PhD and Postdoctoral Research Positions in Biomedical Engineering / Immunology at Trinity College Dublin
The Hoey Lab at Trinity College Dublin has 1x PhD position (incl. stipend and fees). and 1x Postdoctoral position available in the field of Biomedical Engineering.Application deadline is 24th January 2025
Project title: Mechano-immunomodulatory strategies for bone fracture repair
Project description: Every 3 seconds a person suffers an osteoporosis (OP) related bone fracture, resulting in significant morbidity, mortality and costs of €36 billion p.a. in the EU. Fracture healing is a complex, highly regulated process involving consecutive phases of inflammation, repair and remodelling. Current therapies are ineffective, targeting the repair phase, but non-healing is associated with altered macrophage (Mφ) phenotype and inflammation. A potent regulator of repair is mechanical loading, yet whether mechanics modulate Mφ phenotype, contributing to bone regeneration, is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this project is to decipher the contribution of local mechanics on Mφ phenotype/function during bone repair and harness this information to develop novel strategies to modulate inflammation and promote repair. This will be achieved by determining the impact of loading within the haematoma on Mφ phenotype/secretome and by deciphering the mechanisms of Mφ mechanotransduction and mechanosignalling. The knowledge generated will represent a profound advance in our understanding of mechano-immunology, which will facilitate the direct manipulation of Mφ via novel mechano-biologics. Importantly, by combining these biologics with innovative materials, this project will develop mechano-immunomodulatory materials that would target the early immune environment, providing an innovative alternative path to treatment.
Applicant Criteria:
PhD Researcher: The ideal applicant will have a degree in biomedical/mechanical engineering, biomedical sciences, immunology, or a related discipline. Previous experience in bioreactors, biomaterials, and flow cytometry would be highly advantageous but not required. Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential.
Postdoctoral student: The ideal applicant will have a PhD in biomedical engineering, immunology, or a related discipline. Previous experience in small animal preclinical models of bone repair, histology, or flow cytometry and bioinformatics would be highly advantageous. Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential. An excellent publication record and/or development of intellectual property would also be advantageous.
How to apply: CVs with the names and addresses of three referees should be submitted via email to Prof. David Hoey dahoey@tcd.ie. Application deadline is 24th January 2025, with a preferred start date of March 2025. Only short-listed applications will be acknowledged.
The Hoey lab: This position will be based with the Hoey Lab (www.hoeylab.com) within the Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering (TCBE, https://www.tcd.ie/biomedicalengineering/) and the Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre (AMBER, http://ambercentre.ie/). Prof. Hoey leads a multidisciplinary research group focusing on musculoskeletal mechanobiology, mechanotransduction, and materials for regeneration in which he has pioneered research on the mechanisms of mechanotransduction involved in bone mechanoadaptation. This fundamental research has inspired novel mechanotherapeutics, extracellular vesicle-based therapies, and biomaterials fabricated via Melt Electrowriting that mimic the beneficial effect of biophysical stimuli to treat bone defects and orthopaedic diseases such as osteoporosis. He is also PI on several commercial projects developing novel biomaterials for musculoskeletal and vascular repair. More details can be found at http://www.hoeylab.com
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