PhD scholarship in Development and Realization of Cellulose Particles for Oral Drug Delivery

The aim of the PhD project is to develop, optimize and explore cellulose microparticles intended for oral drug delivery. Our focus will be on i) develop particles with high specificity to selected areas in the gastro-intestinal tract and ii) to optimize the drug delivery system to be able to deliver high amounts of drugs at a specific location.



In the group, we are exploring and developing targeted and advanced drug delivery systems to be able to e.g. deliver vaccines and peptides and proteins by the oral route. With the ultimate goal of enhancing the systemic uptake to prevent and/or cure diseases.



The PhD candidate will be a part of the Drug Delivery and Sensing (IDUN) section at DTU Department of Health Technology. The IDUN section is highly cross-disciplinary with more than 40 members focusing on development of micro and nanotechnology based sensors, detection systems and drug delivery systems.



Research field

The PhD student will primarily be working on development of the cellulose particles for oral drug delivery. After development of various types of the particles encapsulating relevant drugs, they will be in vitro tested in terms of stability, drug release and interactions with intestinal cell lines. Moreover, the particles can be chemical modified to possibly obtain specificity to certain areas of the gastro-intestinal tract. In vivo work and bioimaging will also be an integrated part of the project.



The work will be carried out in close collaboration with colleagues in the IDUN section and project partners at KTH (Royal Institute of Technology) in Stockholm. In addition, during the 3 year project period, there will be several external research stays in Stockholm.



Responsibilities and qualifications

You will be responsible for development, characterization and optimization of the cellulose particles. In addition, we will select relevant drugs to be encapsulated into the particles together with choosing relevant diseases to target with the developed particles.



You are expected to have a background in pharmaceutical sciences/technology, chemistry or material sciences. You are highly independent, self-motivated and enjoy collaboration in a multidisciplinary academic environment. You have the ability to drive the project forward and to set and achieve ambitious goals. You enjoy supervising and teaching BSc and MSc students. 



The project is highly interdisciplinary and we expect that you enjoy teamwork and are good at coordinating your work with your colleagues.  



Qualifications

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.



You are expected to have a main interest in drug formulation development, material optimization and oral drug delivery. Experience with oral drug delivery and in vitro and in vivo studies will be considered a major plus. If you have another background that fits the overall scope of the project you are of course also welcome to apply.  



Approval and Enrolment

The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education.   



We offer

DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.



Salary and appointment terms

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.



You can read more about career paths at DTU here. 



Further information

Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Line Hagner Nielsen (lihan@dtu.dk).



You can read more about DTU Health Tech at www.healthtech.dtu.dk/english.  



If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark.  



Application procedure

Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 23 May 2022 (Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply online", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.



Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.



All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.



DTU Health Tech

DTU Health Tech engages in research, education, and innovation base on technical and natural science for the healthcare sector. The Healthcare sector is a globally expanding market with demands for the most advanced technological solutions. DTU Health Tech creates the foundation for companies to develop new and innovative services and products which benefit people and create value for society. DTU Health Techs expertise spans from imaging and biosensor techniques, across digital health and biological modelling, to biopharma technologies. The department has a scientific staff of about 210 persons, 140 PhD students and a technical/administrative support staff of about 160 persons, of which a large majority contributes to our research infrastructure and related commercial activities.



Technology for people

DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear vision to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That vision lives on today. DTU has 13,400 students and 5,800 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

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