Projects offered within the Recruitment Call
The RTG 2723 M-M-M invites applications for 12 Doctoral Researcher (DR) Positions (m/f/d) to conduct research and training in the development of novel antimicrobial materials and the biological/medial compatibility and reactions.
We are recruiting engaging and motivated individuals to join our RTG. Important for all candidates will be the willingness to collaborate widely and to look beyond traditional disciplines to advance our mission.
Find the full announcement here.
Application deadline: 10 October 2022
Applications for these positions are accepted via the JSMC Online Application Portal: apply.jsmc.uni-jena.de
Doctoral Projects
Project A: Switchable antimicrobial materials
Participating researchers (PRs): K. D. Jandt (FSU), B. Löffler (UKJ)
Project description:
Biomaterial implants are frequently used for the treatment of bone injuries or diseases, which can be complicated by biomaterial associated infections (BAIs). These infections are a major clinical challenge, as they are difficult-to-treat and often require implant replacement.
A materials scientist and a life scientist (microbiology) will work as a tandem team with the PRs on this project.
Doctoral researcher candidates apply for:
A1: Switchable antimicrobial materials (Jandt), Materials Science or
A2: Switchable antimicrobial materials (Löffler), Microbiology respectively.
Project B: Antimicrobial and bioactive nanoparticle functionalized protein coatings
Participating researchers (PRs): K. D. Jandt (FSU), B. Wildemann (UKJ)
Project description:
The initial concept of the “race for the surface“ considered osteoblasts and microbes. However, this process is further affected by inflammation from tissue injury and material implantation. Important in this process is the microenvironment at the implant‐tissue interface, consisting of protein fibers of the extracellular matrix (ECM) that impact endogenous cell adhesion. Based on this knowledge, biomimetic ECM like implant coatings have been developed.
A biomaterials scientist and a life scientist (cell biology) will work as a tandem team with the PRs on this project.
Doctoral researcher candidates apply for:
B1: Antimicrobial and bioactive nanoparticle functionalized protein coatings (Jandt), Biomaterials Science or
B2: Antimicrobial and bioactive nanoparticle functionalized protein coatings (Wildemann), Cell Biology respectively.
Project C: Antimicrobial bioactive glass for treatment of traumatic or pathological bone defects
Participating researchers (PRs): D. S. Brauer (FSU), G. Matziolis (UKJ)
Project description:
Biomaterial‐associated infections (BAI) may occur when biomaterial implants are used to treat injured and/or diseased bone. The treatment of these infections is a major clinical challenge.
A materials scientist (glass) and a life scientist (cell biologist) will work as a tandem team with the PRs on this project.
Doctoral researcher candidates apply for:
C1: Antimicrobial bioactive glass for treatment of traumatic or pathological bone (Brauer), Materials Science or
C2: Antimicrobial bioactive glass for treatment of traumatic or pathological bone Life Science (Matziolis), Cell Biology respectively.
Project D: Graphene based antimicrobial biomaterials
Participating researchers (PRs): A. Turchanin (FSU), L. Tuchscherr (UKJ)
Project description:
Graphene‐based biomaterials offer an innovative alternative for orthopedic implants. These materials have antimicrobial properties and, at the same time, promote bone cell growth. These implants are important to prevent the development of difficult‐to‐treat bacterial infections.
A materials scientist (chemistry of materials) and a life scientist (microbiology) will work as a tandem team with the PRs on this project.
Doctoral researcher candidates apply for:
D1: Graphene based antimicrobial biomaterials (Turchanin), Materials Science or
D2: Graphene based antimicrobial biomaterials (Tuchscherr), Microbiology respectively.
Project E: Microbiological tests of materials platform
Participating researchers (PRs): M. Pletz (UKJ), C. Eggeling (FSU)
Project description:
Project E aims to establish sensitive observation and quantification approaches to evaluate microbial adhesion properties in a standardized way, and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of adaptation to novel antimicrobial materials.
A life scientist (microbiology) and a physicist (microscopy) will work as a tandem team with the PRs on this project.
Doctoral researcher candidates apply for:
E1: Microbiological tests of materials platform (Pletz), Microbiology or
E2: Microbiological tests of materials platform (Eggeling), Microscopy respectively.
Project F: Digitized antimicrobial biomaterials semantic knowledge base
Participating researchers (PRs): M. Sierka (FSU), M. T. Figge (FSU)
Project description:
Computer‐aided data processing in the field of biomaterial‐associated infections (BAI) is still in its infancy. The lack of standardization as well as the lack of workflows for image data analysis have proven to be major obstacles to progress in this multidisciplinary research area.
One computer scientist for developing the minimal information standard and semantic knowledge base, and one computer scientist for developing workflows of automated image analysis will work as a tandem team with the PRs on this project.
Doctoral researcher candidates apply for:
F1: Digitized antimicrobial biomaterials semantic knowledge base (Sierka), Knowledge Base or
F2: Digitized antimicrobial biomaterials semantic knowledge base (Figge), Image Analysis respectively.