15 PhD/Early Stage Researcher (ESR) positions available as part of the MSCA European Training Network Magicbullet::Reloaded
The Marie-Sklodowska-Curie European Training Network Magicbullet :: Reloaded will develop and employ approaches for selective, targeted delivery of a panel of anticancer drugs for directed tumor therapy.
The activities of the consortium will be devoted to four different project areas:
- Small molecule-drug conjugates (SMDCs) and peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs)
- Multivalency and crosstalk with the immune system
- Pharmacokinetics: Transport, drug release, and metabolism
- Biological evaluation of the conjugates
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This project has received funding from the European Union′s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 861316. |
The Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network (ITN) Magicbullet::Reloaded offers 15 three-years fixed-term PhD positions
The ETN Magicbullet::Reloaded will provide young researchers a unique portfolio of multidisciplinary competences, cutting-edge proficiencies and transferable soft skills to push the boundaries of frontier research within the EU. The ESRs will be involved in all stages of drug development, ranging from Synthetic Chemistry over Medicinal Chemistry to Tumor Biology and Assay Development in a highly cross-linked, inter-sectoral research network between academia and industry. This network warrants cutting-edge interdisciplinary education, supplemented by a well-balanced and tailor-made training in transferable soft skills, directly focussed on the demands and needs of each individual researcher.
The ETN will recruit 15 highly talented early stage researchers (ESR) with background in the relevant scientific areas. This high complementarity is required for the different scientific tasks in the development pipeline. Vice versa, the ESRs will be exposed to a challenging research environment leading to a broad range of scientific competences to be acquired.
Eligibility criteria
All applicants must be Early-Stage Researchers (ESRs) who are in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers, starting from the date when the M.Sc. degree (or similar) was awarded. They must not hold a doctoral degree.
Persons from any nationality may apply, but transnational mobility is indispensable: You may only apply for a position in a particular project if you did not reside or carry out your main activity (such as work or study) in this country for more than 12 months within the last 3 years. This excludes short stays such as holidays or compulsory national service.
ESR Projects - Further details for each project available via www.magicbullet-reloaded.eu:
- ESR 01 - Bielefeld University, Germany:
- Implication of small molecule-drug conjugates containing HDAC inhibitors or tubulin-binding agents in immuno-oncology
- Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Norbert Sewald
- ESR 02 - Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary:
- Development of peptide drug conjugates for the treatment of cancers causing high mortality
- Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Gábor Mezõ
- ESR 03 - ETH Zürich, Switzerland:
- Design and synthesis of novel Small Molecule-Drug Conjugates for the treatment of tumors
- Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Dario Neri
- ESR 04 - Exiris SRL, Italy:
- Small molecule-drug conjugates containing HDAC inhibitors or tubulin-binding agents to enhance anti-tumor immune responses
- Principal Investigator: Dr. Christian Steinkühler
- ESR 05 - Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM, Germany :
- Identification of patient-specific targets to selectively treat tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in organotypic tumor slices of NSCLC and glioblastoma
- Principal Investigator: Dr. Katherina Sewald
- ESR 06 - Heidelberg Pharma Research GmbH, Germany:
- Amatoxin conjugates with small molecule targeting molecules for the treatment of cancer
- Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Andreas Pahl
- ESR 07 - National Institute of Oncology, Hungary:
- Investigation of the effect of newly synthesized compounds on tumor cell proliferation in vitro and on tumor growth and metastasis in vivo
- Principal Investigator: Dr. József Tóvári
- ESR 08 - Philochem AG, Switzerland:
- Design and synthesis of novel Small Molecule-Drug Conjugates for the treatment of tumors
- Principal Investigator: Dr. Samuele Cazzamalli
- ESR 09 - Takis Biotech SRL, Italy:
- Development of scFv-drug conjugates containing HDAC inhibitors or tubulin-binding agents to enhance anti-tumor immune responses
- Principal Investigator: Dr. Giuseppe Roscilli
- ESR 10 - Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany:
- Design and synthesis of Multivalent Peptide Drug Conjugates for tumor targeting
- Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Harald Kolmar
- ESR 11 - Universitá degli Studi dell´ Insubria, Italy:
- Integrin ligand-immunomodulating agent conjugates for targeted immunoncological therapy
- Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Umberto Piarulli
- ESR 12 - Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Italy:
- Design and synthesis of trifunctional peptidomimetic scaffolds for DNA-Encoded Chemical Libraries (DECLs) in the oncology area
- Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Cesare Gennari
- ESR 13 - University of Cologne, Germany:
- Targeting mitochondria with PDCs for inducing apoptosis in cancer cells
- Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Ines Neundorf
- ESR 14 - University of Helsinki, Finland:
- Targeted drug delivery to primary and secondary brain tumors
- Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Pirjo Laakkonen
- ESR 15 - University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK:
- Mass spectrometric analysis of peptide-drug conjugates in cells
- Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Matthias Trost
Application Procedure
We are looking forward to hearing from you! Please download the application form via this link.
In order for your application to be considered please send the filled application form together with the following documents in English as single PDF-file to magicbullet@uni-bielefeld.de:
- Completed application form
- Curriculum vitae including relevant skills, experience and publication list
- Motivation letter (1 page)
- University transcripts and certificates: Bachelor and Master degrees. For EU Countries, the Diploma Supplement is recommended.
- University entrance diploma
In addition, two reference letters from e.g. former supervisors are required that have to be sent separately and confidentially by the referees to magicbullet@uni-bielefeld.de.
Please notice that each ESR project has individual requirements that are specified on our website www.magicbullet-reloaded.eu.
Incomplete applications and all other ways or forms of application will not be considered! All applications will be deleted at the end of the selection procedure.
Application Deadline: 31.12.2019
Detailed information to all ESR projects within the network can be found on our website: