Nanobiotechnology for Life Sciences

The candidate will join the Laboratory of "Nanobiotechnology For Life Sciences" (NBT4LS) @UCM. This multidisciplinary research group (Head: M. Filice) is based on a core research team composed by staff members from different disciplines: Chemists, Biochemists, Biomedical Engineers, Physicists, Material Science Engineers, Immunologists and Medical Doctors. All these researchers jointly work with the only goal of a better understanding of precise interaction between nano-biotechnology and biological word in order to offer advanced solutions facing different biomedical societal demands. The research activity of our Lab mainly falls into the fine design and controlled synthesis of novel multifunctional hybrid nanochimers resulting from the combination of site-selective engineered biomolecules (e.g. peptides, proteins, enzymes, polysaccharides, lipids, antibodies or oligonucleotides) together with different customized functional nanomaterials. As result of our highly multidisciplinary research, we are able to achieve a wide set of tailor-made multifunctional nanobiohybrids showing novel and/or enhanced properties in comparison with those of their individual constituting nano/bioelements. These nanochimers have encountered wide application (e.g. therapeutics, diagnostics, or advanced biocatalysts) confirming their emerging usefulness as next-generation platforms for biosensing, advanced biocatalysis, molecular imaging modalities, biological actuators and biomedical applications.

The NBT4LS has developed different main research lines which can be grouped as follows:

1. NANOMEDICINE: Novel nanobiotechnology-based approaches for the synthesis, characterization and in vitro/In vivo application of engineered hybrid nanocarriers to be applied in the theranosis (Therapy + Diagnosis) of different pathologies suc as cardiovascular, cancer, respiratory and immune-based diseases.

2. ADVANCED MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTIC: development of ultra-sensible biosensors based on novel techniques for rapid detection of different diseases. The NBT4LS Lab focuses its research activity on developing novel nanomaterials-based diagnostic devices based on highly promising new architecture:
i. The use of tailor-made magnetic nanoparticles as proximity sensors and low-field magnetic resonance techniques for signal transduction.
ii. The use of Graphene Field Effect Transistors (GFET) biosensors.

3. BIONANOCATALYSIS: development of fully integrated catalytic bionanohybrid for cascade reactions useful in advanced organic synthesis, pharmaceutical and food chemistry, bioremediation and renewable energy production.

The applicants are asked to submit:
1) Detailed CV
2) Motivation Letter
3) A tentative project idea fitting within the research lines of the Group (max 1 page)