Master thesis "Creation of an LEIS reference data collection"
IONTOF is a manufacturer of innovative surface analysis instruments with various product lines for Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and Low Energy Ion Scattering (LEIS).
Founded as a classic spin-off of the University of Münster, IONTOF is today the technological pioneer in the field of ToF-SIMS and LEIS devices. To strengthen our leading position, we would like to give students the opportunity to gain insight into these fields and write a master's thesis.
Description of the activity
Improve the quantification of LEIS spectra and build a collection of reference data:
*
Learning the basics and application of LEIS as well as operation of the device, incl. software for device control and data evaluation
*
Development and implementation of a measurement plan, including sample selection, preparation, in-situ pretreatment to eliminate atmospheric contamination and analysis under different measurement conditions.
*
Data analysis, visualization and structured data storage of measurement results
*
Validation of results by using multiple samples and, if necessary, various LEIS devices
*
Ideally, preparation of a manuscript for a data-oriented scientific journal (peer-reviewed)
Expected qualification
*
Advanced study of materials science, Analytic chemistry, surface sciences or scientific instrumentation
*
Ability to learn quickly and in a structured way, to work with attention to detail, both in the laboratory and in documentation
*
Interest in the described task and the improvement of an innovative surface analysis method
Our offer
*
Intensive training of all aspects of LEIS (ideally as an internship/project work before starting the Master's thesis)
*
Insights into a global company in a scientific/high-tech environment
*
Responsibility for the project and space for your own ideas
£43,155 to £54,421 per annum (pro-rata if applicable) depending on skills and experience. Salary progression beyond this scale is subject to performance.
Description
We have two excellent opportunities to join the leading biomaterials research teams at UoN and MIT. We have a long-standing track record of excellence in the discovery of novel materials, highly cited joint publications, intellectual property, commercialisation and clinical translation. Both posts are 4-year UoN tenure track appointments which aim to exploit the opportunities in novel cell-instructive biomaterials underway in the laboratories of Daniel Anderson and Robert Langer (MIT) and Morgan Alexander (UoN).
Our prestigious internal fellowship schemes are a fundamental part of our Research Vision that aim to recruit the next generation of University of Nottingham research leaders. Your 4-year fellowship would be split between The Koch Institute, MIT (QS World Ranked 1st) and The School of Pharmacy (QS World Ranked 8th), UoN. A permanent post at the University of Nottingham is expected upon completion of the Fellowship.
The Fellows will be under the joint guidance of MIT and Nottingham Professors who have shared interests in the development of materials to control implant performance including delivery of cell therapies and medical device materials with reduced immune rejection by the body.
We support applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds, and also welcome applications from those wishing to work part-time in order to combine the fellowship with other personal responsibilities.
Strategic areas
We are inviting applications in the following thematic areas:
*
Bioengineering
*
Medical Engineering
*
Control of implant associated inflammation and foreign body reaction to biomaterials
*
Novel medical devices
*
Surface characterisation of implanted biomaterials
*
Novel approaches for in vivo assessment of materials
*
Cell-instructive materials
We are particularly interested in areas of track record which complement the research of Anderson/Alexander. This includes novel biomaterials development using polymers and assembly of organic molecules, high throughput screening, alongside the use of advanced experimental surface molecular characterisation to enable discovery, development and mechanistic understanding of the next generation of biomaterials for application on the clinic.
The fellowship offers
*
A fellowship hosted by UoN School of Pharmacy initially, followed by extended periods totalling 2-3 years in the Anderson lab at MIT, before returning to UoN for a period before taking up a tenure track position.
*
Four years independent funding covering salary costs in the UK will be from £42-49k in Nottingham, with an uplift to $65k and healthcare for the time at MIT.
*
Additional funding to cover research expenses, travel, consumables, childcare support and other expenses associated with the fellowship of up to £90k for the four years.
*
Extensive career development support, including participation in a mentoring scheme.
*
The link to a permanent academic post, subject to performance.
*
Access to career development and networking with the wider fellowship community.
