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Applications are invited for a temporary post of a UCD Post-doctoral Research Fellow Level 1 within UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the position of a full-time fixed-term position as a Postdoctoral Researcher with Dr Fiona Freeman’s team in Biomedical Engineering at UCD (https://www.ucd.ie/freemanlab/)
Osteosarcoma is an aggressive bone cancer that affects children and adolescents, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 20% for resistant forms. The interaction between cancer and the immune system has long been recognized as a critical aspect of chemoresistance. The successful candidate will carry out research on developing and in vitro testing of a conjugated STING-agonist nanoparticle as a potential add-on to chemotherapy for the treatment of chemoresistance. The project requires in-depth knowledge related to immunology and nanoparticle design, as well as in vitro assessments of nanoparticle-mediated therapies. This project is funded by the Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future project, and the position is available from June 2026 with flexibility on the start date.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to join a dynamic and motivated team investigating the use of innovative engineering techniques to better understand and develop novel therapeutics for treating osteosarcoma, a paediatric bone cancer. The lab's research interests include biomaterial design, 3D printing, developing in vitro and in vivo disease models, nanoparticle design, organ-on-a-chip, and immunoengineering. This project will address a significant knowledge gap by providing critical information on whether the STING pathway plays a role in how the innate immune system recognizes osteosarcoma, and whether targeting this pathway could enhance the therapeutic potential of chemotherapy and prevent chemoresistance. By exploring the synergistic therapeutic potential of our unique STING nanoparticles as an adjunct to conventional chemotherapy, this project may lead to better clinical outcomes for these patients. The candidate will be responsible for immune profiling of the STING pathway using standard 2D co-culture methods and novel 3D organoid culture techniques to simulate real-time cellular interactions and assess therapeutic efficacy.
Salary Range: €46,805 - €47,405 Per Annum
Appointment on the above range will be dependent upon qualifications and experience.
Closing date: 12:00 noon (local Irish time) on 29 May 2026.
Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time of 12:00 noon (Local Irish Time) on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system. UCD are unable to accept late applications.
UCD do not require assistance from Recruitment Agencies. Any CVs submitted by Recruitment Agencies will be returned.
The PD1 position is intended for early-stage researchers, either just after completion of a PhD or for someone entering a new area for the first time. If you have already completed your PD1 stage in UCD or will soon complete a PD1, or you are an external applicant whose total Postdoctoral experience, inclusive of the duration of the advertised post, would exceed 4 years, you should not apply and should refer to PD2 posts instead.
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