Post/s of Full-Time Research Support Officer III or IV (post-doc) - Faculty of Science

Call for Applications (Call ID: 75/2021)

Post/s of Full-Time Research Support Officer III or IV (post-doc)

CrysMed – TRAKE

Crystal Growth and Design of Metal-based compounds against Gout and Cancer

Crystal Engineering Group within the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science

1. Applications are invited for a Research Support Officer to work on a full-time basis on “CrysMed - Crystal Growth and Design of Metal-based compounds against Gout and Cancer”, a project financed by the University of Malta through the Transdisciplinary Research and Knowledge Exchange Complex (TRAKE). The selected applicant will explore different ways to synthesise, crystallise and characterise uric acid, urate, and purine containing compounds in general as well as other metal containing drugs. The work will be carried out at the Department of Chemistry and at the new Crystal Engineering facilities at the Malta Life Science Park. Short-term stages at the main collaborators of this project, namely the Lausanne University Hospital and Newcastle University might be required.

2. Applicants must be in possession of a PhD/DPhil degree in one of the following areas: crystallography, solid state chemistry, materials sciences, crystal engineering or related disciplines, and must therefore have a strong background in the corresponding analytical techniques. Applicants with post-doctoral experience in one of the above- mentioned areas will be preferred. Experience of collecting data and/or maintenance of a ZEISS X-ray tomograph or HORIBA RAMAN microscope will be considered an asset. Evidencing the ability to work both independently and as part of a team and communicate the results in a timely manner will be key to a successful application.

The University of Malta is an Equal Opportunity employer.

3. The full-time post is for a period of 30 months and carries the following initial annual remuneration:

Research Support Officer III - €31,200 for candidates in possession of a PhD;

Research Support Officer IV - €41,600 for candidates with significant post-doc experience.

4. Candidates must submit a covering letter, a copy of their curriculum vitae, contact details of three referees and a copy of their certificates (certificates of degrees must be submitted in English) by e-mail to projects.hrmd@um.edu.mt by not later than Tuesday, 4th May 2021.

Late applications will not be considered.

5. Further information may be obtained from: https://www.um.edu.mt/hrmd/recruitment/projects. For more information on the IAT please visit https://www.um.edu.mt/iat. Further information about the project may be obtained by sending an email to ulrich.baisch@um.edu.mt.

About the project

Drug solubility is one of the biggest problems faced in the treatment of many illnesses. Gout and cancer present two of the most challenging conditions in this respect in the western world. Difficulties in treating both diseases arises from the insolubility of the spiny shaped crystals of monosodium urate monohydrate (MSUM) or uric acid in gout, and the poor solubility of anti-cancer drugs. A new pathway to alter these unfavourable solubility properties will be explored by combination of inorganic complex chemistry with state-of-the-art polymorph and co-crystal screening techniques currently used in crystal engineering complemented by availability of new state-of-the-art equipment recently commissioned at the Malta Life Science Park.

Further information

1. The Research Support Officer will be responsible for the execution of a number of tasks related to CrysMed, a project financed by the University of Malta, in which the Crystal Engineering group at the Department of Chemistry is the lead partner.
2. The appointee will report to the principal investigator of the project and will be responsible for carrying out research with the main duties including:

1. Assist in the management of the project;
2. Working closely with the project partners.
3. Willingness to carry out stages at the project collaborators of this project over a short period of time (Lausanne University Hospital/Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) and Newcastle University) as these might form an important part of this project.;
4. Synthesis, crystallisation and characterisation (XRD, Raman, XRM, DSC, TGA, etc) of uric acid, urate, and purine containing compounds in general as well as other metal containing drugs;
5. Producing project deliverables within the time frames specified in the project description;
6. Abiding by the conditions imposed by the project;
7. Writing scientific conference or journal papers related to the project, and presenting them at relevant conferences;
8. Assisting in dissemination activities related to the project;
1. Performing any other project-related tasks as instructed by the principle investigator
10. Travel to attend meetings/conferences as the need arises;

3. The appointee will be expected to work on UM campus or Malta Life Sciences Park during hours determined by the University authorities.

4. The selection procedure will involve:

a. scrutiny of qualifications and experience claimed and supported by testimonials and/or certificates (copies to be included with the application);

b. shortlisting; and

c. an interview and / or extended interview.

5. The post is for a period of 30 months which will be subject to a probationary period and to the provisions of the Statutes, Regulations and Bye-Laws of the University of Malta which are now or which may hereafter be in force.

Office of the University,

Msida, 13^th April 2021