Eligibility
You must have been awarded a PhD. This scheme is aimed at early career researchers, and candidates do not normally have more than 8 year’s postdoctoral experience. However, there are no eligibility rules based on years of post-doctoral experience as this doesn’t allow for variations of career paths across disciplines. You will be assessed on your quality, potential and track record, relative to your career stage.
Contact
All queries regarding eligibility/details of the scheme should be directed to
Research Associate/Fellow (Chemical Analysis of Polymer Surfaces and Bio-Interfaces) (Fixed term)
School / Department
School of Pharmacy
Location
University Park Campus
Job family and level
Research and Teaching Level 4 (Appointment will be Level 4 Career training grade where an appointment is made before PhD has been completed)
Salary
£28,762 to £35,333 per annum (pro rata if applicable) depending on skills and experience (minimum £32348 with relevant PhD)
Main responsibilities
*
Surface chemical and topological analysis of polymer chips using SIMS, XPS, AFM and optical profilometry
*
Applying recently developed mass spectrometry-based surface analytical procedures to monitor surface adsorbates from culture media, and bacterial and mammalian cell incubation to detect small and macromolecules. OrbiTrap SIMS is expected to be the main technique, supported by XPS and proteomics on extracted adsorbates.
*
Identifying correlations between material and bio-interfacial data with cell performance and secretome data
*
Lead and make significant contributions to scientific publications
*
Presentation of results at internal and external meetings
*
Assistance in the supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate students
*
Organisation and assistance in general laboratory duties such as ordering of reagents, equipment maintenance, and laboratory housekeeping
*
Active contribution to group meetings by e.g. problem solving, suggestions, etc
Qualifications, certification and training (relevant to role)
*
A first degree in Biology, Chemistry, Materials, Pharmacy, Physics, Engineering, or related discipline
*
PhD submitted or awarded in the physical or biological sciences area
Job description
We are seeking postdoctoral scientists to join an EPSRC funded project that will design and synthesise bio-instructive materials to manufacture translation ready medical devices.
A novel class of polymers developed in our labs show great promise in reducing infections and controlling host response in the clinic. We recently added the use of micro topography to provide a synergistic stimulus to tackle infections and found an improvement in the host immune response. This control of host response is applicable to achieving better implant integration and wound healing. These findings are being developed in this project to improve outcomes for medical devices in the clinic.
In this EPSRC funded project we will use combinatorial material libraries in ChemoTopo Chips using cutting edge 3D printing technologies. These will be employed to both discover new ‘immune-instructive’ chemistry:topography combinations and probe the mechanisms that underpin their cell-instructive ability. We will develop models across a range of surfaces which correlate polymer molecular structure, surface chemistry, topography, manufacturing fidelity and bio-interfacial composition with immune and stromal cell responses as well as bacteria biofilm resistance. These models will be used to design optimal materials and manufacturing strategies for use in implanted surgical meshes and chronic wound care products for the post antibiotic era.&xnbsp;
The project includes computational modellers and experimentalists in the fields of polymer synthesis, 3D printing, surface chemical analysis, cellular immunology, bacteriology, proteomics and metabolomics.&xnbsp;
The successful candidate will be responsible for the surface analysis experiments and correlative data analysis with support from machine learning experts in the project in collaboration with the other 8 Post Docs. Candidates must have a PhD submitted or awarded in the area of physical or biological sciences. Experience with surface chemical analysis data acquisition and interpretation is also essential.
This post is available on a fixed term basis for 3 years. Hours of work are full time (36.25 hours). Job share arrangements may be considered.
There are links to US collaborators, Bob Latour (Clemson University) and Daniel Anderson and Robert Langer (MIT) and Jan deBoer in TU Eindhoven and Dave Winkler in at La Trobe University (Melbourne).
This is a collaborative project between the Schools of Pharmacy, Computer Science, Physics and Astronomy, Life Sciences and the Faculty of Engineering. These are full-time posts offered on fixed-term contracts for 36 months, starting in the first half of 2023.
We pride ourselves on the collegial and supportive culture created by our staff for our staff and students. We are dedicated to providing an environment which enables our staff to thrive and achieve their potential. Our commitment to Equality and Diversity has been recognised in the awards of Athena Swan Awards to the schools and faculties involved.
