PhD Position in Engineering Self-assembling Peptide-based Biomaterials for Modulation of Macrophages

Job description

The Biotechnology section at the Department of Green Technology , Faculty of Engineering, University of Southern Denmark invites applications for a 3-year PhD position in immunomodulatory biomaterials starting September 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter, according to mutual agreement. The position is embedded within an ERC Starting Grant project DeCodeGels focused on De-Coding Adhesion, Degradation and Immunomodulation Properties of Self-Assembling Peptide Hydrogels for Programmed Tendon Regeneration ( https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101219936 ). Project description: This project aims to develop new injectable self-assembling peptides (SAPs) biomaterials that simultaneously: i) possess improved adhesion to local tissues in vivo, ii) exhibit controlled degradation matching the desired regeneration outcome, and iii) allow tissue regeneration by enabling controlled immune cells invasion and progression of inflammation from neighbouring tissues. Following injury, inflammation is the trigger of tissue repair, however, chronic inflammation is detrimental. The persistent inflammatory nature of tendinopathy contributes to localized tissue damage, often developing to a low-grad...