BREAK-through – Position available at Naicons
A Doctoral Candidate (DC) will be recruited to perform research in antibacterial drug discovery within the framework of the DN Action Grant Agrement nr. 101072632, project BREAKthrough, Breaking the barrier – An integrated multidisciplinary approach to kill Gram-negative bacteria through existing antibiotics by making their outer membrane permeable (HORIZON-MSCA-2021-DN-01). The aim of the project is to train ESRs in an interdisciplinary and intersectoral environment with organic chemistry, computational chemists and specialists in high-throughput drug screening, zebrafish infection models, bacterial morphogenesis and molecular biology.
The selected candidate will be employed for three years at Naicons (Milan, Italy; www.naicons.com), where he/she will perform most of the research work aimed at identifying and characterizing novel antibacterial agents from microbial sources. He/she is expected to perform part of the research work at secondment institutions and to register for a PhD programme at the University of Milano, IT.
The BREAKthrough Consortium objectives: Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest threats to global health by the World Health Organization. There are increasing numbers of bacterial infections not responding to known antibiotics. The objective of the BREAKthrough European Training Network (ETN) is to sensitise Gram Negative Bacteria to antibiotics by making their Outer Membrane permeable. To this end, we will develop inhibitors of protein machineries that are responsible for OM maintenance. BREAKthrough consortium is a collaboration between academia and industry and will guide researchers to use innovative approaches to achieve their scientific goals. DCs will be equipped with complementary skills deemed important for research team leaders, will have an individual profile according to their own career dreams and will be capable of life-long self-directed learning. Each DC will work closely together with 10 other DCs in the BREAKthrough network.
Our network will combine very diverse tools: s. All BREAKthrough ESRs will be trained in an intersectoral environment – experiencing a tight collaboration among academia, healthcare and the private sector.
Eligibility criteria: Master degree (M.Sc. or equivalent graduation). Applicants must not have been awarded a PhD degree and must be in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers prior to the recruitment. They must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Italy for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment. The communication and teaching language throughout BREAKthrough is English, so proof of English proficiency is required.
Additional requirements: Degree in chemical or biological sciences with background in chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology, with a strong interest in applied research and bioinformatics. Previous research experience with antibiotics, actinomycetes and/or natural products will be a plus.
Benefits: Salary and additional benefits are according to EU-standards for Marie Curie ESRs. Employment contract will be according to Italian labor laws.
Application: To apply, please send the following documents to: breakthrough@naicons.com
- Personal statement/motivation letter (up to 2 pages) about applicant’s experience and interests
- A complete CV (personal details, academic/education history, research experience, experimental skills, publications etc.)
- Proficiency of English language skills corresponding to at least level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
- Official list of grades obtained during the applicant’s bachelor and master studies
- Names and contact information of at least two qualified references
Application deadline: February 29, 2024
Planned start date: May to June 2024
