Post Summary
The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Researcher to work under the direction of Professor Anne Marie Healy on a Science Foundation Ireland funded project entitled “Development of Fixed Dose Combination Products using Advanced Pharmaceutical Processing Technologies”.
The project will be undertaken in collaboration with Professors Gavin Andrews and David Jones of the School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University, Belfast, and will be aligned with the activities of the Synthesis and Solid State Pharmaceutical Centre (SSPC). See:
www.sspc.ie for further details.
The goal of the project is to reduce the pill burden for patients who are on long term and multiple dosage regimes, particularly those with diabetes or cardiovascular disease, by developing fixed dose combination (FDC) products. The project will focus on the use of advanced processing technologies to develop FDCs that will permit reduced dosing frequency, thus improving patient compliance and clinical outcomes.
Processing techniques to be employed include hot melt extrusion and spray layering by fluid bed processing.
Standard duties of the Post
• Advanced physiochemical analysis of pharmaceutical materials. The following characterisation techniques will be employed: thermal analysis, XRD, FTIR, particle sizing, BET analysis, SEM, DVS, iGC etc.
• Solid dosage form design, production and characterisation. The following processing and techniques will be employed: milling, blending, fluidised bed coating and drying, hot melt extrusion, tableting.
• Presentation of results to academic and industrial partners and the wider academic community in both written and oral presentation format - excellent writing and presentation skills are essential.
• Co-supervision and mentoring of postgraduate students.
• The post holder will be required to adhere to the specific policy of the project concerning the management and exploitation of intellectual property.
Person Specifications
• Preference will be given to candidates with a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics but consideration will also be given to candidates with a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Material Science. Candidates should ideally have a degree in Pharmacy. Previous postdoctoral experience in an academic or relevant industrial setting would be advantageous.
• Previous experience of working in a collaborative manner with researchers in other academic institutions and with industry partners is desirable.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills and the ability to deliver to specific deadlines are essential.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills are essential.
• A proven ability to work independently and as part of a team is essential. Applicants should be able to demonstrate an ability to think independently and develop research ideas.
• Excellent interpersonal skills are essential.
Funding Information
• Funding is provided by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI).
Application details
Applications must include a letter of application detailing how you meet the selection criteria for the post, together with a Curriculum Vitae, the name and contact details of 3 referees (e-mail address if possible) and a short statement of research interests.
Please send applications via e-mail with Subject Line: “SFI Postdoctoral Researcher” to:
[email protected]Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview.
Please note that candidates will not be reimbursed for travel expenses relating to attendance at interview. It may be possible however to conduct interviews by videoconference.
This is a specific purpose contract, full-time (December 2015 to November 2017)
