C. Baleizão

3-year fully funded PhD position in the MSCA Doctoral Network IDEAS at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC-BarcelonaTech) in Barcelona, Spain. The project, DC13 – Development of hybrid nanoparticles for enhanced biopharmaceutical delivery , sits at the intersection of applied physics, chemistry, nanotechnology, and pharmaceutical technology. The doctoral research will focus on designing, synthesising, and characterising hybrid nanoparticle systems for advanced delivery of fragile biopharmaceuticals such as peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids. The work combines hybrid mesoporous silica nanoparticles with tunable pore size and surface chemistry, and amorphous polymer microparticles encapsulating nanoparticle-loaded systems to create multistage, controlled-release platforms. The project aims to improve loading, protection, stability, and targeted release while enhancing biocompatibility and overall delivery performance. The PhD candidate will be enrolled at the UPC EEBE-CDB campus in Barcelona and work for 24 months in the Group of Characterization of Materials under the supervision of prof. R. Macovez and prof. M. Romanini . A 3-month secondment will take place at Linari Engineering in Pisa, Italy, to gain industrial experience with advanced electrospinning equipment. During the remaining 12 months, the candidate will work at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa in Lisbon, Portugal, under Prof. J. P. Farinha and Prof. C. Baleizão , focusing on nanoparticle preparation and quality assessment. Research methods include synthesis by co-condensation and post-functionalization, electrospinning and electrospraying, and comprehensive characterization using BET, TEM/SEM, FTIR, NMR, DSC, DLS, zeta potential, and broadband dielectric spectroscopy. The project is designed for a researcher interested in experimental nanomaterials, interfacial chemistry, drug delivery, and structure–property relationships in hybrid systems. The position is funded under Horizon Europe - MSCA with a 3-year full-time contract. The gross monthly salary includes a €2,805 living allowance , €520 mobility allowance , and, where applicable, a €360 family allowance . The annual gross salary is stated as €39,902.14 plus family allowance if applicable. Eligibility requirements include a relevant MSc degree, English proficiency of at least B2 (preferably C1/IELTS 6 or above), and compliance with the MSCA mobility rule. Applications are submitted online and must include a completed form, research exposé, CV, academic records, proof of English language ability if available, and two reference letters. The application deadline is 30 January 2027 , with recruitment possibly continuing until all positions are filled. The intended start window is between 1 March 2027 and 1 September 2027 .