Vacancies

AMBER has a central role in improving the scientific and technical skills of the current and future workforce. We recruit the best and the brightest from across the globe to deliver on our mission of research excellence that brings solutions to societal and industrial challenges. Researchers trained in AMBER develop a broad skill base that reflects the needs of industry, as well as supporting those researchers who wish to follow an academic career path. AMBER provides our researchers with opportunities to work with companies, gaining valuable appreciation of the culture of product development, as well as exposure to business and management processes that are industry-relevant, creating a broad skills base that matches the needs of industry. For our postdoctoral and early career researcher (ESR) cohort interested in remaining in academia, our funding team collaborates with other SFI Centres in TCD to deliver a Pathways to Funding training programme annually to prepare individuals to apply for independent research funding.

OPEN POSITIONS

Two postdoctoral researcher positions for the following project:

Title: BENCH-TOP TESTING AND MODELLING OF IMPLANTABLE UROLOGICAL DEVICES

These postdoctoral research positions will be based in the Lally Lab (http://www.lallylab.eu) within the Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering (TCBE) and the Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre (AMBER) in Trinity College Dublin.

Summary of Project #1: Development of a bench-top test for implantable urological device

The aim of this two-year project is to test human urological tissues and based on this data to develop a bench-top system for testing urological devices which can aid in the optimisation of these devices. The work will involve materials testing, biomaterials synthesis and characterisation, 3D printing, test rig design and medical device testing.

The researcher will work closely with other members of a multidisciplinary team including PIs, clinicians, engineers, postdoctoral research fellows and postgraduate researchers in the Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering and an Industry Partner.

 

Applicant criteria & eligibility: The ideal candidate will have a PhD in biomedical engineering and extensive experience and expertise in soft tissue testing (including cadaveric tissue), in-vitro test rig design and development, biomaterials characterisation, polymer chemistry, medical device design, data analysis and computer programming (e.g. Matlab, Labview, python). Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential.

 

Summary of Project #2: Development of a 3D finite element model for in silico testing of implantable urological devices

The aim of this two-year project is to develop an in-silico model which enables testing and optimisation of implantable urological devices. The model will simulate the bench-top device and testing conducted in Project 1.

The researcher will work closely with other members of a multidisciplinary team including PIs, clinicians, engineers, postdoctoral research fellows and postgraduate researchers in the Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering and an Industry Partner.

 

Applicant criteria & eligibility: The ideal candidate will have a PhD in biomedical engineering and specifically expertise in finite element modelling of soft tissues using Abaqus with proficiency in writing UMATs and subroutines, medical device design and data analysis. Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential.

For more information please contact Prof. Tríona Lally at lallyca@tcd.ie.

How to apply:

Submit a CV and cover letter with two references to lallyca@tcd.ie with the subject heading “Urological Device – PD Project #1 or #2”. Positions will remain opened until filled but preferred start date is January 2025. Only short-listed applications will be acknowledged.

This position is funded by the SFI-research centre AMBER. Salary will be commensurate with experience and based on the IUA salary scales (https://www.iua.ie/for-researchers/researcher-salary-scales-career-framework/).

The AMBER research centre, as a community of researchers, welcomes its responsibility to provide equal opportunities for all. We are actively seeking diversity in our research teams and particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups.

 

Postdoctoral Researcher and PhD Positions in 3D Bioprinting and Tissue Engineering at Trinity College Dublin

Positions: 1 postdoctoral researcher. 2 PhD Studentships (including stipend and fees)

Project Description:

A fundamental limitation with current approaches aiming to bioprint tissues and organs is an inability to generate constructs with truly biomimetic composition and structure, resulting in the development of engineered tissues that cannot execute their specific function in vivo. This is perhaps unsurprising, as many tissues and organs continue to mature postnatally, often taking many years to attain the compositional and structural complexity that is integral to their function. A potential solution to this challenge is to engineer tissues that are more representative of an earlier stage of development, using bioprinting to not only generate such constructs, but to also provide them with guiding structures and biochemical cues that supports their maturation into fully functional tissues or organs within damaged or diseased in vivo environments. It has recently been demonstrated that such developmental processes are better recapitulated in ‘microtissues’ or ‘organoids’ formed from self-organizing (multi)cellular aggregates, motivating their use as biological building blocks for the engineering of larger scale tissues and organs. The main goal of this project is to develop a new bioprinting platform capable of spatially patterning numerous cellular aggregates or microtissues into scaled-up, personalised durable load-bearing grafts and guiding their (re)modelling into fully functional tissues in vivo within damaged or diseased environments. This will be achieved using a converged bioprinting approach capable of rapidly depositing cells and microtissues into guiding scaffold structures with high spatial resolution in a rapid, reliable, reproducible and quantifiable manner. These guiding structures will then function to direction the fusion and remodelling of cellular aggregates and microtissues into structurally organised tissues in vitro and in vivo, as well as providing medium-term (3-5 years) mechanical support to the regenerating tissue. The successful applicants will join a large consortium, working with academic and industrial partners from across Europe and New Zealand to address the goals of the project.

For more information about the individual PhD and postdoctoral positions, please contact Prof. Daniel Kelly (kellyd9@tcd.ie).

Applicant criteria: 

Postdoctoral researcher: The ideal applicant will have a PhD in biomedical engineering, biomaterials, tissue engineering or a related discipline.  Previous experience in 3D (bio)printing, hydrogels, tissue engineering, cell culture, gene expression, biochemical analysis, mechanical testing, histology techniques, immunomodulatory behaviour would be highly advantageous. Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential.

PhD studentships: Degree in Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Sciences or a related discipline. Previous experience in biomaterials, tissue engineering, 3D (bio)printing, cell culture and/or biomechanical testing would be desirable.

Start Date: From December 2024 onwards; positions will remain open until they are filled.

How to apply: CVs with the names and contact details of three referees should be submitted  via email to Prof. Daniel Kelly (kellyd9@tcd.ie).

 

The Kelly Lab: Dr Daniel Kelly is the Professor of Tissue Engineering at Trinity College Dublin. He is also the co-lead of the ‘Materials for Health’ platform in AMBER, the Science Foundation Ireland funded materials science centre based in Trinity College Dublin. He is a past recipient of a Science Foundation Ireland President of Ireland Young Researcher Award, a Fulbright Visiting Scholar grant (at the Department of Biomedical Engineering in Columbia University, New York) and five European Research Council awards (Starter grant 2010; Consolidator grant 2015; Proof of Concept 2017, 2023; Advanced grant 2021). His lab focuses on developing novel tissue engineering and 3D bioprinting strategies to regenerate damaged and diseased musculoskeletal tissues. The successful applicant will join a dynamic, multidisciplinary lab consisting of 15 postdoctoral researchers and PhD students based in the Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering. More information can be found here: https://www.kelly-lab.com/

 

About the Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre (AMBER): AMBER is a Science Foundation Ireland funded centre that provides a partnership between leading researchers in materials science and industry. More information can be found at http://ambercentre.ie/

The AMBER research centre, as a community of researchers, welcomes its responsibility to provide equal opportunities for all. We are actively seeking diversity in our research teams and particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups.

About the Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering (TCBE): TCBE is a key research centre in Trinity College combining fundamental research with translation to clinical practice. TCBE provides a structure to bring bioengineers, basic scientists and clinicians together to focus on important clinical needs and has four key research themes: Medical Devices & Advanced Drug Delivery, Neural Engineering, Biomechanics & Mechanobiology, Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine. The project work will be carried out in our state-of-the-art facilities located in the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute.