Research Assistant – Biomedical Engineer Specialised In 3D Bioprinting Of Multicellular Microphysiological Systems

Research Assistant – Biomedical Engineer Specializing in 3D Bioprinting of Multicellular Microphysiological Systems

The Domingues Research Group is a newly established group at INL, dedicated to advancing nanobiomaterials, biofabrication, and regenerative medicine. By integrating smart biomaterials, tissue engineering, and nanoscale biointerfaces, our new team aims to develop next-generation nanotherapies, microphysiological systems, and bioengineered grafts for regenerative medicine, with a strong focus on musculoskeletal diseases.

The selected candidate will work as a postdoctoral researcher under the ERC project – FORTIFy. This groundbreaking project involves developing and applying advanced nanosystems capable of selectively interacting with and activating cellular mechanosensors, offering unprecedented insights into cellular mechanobiology.

In combination with state-of-the-art multicellular 3D tendon models ("tendon-on-chip"), this will provide a powerful system to investigate the complex mechanobiology of tendons. Particular focus will be given to neurotendinous crosstalk and its immunomodulatory signatures, opening new avenues in regenerative medicine and mechanotherapeutics.

Become part of a collaborative team pushing the frontiers of tendon biology and bioengineering.

Job Duties

The job duties will be the following:

• Design and execute R&D activities, including planning of experiments, data acquisition, and interpretation, within the framework of the FORTIFy project;
• Synthesize and functionalize nanostructured materials, including molecularly imprinted nanoparticles, magnetic and plasmonic nanomaterials, and responsive hydrogels;
• Fabricate microfluidic platforms and 3D printed devices for biomedical sensing and tissue engineering applications;
• Characterize nanoparticles and hybrid materials using various techniques, including advanced electron microscopies (i.e., TEM, SEM, STEM), EDX, DLS, zeta potential, and spectroscopic methods (i.e., UV-Vis, Raman, SERS);
• Develop and optimize plasmonic SERS platforms for ultrasensitive molecular detection, including integration into microfluidic systems and biological models;
• Cell culture, tissue construct manipulation, and assessment of biological responses using standard cellular and molecular biology protocols;
• Write progress reports, participating in group meetings, publishing research findings in scientific journals, and presenting at relevant international conferences;
• Contribute to grant writing and research proposals, as well as participating in other projects where the senior researchers are involved;
• Mentor graduate (M.Sc. and Ph.D. level) students and research assistants, actively assisting the coordination of group activities;
• Contribute to laboratory organization and instrumentation setup.

Mandatory Qualifications

Education

• PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science, or related areas.

Experience and Technical Skills

• At least 8 years of experience at post-graduate level (as a Ph.D. student and/or postdoctoral researcher) in the synthesis and surface modification of nanoparticles, including plasmonic and magnetic nanostructures;
• Expertise in advanced electron microscopy techniques for nanoparticle characterization, including TEM, STEM, SEM, as well as EELS, EDX, and SAXS;
• Skilled in complementary analytical tools such as dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, UV-Vis, and Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS);
• Strong knowledge of molecular imprinting strategies and nanoparticle integration for ultrasensitive molecular detection;
• Experience with microfluidic platform development and 3D printing techniques for the fabrication of nanomaterial-based sensing and biomedical devices;
• Handling and manipulation of human cell cultures, tissue models, and evaluation of cellular responses via qPCR, Western blot, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, ELISA, and multiplex assays.

Other Valued Skills

• Proficient in advanced data analysis, including statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, and data mining approaches;
• Experience managing and interpreting large-scale experimental datasets (Big Data) in sensor development, spectroscopic signal processing, and biological assays;
• Capable of building computational pipelines in Python, R, or MATLAB for multivariate analysis and predictive modeling;
• Skilled in scientific writing, project coordination, and collaborative work within multidisciplinary and international teams.

Personal Skills

• Strong ability to work independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary and international team;
• Good oral and written communication skills;
• Proficiency in English (spoken, written, and reading comprehension);
• Strong scientific writing skills;
• High level of organization, initiative, and problem-solving;
• Commitment to scientific integrity and team development;
• High degree of autonomy.

Our Benefits

• Competitive salary;
• Tax benefits and other diplomatic privileges;
• Private health insurance;
• Family allowances (according to family situation);
• Free nursery service at INL premises (subject to availability);
• Support for education fees of dependent children;
• Relocation support;
• 30 working days of annual leave.

How to Apply

The application must be in English and include the following mandatory documents:

a) Cover letter

b) Curriculum Vitae

c) Academic and/or Professional diplomas

d) At least one reference letter

Online application instructions:

1. The application is made online by clicking the "Apply" button;
2. The candidate must complete all required sections of the online application form;
3. The candidate must submit the mandatory documents mentioned above in pdf format by including them in the "Additional files" section using the "Add portfolio" button.

Important note:

Incomplete applications including the failure to provide mandatory documents or providing inaccurate information will result in the application not being considered.

How the Selection Process Works

A. Applications eligibility check

This stage will be carried out on the basis of the mandatory requirements, education, experience, and technical skills defined for the job, as well as the validation of the mandatory documents. Only candidates who meet the eligibility criteria will move forward to the next stage.

B. CV Assessment

The Selection Committee will evaluate the eligible applications based on their CV and other submitted documents and the suitability for the position. The best ranked candidates will be shortlisted for the interview stage(s).

C. Interview(s)

The interview(s) may be done in different formats: video recording, online, or onsite. The question based interview will evaluate the match between the candidate's profile and the requirements for the position, including the technical and personal skills. To better support this stage, the candidate may be requested to prepare a short presentation.

D. Nomination

The selected candidate will be nominated and formally offered the position, including the disclosure of the contractual conditions.

Additional Information

Application feedback

We highly value your interest in becoming part of the INL experience and it is important for us to maintain good communications with all candidates. No matter the outcome of your application, we will always provide you with feedback.

Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Principle

INL follows a non-discrimination and equal access principle, wherefore no candidate can be privileged, benefited, impaired, or deprived of any rights whatsoever, or be exempt of and duties based on any possible discriminatory issues.

The advertisement deadline may be extended at any time without previous notice in order to improve the suitability and effectiveness of the recruitment process.

About INL

The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory – INL, is the first and only Intergovernmental Organisation in the world entirely focused on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. It was founded under an international legal framework to perform interdisciplinary research, deploy and communicate nanotechnology for the benefit of society. INL aims to be a recognized leading global nanotechnology innovation hub.