Essential skills
*
Surface Chemical Analysis
*
Excellent information technology and computing skills
*
Careful experimentalist with high level data processing capabilities
*
A strong commitment to interdisciplinary research, in particular between microbiology, mammalian cells and materials
*
Excellent oral and written communication skills including the ability to communicate complex information with clarity
*
Problem solving skills
*
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
*
Flexible, proactive and dedicated approach
Desirable skills
*
Biomaterials
*
ToF SIMS experience
*
OrbiSIMS experience
*
XPS experience
Essential knowledge and experience
*
Experience with surface chemical analysis data acquisition and interpretation
*
Present work effectively to a variety of professional and academic audiences at meetings and conferences
*
Write high quality reports and papers for publication
Desirable knowledge and experience
*
First author publications in the highest impact factor journals
Contact
Informal enquiries may be addressed to Morgan Alexander. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.
You will be responsible of daily ToF-SIMS analysis and will conduct SIMS R&D activities
What you will do
The composition analysis team provides imec-wide support in materials characterization by means of secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) using both Magnetic Sector (MS-SIMS) and Time-of-Flight (ToF-SIMS) instruments. As SIMS Researcher, you will be responsible of the daily ToF-SIMS measurements to support the fab demand, the different R&D activities within imec and the PhD student works. You will also be responsible of several R&D activities within the team such as developing new internal SIMS references, optimizing ToF-SIMS analysis conditions for specific requests, optimizing the measurements requiring the in-situ SPM (Scanning Probe Microscopy), GCIB (Gas Cluster Ion Beam) and/or FIB (Focused Ion Beam) modules of the ToF-SIMS instrument, ....
*
You are responsible of the daily ToF-SIMS analysis.
*
You contribute, oversee and manage the execution, interpretation, and reporting of ToF-SIMS analyses, and you advise internal and external customers.
*
You document best practices and provide training to the team members.
*
You contribute to the creation of a long-term vision and strategy for the group.
*
You contribute to possible JDP’s (Joint Development Program) and deliverables of funded research projects and programs.
*
You contribute to conferences/workshops, generate patents and publish in international journals.
*
You mentor Master internship students and PhD students.
The work will consist of experimental work, data analysis and interpretation, interaction with imec engineers/researchers and partners, and of literature studies. As part of the Materials and Component Analysis (MCA) department, it is expected that you gain knowledge in other characterization methods in the MCA department and in the fab, and that you correlate your results to other characterization methods and to the advanced process and device technology.
What we do for you
We offer you the opportunity to join one of the world’s premier research centers in nanotechnology at its headquarters in Leuven, Belgium. With your talent, passion and expertise, you’ll become part of a team that makes the impossible possible. Together, we shape the technology that will determine the society of tomorrow.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer and proud of our open, multicultural, and informal working environment with ample possibilities to take initiative and show responsibility. In everything we do, your future colleagues are guided by the imec values of passion, excellence, connectedness, and integrity. We commit to supporting and guiding you in this process, not only with words but also with tangible actions. Through imec.academy, 'our corporate university', we actively invest in your development to further your technical and personal growth.
We are aware that your valuable contribution makes imec a top player in its field. Your energy and commitment are therefore appreciated by means of a market appropriate salary with many fringe benefits.
Who you are
*
You have a PhD in Materials Engineering, Physics or Chemistry; or equivalent through experience.
*
You have experience in (ToF-) SIMS and SPM in an academic or industrial R&D lab environment.
*
You have strong analytical skills, customer focus and intellectually creativity.
*
You show excellent communication and reporting skills as you will be required to interface with internal customers.
*
You have experience in materials characterization, both experimental and theoretical.
*
Since you will be working in a highly international environment and will be maintaining a good contact with colleagues and co-workers from all over the world, fluency in English is essential.
For more information and the full job description follow this link.
IONTOF is neither responsible nor liable for any details or contents of the third party opportunites.
All corresponding communication has to be made directly with the respective employing institution.
