Iulian Antoniac

National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest is recruiting a full-time PhD candidate for the Materials Science and Engineering research group within the MSCA Doctoral Network project RENOVATE (Regenerative engineering innovation in early intervention of osteoarthritis). The position code is DC08 and the individual thesis topic is “Biodegradable Mg based alloy for optimal osteochondral scaffolds.” The project sits at the intersection of biomaterials, materials engineering, biomedical engineering, and orthopaedic scaffold development. The doctoral researcher will work on biodegradable magnesium-based alloys and related polymeric/ceramic composite scaffolds, with tasks including developing Mg-based polymeric composites, producing osteochondral Mg alloy scaffolds coated with ceramic materials embedded in a polymeric matrix, and testing physical-chemical and biological properties. The broader RENOVATE consortium aims to define patient-specific requirements for large osteochondral scaffolds, develop biocompatible porous 3D structures, and advance functionally graded additive manufacturing approaches for regenerative engineering in osteoarthritis. The work will be carried out in the Materials Science and Engineering research group led by Prof. Iulian Antoniac, a specialist in biomaterials and medical devices. The doctoral candidate will be enrolled in the PhD program in Materials Engineering at POLITEHNICA Bucharest. The appointment is for 36 months starting 1 October 2026, with secondments to consortium partners for a total of 5 months. Funding is provided through Horizon Europe / MSCA. The living allowance is EUR 2,835.07 gross per month, plus a EUR 710 mobility allowance per month; a EUR 495 family allowance may apply under MSCA rules. Applicants must hold a master’s degree or equivalent with at least 300 cumulative ECTS across bachelor’s and master’s studies, and must not already have a PhD. MSCA mobility rules apply, so candidates must not have lived or carried out their main activity in Romania for more than 12 months in the 36 months before recruitment. The program is conducted in Romanian or English, and the call notes good English and Romanian proficiency. Applications are due on 27 August 2026 at 15:00 (Europe/Bucharest). Candidates should submit the required documents by email, including a Europass CV, motivation letter, reference contacts, degree documents, eligibility and application forms, and the exam registration form. The email subject should clearly identify the position as DC08 followed by the applicant’s name.