Research Fellowship in Raman Spectroscopy and Data Analysis for Ex vivo and In vivo Human Skin Permeation Studies
Research Fellowship in Raman Spectroscopy and Data Analysis for Ex vivo and In vivo Human Skin Permeation Studies
LE STUDIUM
Tours, France
Research Project: Bio-Analytical protocols for testing penetration of active ingredients from topical skin products
Research Fields: Ex vivo and in vivo human skin permeation studies
Raman spectroscopy and data analysis
CONTEXT
In the framework of the COSMETOSCIENCES Programme financed by the Centre-Val de Loire Regional Council (France), LE STUDIUM Loire Valley Institute for Advanced Studies is recruiting an international experienced scientist specialised in PERMEATION STUDIES FOR TESTING TOPICAL SKIN PRODUCTS. The successful candidate will be invited for a one-year fellowship to work with the NMNS research team (Nanomédicaments et Nanosondes, Université de Tours - EA 6295 NMNS) for the MINIONS project. As a LE STUDIUM Loire Valley Institute for Advanced Studies Research Fellow, s/he will be part of an outward-looking and stimulating pluri-disciplinary scientific and international community and will benefit from the dynamic scientific environment of the Centre-Val de Loire region. COSMETOSCIENCES is a research programme created in 2015 to promote partnerships between academics and industries in the field of cosmetics. It relies on a well-established regional dynamic to support transversal research, training and entrepreneurial initiatives with the ambition to place cosmetics research at the heart of CVL innovation strategy for smart specialisation.
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CONTEXT
The successful candidate will be part of the funded COSMETOSCIENCES ARD CVL research project MINIONS: Non-Invasive methods for personalisation of skin-care.
The research group currently leads projects aiming at developing bio-analytical protocols coupling chromatography (HPLC) and spectroscopy (Raman imaging, fluorescence) to study the penetration of active cosmetic ingredients in human skin. While ex vivo permeation studies can be conducted on human skin biopsies using Franz cells, the current scientific objective is to strengthen research activities around in vivo applications. The goal is to provide a multimodal analytical approach, combining Raman spectroscopy, high-resolution ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging and biological studies to collect biochemical information (hydration, lipids, proteins, etc.) on human skin in vivo and histological information of the skin layers (thickness, organization, etc…) for a comprehensive understanding of the measured penetration of active molecules from the topical skin products tested.
To support the project, EA 6295 NMNS has acquired a Raman skin analyser gen2-SCA from RiverD International B.V. In vivo Raman spectroscopy has emerged as a potential alternative to methods acknowledged in international guidelines for equivalence studies in skin. However, in order to validate the technique demonstrations for the detection and tracking of active molecules in the different skin layers are needed. Correlation of results between ex vivo and in vivo studies but also comparison with reference techniques such as HPLC will be developed to evaluate Raman spectroscopy performances for in vivo applications.
EA 6295 NMNS collaborates with INSERM U1253 iBRAIN (University of Tours) for the development of high-resolution ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging tools.
Other established collaborations with industrial partners and academic research teams can be further discussed during the interview process.
MISSION OF THE RESEARCH SCIENTIST
The successful LE STUDIUM candidate is expected to be creative and to produce original work during the 12 months residency. 1 PhD student and 1 post-doctorate fellow are also working on the project at NMNS and another post-doctorate fellow will be recruited at INSERM U1253 iBRAIN (University of Tours) to cover the high-resolution ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will actively participate in coordinating the scientific work through knowledge sharing, training of young researchers but also in proposing experimental plans or studies to conduct.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
LE STUDIUM Loire Valley Institute for Advanced Studies is looking to recruit a senior researcher profile with:
- Significant track records in the field of Raman spectroscopy applied to biological systems:
- Preferably, demonstrated expertise for applications of Raman spectroscopy in vivo for skin analysis
- or experience in skin analysis (human ex vivo, in vivo)
- or demonstrated expertise for applications of Raman spectroscopy to tissue and/or subcellular imaging
- or advanced skills for data mining including competences in data-preprocessing and multivariate analysis.
- and/or Significant track records in the field of permeation studies:
- previous experience in testing of topical skin products according to international guidelines
- and/or demonstrated expertise for gold standards techniques (chromatography, Franz cells, tape stripping, etc…)
- and/or demonstrated expertise for permeation studies ex vivo/in vivo
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Applicant researchers will:
- Be in possession of a Doctoral degree and at least five years of full-time equivalent research experience after PhD;
- Be national or long-term resident of a country other than France. Long-term residents are researchers who spent a period of full-time research activity of at least 5 consecutive (without breaks in research) years in a country other than France;
- Comply with the following mobility rule: applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, etc.) in France for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the deadline of application.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
The position is based in Tours, France and offers 12 months of residency to an experienced senior scientist residing in a country other than France.
The successful candidate will be welcomed into the Cosmetosciences Programme, NMNS research team and LE STUDIUM faculty of international research fellows.
The scientific working languages are French and English.
Entitlements detailed in the French labor contract of employment include:
- A personal salary under a French labor contract;
- Rental costs of a fully furnished apartment for the candidate and her/his family. Utilities (water, heating, electricity, internet, local tax) have to be paid by the fellow;
- Logistics and administrative assistance by a member of LE STUDIUM operational team before and during the fellowship (visa, housing, bank, insurance, schooling…).
FULL JOB DETAILS, CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY, EMPLOYMENT & APPLICATION AVAILABLE ON LE STUDIUM WEBISTE
Online application via LE STUDIUM platform: Apply section
The deadline for application is June 15th, 2022. Applications will be reviewed as they come in.
The position is expected to be filled no later than September 2022.
The application shall consist of three elements:
- A completed online LE STUDIUM application form with personal information and details of track records;
- A curriculum vitae of maximum two pages including information not in the online application;
- A motivation letter.
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