PhD opportunities available in the School of Pharmacy

The School of Pharmacy have a number of PhD positions available for the next academic year.  Prospective candidates who are interested in pursuing a PhD are strongly advised to contact an academic supervisor in School of Pharmacy to discuss these opportunities. A list of current available positions are listed below:

1. PhD position in Delivery of circular RNA therapeutics

Laboratory for smart drug delivery technologies, School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Ireland

Position summary: We are looking for exceptionally enthusiastic, creative, and driven Ph.D. candidates with a passion for interdisciplinary science and a desire to apply their unique talents to high-impact work aimed at improving human health, to join the laboratory of Dr. Piotr S. Kowalski at the School of Pharmacy at UCC. Dr. Kowalski’s research spans multiple disciplines and will allow candidates to develop their skills in a variety of areas including, RNA delivery, nanomaterials design,  circular RNA engineering, and gene therapy.

The current project is supported by the European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant and focuses on elucidating the therapeutic potential of the new class of RNAs with a unique closed-loop structure, called circular RNAs, to tackle unmet medical challenges such as sepsis which is responsible for 1 in 5 deaths worldwide. This project aims to develop novel biomaterials and nano-sized particles to deliver circRNAs inside the relevant cells in the lungs and kidneys to treat multiple organ failure during sepsis. It will also develop cutting-edge circular RNA tolls to expand the toolbox of therapeutic RNAs. Successful candidates will work in a cross-disciplinary research team and lead the design of novel nanocarriers for organ-selective delivery of circular RNA therapeutics, interacting closely with a group of collaborators supporting our work, comprised of RNA biologists, vascular biologists, immunologists, and clinical scientists.

• Candidates with a Master’s or Bachelor's degree in organic chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, polymer chemistry, chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, or a related field are highly encouraged to apply
• Candidates should have a first-class or upper-second-class honors degree or equivalent
• Prospective Ph.D. students should have prior practical laboratory experience and the ability to contribute in a multidisciplinary team setting.
• Candidates should have strong interpersonal skills and excellent oral/written communication skills.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas will be beneficial: drug delivery, chemical synthesis, polymer synthesis, nanoparticle formulation, bioconjugation, nucleic acid purification using chromatography, and animal work.
• The availability to start in Autumn/Winter 2023 will be an advantage.
• Successful candidates will receive a stipend of €19,000 per annum (tax-exempt) for four years plus registration fees (at the EU level). Non-EU candidates are encouraged to apply, but they may need to cover extra fees themselves.

About Dr. Piotr S. Kowalski (PI): I am a biochemist by training with a passion for interdisciplinary biomedical research and entrepreneurship. I have completed my scientific training in five different countries, including Poland (Jagiellonian University), the Netherlands (Groningen University), and USA (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). I have 12 years of mentoring, teaching, and leadership experience both in academic and industrial settings. My current work resulted in over twenty published research articles, the invention of four patents on drug delivery technologies, and the creation of a Cambridge-based biotech startup.
For more information please refer to Dr Kowalski's  LinkedIn and UCC Research Profile.

About the University College Cork: UCC is a leading Irish university with an international reputation in innovation, and entrepreneurship. It is ranked in the top 2% of universities worldwide based on the quality of its research outputs and peer esteem indicators and was the first University to be named The Sunday Times University of the Year for two consecutive years (2016 and 2017). UCC has a vibrant research community of almost 3,500 postgraduate students and over 250 postdoctoral researchers, across all the major academic disciplines. UCC is the host and partner of leading Irish research centers, including APC Microbiome Ireland SFI Research Centre and Tyndall National Institute providing access to state-of-the-art research expertise and core facilities. School of Pharmacy was ranked in the top 100 (66^th) in the QS World Rankings by Subject in 2022  and is a part of the College of Medicine and Health, a very interactive environment with multidisciplinary academic teams providing plenty of opportunities to network with world-class scientists and clinicians. School of Pharmacy hosts an international postgraduate students community and has a Ph.D. program that supports all career aspects, including professional development, research training, and everyday work.

How to Apply: Interested candidates should send their CV, including contact details to at least two referees, and a cover letter via email to piotr.kowalski@ucc.ie on or before the closing date of October 9^th, 2023. Please include “PhD in circRNA therapeutics” in the subject line of your email.

2. Open PhD studentship positions (Self-funding candidates or candidates eligible for external funding/sponsorships)

Staff in the School of Pharmacy have a number of PhD positions available.  Applications are considered all year around.  Prospective candidates who are interested in pursuing a PhD are encouraged to contact an academic supervisor in School of Pharmacy to discuss these opportunities.

These projects are ideally suited to candidates that are self-funding or candidates eligible for external funding/sponsorship.  However, in some cases funding may become available with the support of the academic staff member e.g. IRCSET applications.