Research Fellow

About the job:

To be an active member of the research team supporting the development, formulation and preclinical evaluation of a self-indicating dissolving microneedle (MN) platform for drug and vaccine delivery. Working across preclinical and clinical programme, the post holder will lead experimental activities spanning polymer formulation, molecule loading and evaluation, colourimetric characterisation, stability testing and digital data capture, with the aim of progressing the platform toward GMP manufacture and regulatory submission.

About the person

The successful candidate must have, and your application should clearly demonstrate that you meet the following essential criteria:

• A degree in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Materials Science, Biomedical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Have or be about to obtain* a PhD in drug delivery, polymer/materials chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences or a related field (*must be obtained within 3 months of commencement of employment)
• Demonstrable hands-on experience in the fabrication and characterisation of microneedles.
• Experience loading and evaluating small molecules and/or biologics (including peptides, proteins or vaccine antigens) in polymeric delivery platforms.
• Knowledge in relevant analytical techniques including HPLC/MS, UV-Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, colourimeter and FTIR.
• Experience with optical, spectroscopic or stimulus-responsive characterisation of polymer-based materials.
• Experience designing and executing stability studies (thermal, accelerated and/or ambient) for drug or biologic formulations.
• A record of peer-reviewed publications commensurate with career stage.

To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information.

Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.

What we offer:

Beyond a competitive salary, the University offers an attractive benefits package including a holiday entitlement of up to 8.4 weeks a year, pension schemes and development opportunities. We support staff wellbeing with flexible working options, work-life balance initiatives and support for physical and mental health. You can find more detail on all of this and more at https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/HumanResources/pay-reward-and-benefits/

Queen's University is committed to promoting equality of opportunity to all. We subscribe to Equality Charter Marks such as the Diversity Charter Mark NI and Athena Swan and have established staff networks such as iRise (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network) and PRISM (LGBTQ+) which help us progress equality. For further information on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visit www.qub.ac.uk/diversity.

If you are an international applicant and don't already hold a visa that permits you to take up the role you are applying for, please use the information provided on our website to self-assess whether the University is likely to be able to support a visa application - http://go.qub.ac.uk/internationalstaffsupport

Candidate Information