PhD at Tarragona

PhD in statistical physics of polymers and membranes
Joint groups “Complex Systems” and “Polymers and Interfaces” of the ETSEQ at the University Rovira i Virgili of Tarragona Spain, are seeking a candidate for a 3 year PhD program. The selected candidate will integrate the research line on theoretical modelling of Drug Delivery systems to work on the development of the Single Chain Mean Field theory to discover the physical mechanisms of the
cytotoxicity.
Often the polymeric drug carriers in the assembled state are more toxic for cells than when in a dissociated state. The reasons of this significant increase of toxicity for the cell when assembled as well as the ways to reduce it are still unknown. Although the increased toxicity is sometimes attributed to the ability of the drug carriers to dissolve membrane lipids in the carrier cores, this remains as a speculative idea. During the contact with cell membranes the drug carriers may suck phospholipids and other constituents of cells into the cores, thus irreversibly damaging them. Hydrophobic polymers may precipitate onto and aggregate with the cell membrane forming pores that could be fatal for the cell.
The selected candidate will use the Self-Consistent Mean Field theory to describe the structures of membrane – polymer complexes in order to discover the mechanisms of the membrane disruption. The research will aim to find the way to control the cytotoxicity by adjusting the structure of the polymers used for concrete practical
applications. We seek a candidate with B.S. degree in Statistical physics with good knowledge of Theoretical physics and numerical methods and motivated to work in the field of soft matter physics, statistical physics of polymers and biophysics.
Further details are available from http://www.drugdelivery.front.ru/
Informal enquires (and applications) should be sent by e-mail to
Dr. Vladimir Baulin
Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Tarragona (Spain)
and
ICREA (Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats)
Passeig Lluís Companys, 23
08010 Barcelona (Spain)
e-mail: vladimir.baulin@urv.cat
Tel +34 977 55 85 77
Personal web page: http://vbaulin.front.ru/