Positions: 1 postdoctoral researcher. 2 PhD Studentships (including stipend and fees)
Project Description: A fundamental limitation with current approaches aiming to bioprint tissues and organs is an inability to generate constructs with truly biomimetic composition and structure, resulting in the development of engineered tissues that cannot execute their specific function in vivo. This is perhaps unsurprising, as many tissues and organs continue to mature postnatally, often taking many years to attain the compositional and structural complexity that is integral to their function. A potential solution to this challenge is to engineer tissues that are more representative of an earlier stage of development, using bioprinting to not only generate such constructs, but to also provide them with guiding structures and biochemical cues that supports their maturation into fully functional tissues or organs within damaged or diseased in vivo environments. It has recently been demonstrated that such developmental processes are better recapitulated in ‘microtissues’ or ‘organoids’ formed from self-organizing (multi)cellular aggregates, motivating their use as biological building blocks for the engineering of larger scale tissues and organs. The main goal of this project is to develop a new bioprinting platform capable of spatially patterning numerous cellular aggregates or microtissues into scaled-up, personalised durable load-bearing grafts and guiding their (re)modelling into fully functional tissues in vivo within damaged or diseased environments. This will be achieved using a converged bioprinting approach capable of rapidly depositing cells and microtissues into guiding scaffold structures with high spatial resolution in a rapid, reliable, reproducible and quantifiable manner. These guiding structures will then function to direction the fusion and remodelling of cellular aggregates and microtissues into structurally organised tissues in vitro and in vivo, as well as providing medium-term (3-5 years) mechanical support to the regenerating tissue. The successful applicants will join a large consortium, working with academic and industrial partners from across Europe and New Zealand to address the goals of the project. For more information about the individual PhD and postdoctoral positions, please contact Prof. Daniel Kelly (kellyd9@tcd.ie).
Applicant criteria: Postdoctoral researcher: The ideal applicant will have a PhD in biomedical engineering, biomaterials, tissue engineering or a related discipline. Previous experience in 3D (bio)printing, hydrogels, tissue engineering, cell culture, gene expression, biochemical analysis, mechanical testing, histology techniques, immunomodulatory behaviour would be highly advantageous. Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential. PhD studentships: Degree in Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Sciences or a related discipline. Previous experience in biomaterials, tissue engineering, 3D (bio)printing, cell culture and/or biomechanical testing would be desirable.
Start Date: From December 2024 onwards; positions will remain open until they are filled.
How to apply: CVs with the names and contact details of three referees should be submitted via email to Prof. Daniel Kelly (kellyd9@tcd.ie).
The Kelly Lab: Dr Daniel Kelly is the Professor of Tissue Engineering at Trinity College Dublin. He is also the co-lead of the ‘Materials for Health’ platform in AMBER, the Science Foundation Ireland funded materials science centre based in Trinity College Dublin. He is a past recipient of a Science Foundation Ireland President of Ireland Young Researcher Award, a Fulbright Visiting Scholar grant (at the Department of Biomedical Engineering in Columbia University, New York) and five European Research Council awards (Starter grant 2010; Consolidator grant 2015; Proof of Concept 2017, 2023; Advanced grant 2021). His lab focuses on developing novel tissue engineering and 3D bioprinting strategies to regenerate damaged and diseased musculoskeletal tissues. The successful applicant will join a dynamic, multidisciplinary lab consisting of 15 postdoctoral researchers and PhD students based in the Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering. More information can be found here: https://www.kelly-lab.com/
About the Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre (AMBER): AMBER is a Science Foundation Ireland funded centre that provides a partnership between leading researchers in materials science and industry. More information can be found at http://ambercentre.ie/ The AMBER research centre, as a community of researchers, welcomes its responsibility to provide equal opportunities for all. We are actively seeking diversity in our research teams and particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups.
About the Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering (TCBE): TCBE is a key research centre in Trinity College combining fundamental research with translation to clinical practice. TCBE provides a structure to bring bioengineers, basic scientists and clinicians together to focus on important clinical needs and has four key research themes: Medical Devices & Advanced Drug Delivery, Neural Engineering, Biomechanics & Mechanobiology, Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine. The project work will be carried out in our state-of-the-art facilities located in the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute.