YOUR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
 

This PhD position is part of the InPharma program. InPharma is a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) European industrial doctorate program, offering a comprehensive training program addressing the challenges of developing emerging drug candidates into new licensed medicines, including innovative modeling and bio-predictive tools tailored to streamline the oral drug product development process. InPharma brings together global pharmaceutical companies and leading research institutions as a multi-sectorial team to deliver a unique research and training program for 13 early stage researchers (ESR), (m/f/d), to complete their industrially based PhDs. Each ESR position in InPharma allows the researcher to work towards a PhD at one of five leading academic institutions. The ESRs (m/f/d) will be recruited within 2021 for a duration of 36 months. Every ESR (m/f/d) will work on an independent research project which will be flexible enough to match the competence and goals of the candidate allow. Further information on the InPharma program can be found at: https://www.inpharma-network.eu/. In detail you will be responsible for:
 

• Development of physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models for oral drug formulations using in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) techniques
• Building in silico models for describing dissolution kinetics in vitro
• Integration of these dissolution models in a whole-body PBPK framework
• Implementation of an IVIVE framework in the Open Systems Pharmacology software suite
• Evaluation of IVIVE results using clinical data after administration of immediate release/enabling drug products
• Evaluation of IVIVE-informed PBPK models for early formulation benchmarking and dose selection to be administered in early clinical studies
• Improvement of PBPK models for fed state predictions

WHO YOU ARE
 

• Master of Science (or equivalent graduation) in a relevant area (e.g. pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences, natural sciences, medicine, engineering, and/or mathematics)
• Experience with mechanistic modelling and parameter estimation in ODE systems are an advantage
• The applicant (m/f/d) must meet all NKUA eligibility requirements for registration as a PhD
• The applicant (m/f/d) should be (at the date of recruitment) an ‘early stage researcher (ESR)’, i.e. in the first 4 years (full-time equivalent) of his/her research career and must not have a PhD degree. This is measured from the date when they obtained the degree which would formally entitle them to embark on a doctorate, either in the country where the degree was obtained or in the country in which the research training is provided
• Satisfy MSCA rules for trans-national mobility: the applicant (m/f/d) should not have resided in the country where the research training activities take place for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment date and not have carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in that country
• Curiosity and passion for research
• Ability to build partnerships and work collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives
• Solid written and verbal communication skills in English as communication and teaching language throughout InPharma is English. Candidates (m/f/d) who are not fluent in English are requested to provide proof of English proficiency in speaking and writing (e.g. typically IELTS min. 7, TOEFL internet-based min. 90 or similar level as proven by other tests)

THE APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE
 

• Letter of motivation outlining why you should be considered for their preferred PhD position(s)
• A detailed CV – Europass format obligatory. This should include details such as education, work experience, skills, dissertations, research interests, career objectives, names and contact details of two referees (at least one academic), who are willing to be contacted about your potential suitability for the position, and/or list of publications if available
• A transcript of master studies’ grades (including the overall grade) if available
• Proof of English language proficiency for example English language certificates for non-native speakers
• At least one letter of recommendation, preferably by the Master’s thesis supervisor

This is a fixed-term PhD contract for 36 month.