the action duration.

Please note: National and institutional taxes, and social contributions apply to all DC fellowships and will be deducted from the allowances. The provided amount is not conclusive, and a country correction coefficient applies to the living allowance in order to ensure equal treatment and purchasing power parity for all researchers and will be defined prior the recruitment starting. For further details see the specific positions following the link provided in the section above.

For more info on MSCA-DN visit the website https://marie-sklodowska-curieactions.ec.europa.eu/actions/doctoral-networks

Requirements

Research Field

• Chemistry (Applied chemistry, Biochemistry, Inorganic chemistry)
• Technology (Biotechnology, Chemical technology, Industrial technology, Materials technology,Nanotechnology, Pharmaceutical technology)
• Environmental science (Natural resources management)
• Pharmacological sciences (Pharmacy)

Skills/Qualifications

General requirements for admission into IDEAS

• Applicants must be eligible (see eligibility criteria below)
• Applicants must hold a BSc, MSc or equivalent degree in a related subject area, as required by the specific research project (see below).
• Applicants must have the necessary academic skills and background to make the success of a doctoral degree. The skills needed will depend on the project chosen.
• Applicants must be sufficiently proficient in written and spoken English (English CEFR at least B2, preferable C1 or higher. IELTS 6, preferably higher. Project-specific requirements apply).
• DC applicants must fulfil the local requirements of the recruiting institutions.
• Applicants must be eligible to enrol on a PhD programme at the host institution.
• A high willingness to travel.
• Independent problem-solving skills.
• High resilience and flexibility.
• Integrity, team spirit, dedication to science and learning, dependability, punctuality, proactivity.
• Interest to work in an intersectoral, interdisciplinary team and to learn new techniques, methods etc. also outside their comfort zone.
• A high competence level in scientific writing and public speaking as required by the discipline of the project.
• Proficiency with computers, office, web-based learning.
• Willingness to participate in outreach activities, conferences, extracurricular events etc.
• Good organisation and communication skills, willing to travel for short or longer periods.
• Flexible and co-operative with a well-structured and autonomous working style.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is a must. German knowledge is a plus.

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria

• Applicants must fulfil the mobility rule: Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date. (Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status are not taken into account.).
• Applicants must not hold a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree.
• Applicants must not have a conflict‑of‑interest with their future supervisors (family, relationship, economic interest…).

Selection process

The IDEAS selection procedure for DCs will be open, transparent, merit-based and in line with the European Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.

The recruitment process consists of an initial written application (see above). Eligible applications will be ranked by a selection committee based on:

• the quality of the applicant’s CV and academic record,
• the quality of the written exposé,
• the motivation of the applicant to join IDEAS and the selected project(s),

Those not selected will be informed. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interviews at the selected host institution(s), preferably online, or where possible, in person.

Interviewed candidates will be ranked and invited to join IDEAS in order of their ranking. This process may take a few weeks. We will keep a small number of candidates on a reserve list just in case candidates pull out before the final recruitment stage. Successful candidates will be informed as soon as possible after the interview.

Successful candidates will be subsequently enrolled into the PhD programmes of appropriate universities. This is a separate process that may require additional documentation and qualifications such as language tests. These will be made known to candidates.

MSCA will cover three years of full-time research.

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