Ph.D. Opportunity at the International Centre for Research on Innovative Bio-based Materials (ICRI-BioM), Politechnika Łódzka; Łódź, Poland.
Unit: International Centre for Research on Innovative Bio-based Materials (ICRI-BioM), Lodz University of Technology, Poland.
Position: PhD student in Chemical Sciences
Requirements:
We seek a highly motivated and enthusiastic Ph.D. student for a period of 3 years at the International Centre for Research on Innovative Bio-based Materials (ICRI-BioM), Lodz University of Technology. The position is part of the project “NIR-active Multilayer Coatings for Titanium Alloys to disinfect Superbugs” (NIR-CURATOR), financed by the NCN (National Science Centre), Poland.
Principal Investigator of the project: dr hab. Vignesh Kumaravel, prof.uczelni (ICRI-BioM,
Lodz University of Technology).
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
- Open to candidates of any nationality and gender.
- Must hold an MSc/MTech degree in one of the following fields: Chemistry, Materials Science, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Electrochemistry, or related fields.
- Ph.D. student status at the start and during participation in the project.
- Good practical and theoretical knowledge with antibacterial experiments and cell culture experiments.
- Practical knowledge of electrochemistry experiments, nanomaterials fabrication, and characterization techniques.
- Must demonstrate a strong work ethic and enthusiasm for research.
- Active participation in student scientific groups, professional societies, and academic conferences.
- Fluency in spoken and written English.
- Publications in peer-reviewed journals and research internships abroad will be considered advantageous.
- Prior experience in microbiology and electrochemical coating techniques will be considered as valuable assets.
- Knowledge on error analysis and statistical data analysis related to the experimental results.
SCOPE OF WORK:
- Development of nanomaterials and coatings for 3D printed titanium alloys.
- Characterization of materials and coatings using XRD, Raman, XPS, FE-SEM, TEM, and AFM techniques
- Investigation of in vitro antibacterial features of the coatings and materials against selected microbes.
- Investigation of antibacterial mechanisms using appropriate assays and analytical techniques
- Biocompatibility experiments of antibacterial coatings
NCN competition type: OPUS 28 + LAP
application deadline: 19th September 2025, 6:00 PM (CEST)
Application method: A single PDF via email
Employment conditions:
WE OFFER
Ph.D. scholarship according to the Interdisciplinary Doctoral School (IDS) regulations. An active research environment and a highly motivated group.
THE APPLICATION MUST CONTAIN:
- a brief motivation letter (one page) outlining why you are interested in the position, your CV including your previous research projects, work experience, career goals & a complete list of conference abstracts and/or publications, and Copies of degree certificates and transcripts.
- consent to the processing of personal data according to the following statement: for the purpose of the recruitment process, please attach a declaration of consent to the processing of personal data for recruitment purposes should include the following clause: "I consent to the processing of my personal data for the purposes necessary to carry out the recruitment process in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (GDPR).”
HOW TO APPLY
Please attach your application with all supporting documents in English as a single PDF file (max 15 Mb) and send it to: vignesh.kumaravel@p.lodz.pl with a subject “Ph.D. position in the NIR-
CURATOR project”
Deadline for applications: 19th September 2025
Planned date of conclusion of the call: on or before 15th October 2025
Planned start date of the position: December 2025 or later if necessary.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The best candidates will be invited for a 30-minute job interview that will be organized on the Microsoft Teams platform.
The competition may not be settled due to a lack of candidates meeting the requirements. The decision of the Recruitment Committee cannot be appealed. The scholarship is granted according to REGULATIONS FOR AWARDING NCN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NCN-FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS. The NCN research scholarship may be combined with other scholarships and salaries financed from NCN funds awarded under more than one research project, with the reservation that the total amount of scholarships and salaries collected may not exceed 5 000 PLN per month.
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
3D-printed titanium implants are increasingly employed in orthopaedic surgeries, but they are susceptible to microbial adhesion and biofilm formation. Globally, several patients are affected by these postoperative and implant-associated infections. Treating such infections is challenging and expensive, imposing both economic and physical burdens on patients. Furthermore, the long-term consumption of synthetic antibiotics and the use of antibiotic-coated medical implants contribute to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms (superbugs).
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), antimicrobial resistance is responsible for approximately 33,000 deaths annually in the European Union (EU) and incurs an annual healthcare cost of EUR 1.5 billion (ECDC and WHO report, 2023). Around 4.1 million patients are annually affected by antimicrobial-resistant infections, many of whom experience prolonged hospitalizations and additional treatments, highlighting an urgent need for next-generation implants with highly effective antibacterial coatings.
Considering the serious challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance and the growing demand for personalized orthopaedic implants, especially given Europe’s aging population, the NIR-CURATOR project aims to investigate an innovative titanium alloy with inherent antibacterial properties, further promoting its efficiency through a non-invasive near-infrared (NIR) light activated multilayer coating without relying on synthetic antibiotics, drastically reducing the implant-associated infections.
This project will collaborate with complementary skilled teams from Poland and the Czech Republic and result in the fundamental basis for designing the next generation of personalized titanium implants and multifunctional coatings. These implants have the potential to reduce postoperative infections by at least 25%, including those caused by superbugs, without compromising osteogenic features, bioactivity, stability, and mechanical durability.
By utilizing 3D printing, novel coatings, nontoxic antibacterial agents, and computational calculations, NIR-CURATOR will enhance implant performance and reduce the frequency of orthopaedic implant revision surgeries. This research is expected to improve infection control management, enhance the quality of life for society and individuals, lead to cost savings, and decrease Europe’s dependence on imported medical devices. The development and application of similar antibacterial coatings in other sectors, including food processing and public transportation, can create new market opportunities and drive economic growth.
In conclusion, the fundamental research on innovative titanium implants and long-term stable antibacterial coatings through the NIR-CURATOR project aims to reform orthopaedic implant technology and address critical public health issues.