2016-02-10 Understanding physicochemical interactions between selected intestinal permeation enhancers and peptide therapeutics to enable improved oral peptide formulation design.

CIFRE Project Thesis / Search of Candidates

Job offer : Thesis offer
Funding : CIFRE thesis grant
Starting date : September 2016
Workplaces : Dublin, Paris, Montpellier. The thesis student will work across three locations for a period of 3 years.
Scientific field : Human health, Medicine, Structural biology, Biophysics, Biology, Pharmaceutical and Analytical sciences
Project / Brief summary
This thesis will bridge three collaborative partners :
Professor David Brayden, University College Dublin, UCD (http://www.ucd.ie/vetmed/staff/veterinarybiosciences/davidbrayden/),
Professor Elias Fattal, Galien Institute, Paris-Sud (http://www.umr-cnrs8612.u-psud.fr/),
And Dr. Rachel Vogel, Sanofi R&D, Montpellier (http://www.sanofi.com/).
Title of the project : “Understanding physicochemical interactions between selected intestinal permeation enhancers and peptide therapeutics to enable improved oral peptide formulation design.”
Ph.D. description
The candidate will undertake a three year Ph.D. Life Sciences thesis within the context of a multidisciplinary pharmaceutical-based project involving academic and industrial partners with oral drug delivery expertise. A joint doctorate will be awarded between UCD and the University of Paris-Sud.
The candidate will carry out research with advanced biophysical techniques to improve understanding of how a group of established intestinal permeation enhancers interact with selected peptides. With this knowledge, in vitro fluxes will then be carried out using advanced intestinal model systems and this will allow rank ordering of selected enhancers in terms of efficacy, toxicology and mechanism of action.
Knowledge and skills
– A recent BSc (minimum 2.1 Honours) or MSc degree in biological sciences (e.g. biochemistry, cellular biology, or molecular biology), biological chemistry, physical chemistry or biophysics.
– The candidate must be able to work across disciplines and to learn analytical techniques around physico-chemical analysis of the interaction between the enhancer and peptide in bio-relevant buffers.
– Ability to perform in a transversal team across three sites in two different countries, two academic and one pharmaceutical
– Good spoken and written French and English in order to perform well in French and Irish labs,

To apply, send a CV and cover letter with the names of three referees to each of the following addresses by [SET DATE] : Professor David Brayden, david.brayden@ucd.ie ; Professor Elias Fattal, elias.fattal@u-psud.fr ; Dr. Rachel Vogel, rachel.vogel@sanofi.com. Informal enquiries can also be made to any of these contacts.