PhD Candidates for European Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN) in FLIM

These TWELVE doctoral positions have a flexible start from 1st July – 1st September 2023.

FLIMagin3D’s goal is to train a new generation of young researchers, based on an internationally competitive consortium of developers, users and industrial collaborators (see: https://flimagin3d.com/).
The scientific objective of FLIMagin3D is to synergistically evolve key aspects of Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) across disciplines by i) advancing the acquisition of FLIM data and the analysis pipeline, ii) developing improved platforms that facilitate imaging for a wide range of (bio)medical, chemical and biophysical applications, and iii) advancing the state-of-the-art in FLIM biosensors. The project is a collaboration between 8 academic and 4 industrial partners from 7 European countries and brings together highly synergistic expertise on advanced bioimaging and image analysis.

Who are we looking for? 

We are looking broadly across disciplines for a candidate with technical expertise and experience in live cell microscopy, bioimaging and image analysis. The MSCA Doctoral Network offer a unique opportunity to get cutting-edge training in advanced microscopy and image analysis in a multidisciplinary environment with a focus on academic and personal development of the PhD fellows. The supervisors in the network each provide specific competences and as part of the network you develop your skills and carry out research both independently and as part of a network of 12 PhD fellows. The consortium ensures exchange of ideas through network-wide training events, summer schools and secondments at academic and industrial partners in the network. As a PhD fellow in the FLIMagin3D network, you need to have good social skills, be innovative and goal-oriented and be willing to conduct the planned secondments and other network activities.

Formal requirements  

Applicants should hold, or be very close to completing, a masters degree in physics, chemistry, biology, biomedicine or (bio)engineering. In particular, we require that candidates have prior experience with advanced microscopy and image analysis. Knowledge of optical sensors, microfluidics, 3D (bio)printing, or cell culture and sample preparation are considered great advantages.  Excellent command of spoken and written English is required. As criteria for the assessment of your qualifications, emphasis will also be laid on previous publications (if any) and relevant work experience.

The scientific objective of FLIMagin3D is to synergistically evolve key aspects in FLIM imaging across disciplines by advancing the acquisition of FLIM data and the analysis pipeline, by developing improved platforms that facilitate imaging for a wide range of (bio)medical, chemical and biophysical applications, and by advancing the state-of-the-art in FLIM biosensors. Through real-world biological and biomedical research lines across the partners we can showcase the validity and power of our developments and unify in streamlining FLIM as an accessible and robust tool.

This aim will be achieved by the following Research Objectives (RO):

RO.1 : To create, characterise, standardise and test cost-effective platforms adaptability to all of the various user communities, and to enhance existing imaging capabilities [Doctoral Candidates (DC)2, 6, 9]]

RO.2: Optimise the data acquisition and user-data interface whereby large amounts of data are quickly and correctly acquired, processed and interpreted under control of intelligent software [DCs 1, 7, 8, 10]

RO.3: Establish a library of tools to act as biosensors, perturbers (‘actuators’) and microenvironments to assess biological activities and processes, and interrogate such activity non-invasively and reproducibly. [DCs  3, 4,5, 10]

Details of the 12 individual projects are available on the consortium website: www.flimagin3D.com

These positions start from 1st July- 1st September (starting date is negotiable)

Eligibility criteria: We welcome applications until 15/04/2023 from candidates of any
nationality completing the following criteria:

• Candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the first recruiting organization for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. The date of recruitment means the first day of the employment of the researcher for the purposes of the action (i.e. the starting date indicated in the employment contract/equivalent direct contract).
• Candidates shall, at the date of recruitment by the host organization, be in the first four years of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree.
• Candidates must have a master’s degree or equivalent diploma in biomedical engineering, computer engineering, biomedical sciences, biochemistry,   Materials or related disciplines.
• Candidates may be required to provide documentation proving their eligibility for recruitment, i.e. to provide supporting documentation proving their place(s) of residence or work during the previous 3 years.

Candidates must have a high level of proficiency in written and spoken English, which will be
assessed with the application and the interview, respectively.
Candidates must submit their applications through the project website www.flIMAGIN3D.com until April 15th, 2023.
(Each candidate can apply to a maximum of three individual PhD projects.)