We are recruiting 12 highly motivated and excellent early stage researchers (ESRs) for the Innovative Training Network “SkinTERM”, an EU Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions funded project.
SkinTERM stands for Skin Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine and aims to convert the normal mode of skin repair into skin regeneration by delivering excellently and multidisciplinary trained scientists able to take this research area to the next level. Today’s standard treatment of skin burns and large trauma is transplantation of autologous split-thickness skin. This carries a number of serious drawbacks, including pain, mobility-limiting contractures and disfiguring scars. SkinTERM aims to address wound healing in a completely different way, recapitulating regeneration rather than repair. Skin organogenesis will be induced by key elements taken from the extracellular matrix of foetal skin and the skin of species that exhibit no scarring in the regeneration process, and by employing (stem) cells from relevant cellular origins.
The project aims to create a new generation of entrepreneurial, multidisciplinary and intersectorially trained scientists with excellent career prospects in either academia, industry or government. Early stage researchers trained in this programme will be able to drive this research area further towards clinical translation in Europe.
More information on SkinTERM partners, individual ESR projects and application procedure can be found at www.SkinTERM.eu.
Criteria
Please ensure that you fulfil the following eligibility criteria for ESR positions in H2020 MSCA-ITNs, as ineligible candidates cannot be considered:
- The candidate must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (e.g. work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host institution of interest (see individual project descriptions) for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date.
- The candidate must hold a Master’s degree, be in the first four years of his/her research career and not have a doctoral degree.
Furthermore, the candidate is expected to develop into an independent researcher and is:
- A team player able to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary consortium.
- Able to work independently and well-structured.
- Proficient in written and spoken English.
- Willing to move to the country of the host institution of interest and work for a prolonged. period abroad as part of the planned secondments (see individual project descriptions).
Benefits
- Enrolment in local PhD training programme
- Extensive SkinTERM cross-sectorial training programme including soft skill development and specialist techniques
- Contract of 36 months at one of the host institutions
- Attractive salary including a living allowance, a mobility allowance and, if applicable, a family allowance as specified in the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions Work Programme 2018-2020.
How to apply
Application deadline: Please send your application before December 21, 2020.
Application: Applications should be submitted via the APPLY link at the individual ESR position descriptions on www.SkinTERM.eu. You may apply for multiple ESR positions, but need to motivate for each position why you are interested in the particular position and what you can offer the project. Your application must include the following documents:
- Motivation letter for the PhD position of interest
- CV
- Letters of recommendation (at least two)
- Copies of diplomas, including grades
Note that ESR project 9 requires additional application for a Postgraduate Course at Durham University: https://www.dur.ac.uk/study/pg/apply/
Note that ESR projects 10, 11 and 12 require additional application for the Life Science Zurich Graduate School of UZH: https://www.lifescience-graduateschool.uzh.ch/en.html
Selection procedure: The first selection round will be an online interview with the representatives of the host institutions and of the secondments. The two best candidates will give a scientific presentation on a subject relevant for the ESR project. Candidates will be selected based on:
- Outstanding academic ability
- Requested skills and experience for the ESR project of interest
- Motivation of the application for the ESR position of interest
Starting date: Successful applicants are expected to start on March 1, 2021.
Contact: For more information on the SkinTERM project and application procedure please contact Danique Hof MSc, project manager SkinTERM at danique.hof@radboudumc.nl.
